In July 2022, during a simple wedding ceremony in Long Thanh district, 33-year-old Nguyen Thanh Huy placed a ring on the finger of his visually impaired bride. At that moment, Vo Ngoc Hieu was filled with emotion, as the happiness she thought existed only in dreams had become a reality.

"There were times we thought we couldn't overcome the obstacles to reach this day," the 29-year-old bride recalled.

Ngoc Hieu's wedding in July 2022. Photo courtesy of the subject

Ngoc Hieu's wedding in July 2022. Photo courtesy of the subject

Hieu was born with one eye clouded like fog. Her childhood was a series of self-conscious days due to her frail body, disabled leg, and asymmetrical face. The teasing and bullying at school made young Hieu run home, hiding in a corner and crying. This insecurity followed Hieu into adulthood. She became withdrawn, without friends, only staying home selling goods online.

As a young woman, Hieu opened her heart to a man from her hometown. But when they considered marriage, his family outright rejected her because of her appearance. "That shock plunged me into despair. I assumed I would live alone for the rest of my life," Hieu said.

Then, another man unexpectedly entered her life. In mid-2021, during Vietnam's strict Covid-19 lockdown, Hieu joined a social media group to find someone to talk to. An account named Thanh Huy, four years her senior, from Gia Lai, initiated contact.

The first messages were casual inquiries, but they gradually found common ground as they shared their family situations. Hieu felt sympathy for the man, the youngest of 9 siblings, whose parents had both passed away. Huy, in turn, saw a profound soul in this woman, despite never having met her.

After many days of messaging, Huy suggested a video call. Hieu felt a flicker of hesitation and fear. She was afraid her appearance would disappoint him. "But I thought he needed to know the truth. Only if he accepted it could we go further," Hieu recounted. She agreed, but throughout the call, she kept her head down, her heart pounding.

Contrary to Hieu's worries, Huy was not deterred. He saw a woman with gentle features, a soft voice, and sincerity. "I was attracted by her understanding nature and beautiful soul," Huy recalled. After that call, he communicated even more, realizing they both desired a serious relationship.

In March 2022, Huy surprised Hieu with a photo of himself on a bus, along with the message, "I'm on my way to see you." Hieu was stunned. He had traveled 500 km from Gia Lai to Dong Nai just to meet her.

Hieu's father picked Huy up at the bus station. During his week-long stay at her house, Huy spent time talking with her family, gradually understanding the emotional wounds Hieu had endured since childhood. He realized that behind her quiet demeanor was a loving woman who yearned for affection.

One afternoon in the family garden, Huy took Hieu's hand and stammered, "I will make it up to you." That simple confession was a promise for the future.

However, their journey faced strong opposition from Hieu's mother. Having witnessed her daughter's heartbreak from previous rejection, she feared history would repeat itself. "My child is disabled. What if he can't handle it and leaves? She'll suffer again. And then the gossip, the neighbors' judgment, how could she bear it?" Mrs. Linh (Hieu's mother) recounted her thoughts at the time.

Returning to Gia Lai, Huy began the process of persuading his family. Every night, he called to encourage his girlfriend, reaffirming his determination. He told his siblings that his insurance sales job back home was unstable and that he could move to Dong Nai, both to care for Hieu and find new work. He also worried about Hieu's frail health and her inability to withstand the cold winters of the highlands. Huy's sincerity gradually convinced his siblings.

Meanwhile, in Dong Nai, Hieu was distraught, falling ill and bedridden. Seeing her daughter wither, Mrs. Linh's husband advised her, "We can't protect her forever. Give her a chance at happiness." Listening to her husband and witnessing Huy's persistence, Mrs. Linh's heart softened.

In June 2022, the door to happiness opened. Huy returned to Dong Nai for the second time, but this time he wasn't alone. His siblings accompanied him to formally ask Hieu's family for permission for the couple to pursue a long-term relationship. Standing in the yard, Hieu burst into tears when she saw the familiar figure of her beloved leading the procession, smiling and waving at her.

Their third meeting, in July 2022, was also the time they prepared for their wedding. Huy brought small gifts: a lipstick, some hair clips, a handbag. These were the first gifts Hieu had ever received from a man.

On 23/7, a cozy wedding ceremony was held. The guests included only family members from both sides and close friends from Hieu's disability support group. "It was the happiest day of my life," she said.

After the wedding, Huy kept his promise, moving from Gia Lai to Dong Nai to live with his wife's family and taking up lottery ticket sales to have time to care for her. Life was still challenging, but their small home was always filled with laughter.

Vo Ngoc Hieu's family in Long Thanh district, Dong Nai, July 2025. Photo courtesy of the subject

Vo Ngoc Hieu's family in Long Thanh district, Dong Nai, July 2025. Photo courtesy of the subject

In 2023, Hieu became pregnant with their first child, a mix of joy and anxiety. Fearing the child might inherit her condition, Huy took his wife to Ho Chi Minh City for checkups every week. By the 6th month, Hieu was so weak she couldn't stand and had to use a wheelchair. Every afternoon, after returning from selling lottery tickets, Huy diligently massaged her limbs to ease her fatigue.

During labor, Hieu struggled with pain in the cold delivery room, at times thinking she wouldn't survive. But through the glass window, she always saw her husband waiting. The moment her daughter's cries echoed, Hieu felt reborn.

"If it weren't for him and hearing my child's voice, I probably wouldn't have made it," she said.

Standing outside in the hallway, Mrs. Linh silently wiped away her tears. She had witnessed everything. From a fearful mother, she was now completely at ease seeing her son-in-law personally washing clothes and caring for his wife's every meal and sleep.

"Seeing their love for each other, I know my daughter has found the right person. Now I have nothing more to worry about," she smiled.

Ngoc Ngan