An interesting twist of fate

Having been together for over 3 years with Japanese girl Ayano (commonly known as No-chan, born in 2001, born and raised in Tokyo), what makes Nguyen Van Duan (born in 2001, native of Quang Nam, currently Da Nang City, an automotive engineer in Japan) happiest is the special affection she holds for his family and hometown.

Although they have not officially tied the knot, No-chan already considers her boyfriend's hometown as her second home. Duan's parents also treat her like a daughter in the family.

The couple had an unexpected connection when Duan was a Vietnamese student in Japan, while No-chan was a Japanese student studying in Vietnam. In July 2023, while returning to Japan to visit her family, No-chan accidentally met Duan during a football watch party. They friended each other on social media but did not chat much.

About 2 months later, they happened to see each other in a livestream video again and messaged to catch up. Sharing the common goal of improving their Vietnamese and Japanese language skills, the two texted more frequently. Gradually, Duan found himself developing feelings for the Japanese girl without realizing it.

"During that period, we spoke on the phone almost every day. I often asked No-chan about her health and studies. Perhaps that gentle care touched her heart," Duan shared.

In late 2023, No-chan returned to Vietnam to continue her studies. At the airport farewell, both were reluctant to part and wept continuously.

No-chan emotionally said to her boyfriend: "I don't know how long I can endure this distance. Whenever I can't take it anymore, I will return to Japan to be with you."

That was the moment Duan realized this girl was his destined other half.

Traveling alone to meet her boyfriend’s family

No-chan had already developed a strong affection for Vietnam because her mother runs a company that helps Vietnamese people in Japan. After she began dating a Vietnamese man, the country became even more familiar to her.

No-chan studied in Hanoi. Before completing her student exchange program and returning to Japan, she wanted to visit her boyfriend’s hometown.

She decided to go ahead with the plan. During the 2024 Lunar New Year holiday, No-chan traveled nearly 1,000km alone from Hanoi to Da Nang to meet Duan’s family.

“I was very surprised when I heard about it. I thought that even a Vietnamese person might not necessarily dare to travel thousands of kilometers alone to visit their boyfriend’s family. And the local dialect in Da Nang was another challenge for No-chan,” Duan said.

After Duan agreed to be her “translator through a phone screen,” No-chan confidently embarked on the journey. She landed at Da Nang Airport and then took a taxi for another hour to reach her boyfriend’s home.

Duan’s parents welcomed the Japanese girl with excitement and a touch of surprise. Unable to understand each other’s language, they expressed their affection through tight hugs and warm kisses on the cheek.

“That was No-chan’s first ‘culture shock’ when she came to my home. She was overwhelmed by everyone’s warmth and friendliness,” Duan recalled with a laugh.

During that visit, No-chan experienced a full Vietnamese Lunar New Year. Duan’s parents took her around to visit relatives and neighbors. People were curious to see her because foreigners were rarely seen in the small rural community.

No-chan was also surprised when people gave her lucky money, picked out the best food for her and exchanged New Year wishes around her.

After just a few days, No-chan was riding an electric motorbike around the neighborhood, visiting people, admiring the vast rice fields and enjoying the fresh air and peaceful atmosphere. After spending two weeks at her boyfriend’s home, the Japanese woman realized that she had come to feel she belonged there.

In 2024, No-chan returned to Japan. In early 2025, she accompanied Duan to Vietnam to celebrate Tet.

By mid-2026, No-chan had returned to Da Nang once again to visit her boyfriend’s family, even though Duan was too busy with work to travel with her.

The couple now live together in Japan. They plan to get married in the future, once their work and life have become more stable.

Thanh Minh