Finding life partner in foreign land

In 2024, Vu Quang Huy (32, Do Son Ward, Hai Phong) faced personal upheavals in his life. The setback prompted him to move to a new land and seek a new job to rebuild his life, choosing Thailand as his destination.

He never expected that this trip would bring him the precious gift of a gentle life partner, ready to leave her homeland and family for him. That woman is Patcharaporn Wuttingam (commonly known as Tao, 31), from Bangkok, Thailand. The couple has been living under the same roof for nearly two years.

When he first arrived in Thailand, Huy worked as a server at a restaurant where, by chance, Tao and her friends came to dine. With basic English skills, they conversed cheerfully, both feeling a special mutual attraction to keep the conversation going.

Huy actively asked for Tao's contact information to talk more. Despite the physical distance and inability to meet frequently, Huy felt as if fate had led him to the right person.

"Whenever I had free time, I went to meet Tao, taking her out to eat and spend time together. I liked Tao's big round eyes, while Tao liked my gentle, approachable nature," Huy shared.

After three months of knowing each other, the couple officially began dating. Two months later, they received the news that they were expecting their first child. To this day, Huy vividly remembers the sheer astonishment and overwhelming happiness of that moment, embracing each other in tears upon realizing they were becoming parents.

However, happiness came with hardships. It was the most memorable period in Huy's life as his job was unstable and finances were tight, forcing him to struggle so his wife and child would not lack anything.

"Those days were very long and difficult. I saved every penny to afford Tao's prenatal check-ups, but sometimes it still wasn't enough. We had to be frugal with food and daily expenses. Wanting to be independent, we chose not to rely on our families," Huy recalled.

Language and cultural differences also led to conflicts. However, one thing they were always certain of was never giving up on each other. Huy was ready to remain in Thailand if it benefited their life, while Tao was equally prepared to leave her family for Vietnam to live with her husband's family if it was better for their home.

Ultimately, they chose to move to Vietnam in August 2025 when their firstborn daughter reached six months of age.

Comical moments watching football together

Huy and his family returned to the warm welcome of his parents, who were thrilled to have a gentle and understanding Thai daughter-in-law.

The couple lived in Hai Phong with Huy's parents. In an unfamiliar environment, Tao faced numerous challenges adapting to the lifestyle and daily habits of her husband's family.

At times, she had to listen and observe carefully to understand her mother-in-law, while her mother-in-law tried every way to convey her message. On several occasions, when mutual understanding failed, they felt both frustrated and amused.

Later, Huy's mother patiently taught her Vietnamese, showed her how to go to the market, cook, and shared the family's lifestyle habits to help her integrate more easily.

"Part of the reason Tao likes living in Vietnam is the friendly neighbors. People often ask her 'Is Vietnam beautiful?', 'Do you like it in Vietnam?', 'Is Vietnamese food delicious?'. Tao clearly feels everyone's care in every question. 

Two months ago, we moved to Hanoi to build our own separate home," Huy shared.

Living with his Thai wife, what Huy finds most entertaining are the times they watch football together, especially matches between Vietnam and Thailand.

Tao is a gentle and quiet person, but when watching football, her strong personality shines through. Huy clearly remembers watching both the first and second legs of the ASEAN Cup 2024 finals together, experiencing contrasting emotions as the two teams traded goals.

When Vietnam ultimately secured victory and lifted the gold cup, Tao felt regret while Huy danced in celebration. That humorous moment remained unforgettable for Huy.

On the evening of August 22, before the first leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final between Vietnam and Thailand, Huy cooked Thai hotpot to playfully tease his wife.

The young couple ate hotpot while watching the match with contrasting emotions. When the Vietnamese team scored, Huy cheered loudly, while Tao gave her husband a "warning" look. That humorous and endearing moment went viral on TikTok after being posted, garnering over 500,000 views.

Thanh Minh