After eight years living under the same roof and going through many ups and downs together, Nguyen Hung, 38, from Nghe An, still vividly remembers how he met his “kindred spirit,” Diem My, 37, from Ninh Thuan, now Khanh Hoa Province.

Both Hung and My have growth hormone deficiency, so even in adulthood they have small physiques. At 38, Hung is 1.25m tall and weighs 25kg, while My is 1.19m tall and weighs 20kg.

The couple met in 2016 when Hung was teaching at the Living Willpower Center in Hanoi, while My was living in her hometown.

After seeing Hung on television, My thought to herself: “There is someone in this world as small as me?” Curious and admiring his determination, she searched for him and connected via social media.

Sympathizing with My’s similar circumstances, Hung introduced her to study at the center. On the day she traveled to Hanoi to enroll, he had to return home for his mother’s funeral. Even so, he asked friends to help pick her up and arrange accommodation carefully.

He later secured a scholarship for her so she could study and live there free of charge. His thoughtful care deeply moved My.

“Perhaps because she was so touched, My called and messaged to confess her feelings to me. I refused many times and told her: ‘I am only helping you as I would help anyone else.’ But she did not give up.

“Many times, after having a drink, she would call to say she missed and cared about me. Her sincerity gradually moved me,” Hung recalled.

Their relationship caused both families great concern. Hung’s father advised him: “You are small like this, why not find a taller wife so you can support each other in the future?”

My’s mother also asked her daughter: “You are so petite, are you afraid marriage will be difficult?”

Understanding his father’s worries, Hung once cut off contact with his girlfriend.

When My received her first salary, she bought him a shirt and went to his home to give it to him. The new shirt and a serious conversation about their future helped mend their broken connection. From that point, they truly understood each other and became steadfast in their relationship.

Happy marriage

Seeing their determination, both families eventually supported and encouraged them. The couple held their wedding in November 2019 in both the groom’s and bride’s hometowns.

In Nghe An, Hung’s family prepared 80 wedding tables, welcoming about 500 guests. Their love story drew curiosity from many locals, and numerous attendees offered sincere blessings.

“Many friends I hadn't seen for a long time, so I didn't invite them, but on the wedding day, they still came to congratulate us. The wedding was more crowded than expected,” Hung shared.

After getting married, the couple lived and worked in Hanoi. Initially, they rented a 3-bedroom apartment with a group of close friends to save costs. My worked as a photo editor at a company, while Hung was a full-time teacher at the Will to Live Center.

In 2021, with 630 million VND in hand, the couple "ventured" to buy an apartment in Hanoi to build their own nest. Hung remembers forever that day they bought the house while lacking more than 1 billion VND. While My was restless with worry,  he calmly advised: “If the debt still pressures us in 3-4 years, we will sell the house to pay it off.”

In the end, thanks to the love and enthusiastic support of relatives and friends, the couple had the home of their dreams.

The new house was hand-decorated and arranged by the couple. They removed the old kitchen and rebuilt a new one to fit their tiny height; the wardrobe was also specially designed for easy use. He bought an aluminum ladder so the couple could reach items up high. Whatever they could not handle, they asked neighbors for help.

The couple came together from empathy and live together with respect and understanding. Their marriage is peaceful; the small home rarely has arguments.

My has quit her job at the company to support her husband in content creation work. They live peacefully together with cozy meals, leisurely afternoon teas, and travel trips to explore new lands.

Ha Nguyen