Ten years ago, Gan Liang Yu (68, from Taiwan, China) and Pham Thi Be Muoi (53, from Quoi An Commune, Vinh Long Province) met under difficult circumstances. At that time, both had experienced failed marriages. Yu had two adult daughters, while Muoi had a 14-year-old daughter.

Facing financial hardships, Muoi left her daughter with her parents in Vietnam to work in Taiwan, sending money home to raise her child.

One day at work, she happened to notice Yu walking with a small girl roughly her daughter's age. Overwhelmed by homesickness, she burst into tears on the spot. Curious, Yu approached her to ask what was wrong.

Following a long conversation about their family backgrounds, personal struggles, and past heartbreaks, the two found mutual empathy. Affection gradually grew into love, and they decided to build a life together.

Nguyen My Huyen, 24, Muoi’s daughter, said: "Because of poor conditions at that time, my parents simply lived together without holding a wedding. They lived in Taiwan while I stayed in Vietnam with my grandparents.”

“However, my parents frequently returned to visit and gave me great care, never letting me lack for anything. Over the past 10 years, I have always called my stepfather 'dad' with love and respect," she said.

After a decade of living together and raising their children, Muoi and her partner decided to hold an official wedding ceremony on July 28 in her hometown of Vinh Long. "For both my parents and me, this was the right and most mature time to celebrate," Huyen said.

Upon learning of her parents' intention, Huyen felt overjoyed. She stepped forward to help organize the wedding ceremony, from drafting the guest list and sending invitations to hiring a wedding tent vendor and preparing the banquet.

Half a month before the wedding, her stepfather and mother returned to Vietnam to finalize preparations.

A wedding filled with love

Wanting to honor local traditions, Huyen’s stepfather prepared six ceremonial gift trays along with other customary offerings. Throughout the preparations, he carefully learned the local wedding customs to ensure every ritual was observed properly.

On the wedding day, the groom and his procession gathered at a café about 500 meters from the bride’s home before carrying the gift trays to her house for the engagement and wedding ceremonies.

Representing the bride’s family were Muoi’s maternal uncle, elder sister and brother-in-law, who formally presented the bride to the groom. Relatives, neighbors and friends gathered to celebrate the couple.

“The wedding included all the traditional rituals. My father presented the gifts to ask for the bride’s hand, then he and my mother paid tribute to our ancestors and received blessings from both families.

“The most emotional moment for me was when my aunt, my mother's elder sister, held my mother's hand and entrusted her to my stepfather. At last, my mother had the complete wedding she had always deserved and officially became his wife,” Huyen said.

Although the celebration was modest rather than extravagant, it was warm and deeply meaningful.

“My parents smiled throughout the entire ceremony. Seeing how happy they were made me feel every bit of effort I had put into organizing the wedding was worthwhile,” she said.

During the ceremony, the groom told his bride: “Thank you for coming into my life, for sacrificing so much for me, for taking care of me, and for giving me another thoughtful and loving daughter.”

Holding back tears, Muoi replied: “I am so happy to have you by my side. Thank you for caring for my daughter and me, and for always protecting us.”

“Those simple words showed me just how deeply they love each other,” Huyen said.

Over the past decade, Huyen has witnessed the genuine affection her mother and stepfather share. They care for each other in everyday life, from preparing meals to looking after one another when illness strikes.

Like any couple, they have disagreements from time to time, but her stepfather is always the first to make peace.

“A few years ago, my father was involved in a life-threatening accident. My mother never gave up. She cared for him every day, believing he would recover, and eventually he did.

“My parents went through countless hardships before finding the happiness they have today.

“As their daughter, I feel incredibly grateful that they found each other and are now enjoying this chapter of life together,” Huyen said.

Thanh Minh