Vo Ha Tram and Vikas: a cross-cultural love story

Singer Vo Ha Tram and businessman Vikas's love grows stronger through their adaptation to and understanding of Vietnamese and Indian cultures.

According to Vo Ha Tram, their shared love for Vietnam and India is key to their happiness. "We have grown closer and more understanding of each other after almost 10 years together," the singer said.

In August, Vikas and their two children appeared in Vo Ha Tram's music video (MV) "Nguyen la nguoi Viet Nam" ("I Vow to Be Vietnamese"), which garnered millions of views.

"I was happy that my husband wanted to be in my project for National Day (2/9), as he has a great love for Vietnam," she said.

Vo Ha Tram dressed as an Indian woman in colorful attire.

MV "Nguyen la nguoi Viet Nam" (composed by Doan Minh Quan).

35-year-old Vo Ha Tram, from Ho Chi Minh City, has won several awards in music competitions such as "Tuoi doi menh mong" (2005), "Tieng hat Chu ve con" (2006), "Ngoi sao tieng hat truyen hinh" (2007), "Guong mat than quen" (2016), and "Hay nghe toi hat" (2018).

In 2023, Vo Ha Tram's music project "The Love Journey" resonated with audiences. The MVs for "Chiec la vo tinh" and "Hoa co mua xuan" (by Bao Chan), filmed at famous Indian landmarks and combining musical characteristics of both countries, were well-received.

Having navigated many differences, they choose respect and listening as their way to nurture their marriage. Vo Ha Tram said, "We don't have big arguments because we both know how to yield. He's calm in many situations, helping me stay balanced and avoid getting upset."

She said music helped them find love across borders. In 2017, Vo Ha Tram met Vikas, a Mumbai-based businessman 12 years her senior, at a party. He asked for her phone number. "His sincerity and simplicity touched my heart," she recalled.

In their early conversations, they often discussed their respective cultures. Vikas said he knew Vietnam through business trips, while Vo Ha Tram learned about India through books and media.

In 2019, they held a traditional Vietnamese wedding. Vo Ha Tram and Vikas wore matching "ao dai." Some of the groom's relatives wore Hindu attire.

"For me, our wedding day was a blend of two cultures that we are working hard to connect," she said.

Vo Ha Tram with her mother-in-law during a visit to India.

The singer acknowledges differences in beliefs, cuisine, and lifestyle are inevitable in marriage. Vikas enjoys spicy Indian food, while Vo Ha Tram is a vegetarian. Instead of letting these differences cause conflict, they compromise.

Vo Ha Tram learned to cook curry, stewed beans, and chapati for her husband. Vikas tried vegetarian dishes with his wife, along with pho and braised fish. Vo Ha Tram recalled the time he tried "mam tom" (fermented shrimp paste) and immediately needed a drink of water. "Even so, he never complained but considered it a unique characteristic, always showing a certain respect," she said.

The singer learned Hindi to communicate with his family. During visits to her husband's family, Vo Ha Tram participated in festivals and learned local dances. "I remember my first Diwali, a major Indian festival with many traditional rituals. I wore a bindi (red dot on the forehead) and a garland of yellow flowers. My sister-in-law took me to get a sari and jewelry."

When her mother-in-law visited Vietnam, Vo Ha Tram introduced her to the beauty of different regions. "The two cultures share similarities, valuing humanism, tradition, and interpersonal relationships. This harmony helps us find common ground, learn, and share," she said.

The MV "Ve voi em" brought Vo Ha Tram greater public recognition after nearly 20 years in the industry.

Vikas, wearing an "ao dai" and holding their child, surprised his wife on set.

Vo Ha Tram's family enjoyed a spring trip earlier this year. Vikas now considers Vietnam his second home. He manages several projects and a company with many employees in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vikas believes that developing his business contributes to Vietnam's overall growth. He was impressed by the patriotism displayed by millions of people during the recent 30/4 and 2/9 holidays.

He says he loves his wife even more when he sees her in an "ao dai," singing patriotic songs on stage. Vo Ha Tram is grateful for her husband's unwavering support in pursuing her passion. In his free time, he accompanies her to entertainment events and invests in her artistic projects.

With the arrival of their children, Moon (2019) and Milo (2024), their love deepened. The children are raised in a trilingual environment: Vietnamese, English, and Hindi. According to Vo Ha Tram, her husband insists she teach their children fluent Vietnamese before any other language. Vikas also enjoys speaking Vietnamese daily with his staff and children.

"My husband and I don't have many differences in parenting styles. I let our children develop naturally, gradually appreciating the beauty of both cultures. We video call Vikas's family in India weekly so the children can connect with their grandparents," Vo Ha Tram said.

Vo Ha Tram's husband speaks Vietnamese.