After nearly seven years together, Thai Van Hai (born in 1995) from Thanh Phong Commune, Vinh Long, and Nguyen Hung So (born in 1997) from Thanh Hung Commune, An Giang, held wedding ceremonies in their hometowns in March and April 2026.

The weddings followed traditional Vietnamese customs, with the two families hosting more than 60 banquet tables in total.

Few people knew that behind the joyful occasion lay a long journey, from quietly protecting their relationship to finding the courage to come out and earn the blessing of both families.

Hai said that he realized he was part of the LGBT community as a child but always kept it secret from his family. While studying at university in HCMC, he had dated a few people of the same gender but never dared to come out.

Only when he met Hung So on social media in 2019, realizing the “missing piece” of his life had arrived, did Hai have enough courage to overcome all barriers and prejudice to hold onto this thread of fate.

The two had attended the same university but never knew each other. It was only in 2019, when Hai was pursuing a second degree and So was about to finish his master's thesis, that they connected.

After nearly 2 months of chatting online, they decided to meet in real life. The meeting made Hai believe even more that they were destined for each other, while So, on the contrary, still viewed them as just normal friends.

"At that time, So was busy with school and work, so he often ignored my messages. There were times I felt discouraged, but because I believed in my special feelings, I kept pursuing him," Hai said.

Hai frequently bought food and brought it to So's house. He also proactively picked So up for outings and work. Finally, So gradually opened his heart to this relationship.

Hai brought So back to his hometown for a visit and introduced him merely as a friend. His parents had no suspicion and believed the two were just close friends.

It took 3 years, when he truly believed that this was the person he wanted to commit to for the long run, for him to come out to his family.

"So's affection gave me the courage to do that," Hai said.

To prevent his parents from being "shocked," Hai asked his older sister to bring up the topic first. When his mother called to confirm, he finally shared everything he had kept hidden for so long, both who he truly was and his relationship with So.

"My father took it quite smoothly. My mother was sad and cried a lot, but she did not blame me. I think my mother might have vaguely sensed it before and was just waiting for me to say it," Hai shared.

Putting anxieties aside, Hai's mother decided to support her son in pursuing the happiness he desired. Hai will forever remember his mother's tearful advice: "I just hope you two live well and love each other."

"Unlike me, So came out with his family when he was 16 years old. When we first met, So had already shared it with his parents and received their support," Hai said.

Emotional moments 

Hai and So wanted to organize their wedding in 2024, but due to certain barriers, they had to postpone it.

In early 2026, when they were ready, the couple decided to hold the wedding. This was also the wish of both families, who wanted their children to have a meaningful milestone marking the moment they officially became life partners.

On March 29, 2026, the wedding was held in An Giang with 25 banquet tables. Two weeks later, the wedding was held in Vinh Long with 40 tables, where Hai's parents invited relatives and neighbors.

Amidst the bustling atmosphere of the joyful day, what moved Hai the most was the moment both sets of parents stood up to announce the union of the couple to their relatives. To him, this acknowledgment was more precious than any beautiful blessing.

"In our lives, we never dared to think we would have a complete wedding blessed and arranged by our parents like this," Hai said.

Currently, the couple lives and works in HCMC. After nearly 7 years together, they have officially entered a new stage of their lives with greater responsibility and a tighter bond.

Thanh Minh