"Her German wasn't fluent, so I wanted to help," the 34-year-old police officer recalled their first meeting in early 2020. He didn't reveal anything other than his gaze following her until she disappeared.

The next day, Huyen and her friends went for sushi. Glancing at the next table, she noticed the German officer sitting there. They recognized each other but didn't speak. Huyen chatted with her friend, while Willi eavesdropped and memorized the name her friend used for her.

A few days later, they met for the third time while waiting at a traffic light. Willi considered this a "sign from the universe," not a coincidence. That night, he searched for her on Facebook. Luckily, a familiar face appeared as a profile picture.

Ngoc Huyen and Willi during their visit to Vietnam in 2025. Photo: Provided by the couple.

Willi's introductory message sat unread for a few days until one afternoon, Huyen scrolled through her phone and accidentally clicked on the "message requests" section. After a moment's thought, she decided to reply.

It started with polite exchanges, and Huyen was motivated to continue the conversation as she wanted to improve her German. Day by day, their feelings naturally blossomed.

A month later, they had their first official date. Standing in front of the mirror, Willi was as nervous as if he was about to embark on a special mission. He hesitated for a moment, then decided to shave and put on a shirt instead of his police uniform.

When she saw Willi approach, Huyen was taken aback by his transformed appearance. "He's really handsome," she thought. They strolled through the park before Willi confessed his feelings.

Their love story began with a series of coincidences and grew during the days the world was frozen by the pandemic. The man who was "as plain as rice" won her heart with his sincerity and the principle of "ladies first."

Huyen recounted that, seeing his extreme kindness, she once deliberately provoked him to add some "spice" to their relationship, but he remained unfazed. "The only time he got angry was when I broke a mirror. He was afraid I'd cut myself, so he wouldn't let me pick up the shards," the 30-year-old woman shared.

Ngoc Huyen and Willi during Christmas 2024. Photo: Provided by the couple.

At home, Willi is "as gentle as a lamb," but as soon as he puts on his uniform, he immediately becomes a disciplined officer. Once, when he picked Huyen up, her friend tried to offer him a drink, but Willi firmly refused. "Thank you, I'll drink when I'm not in uniform," he said.

Another time, the couple was walking down the street when they encountered a man hitting a woman. Willi immediately let go of his girlfriend's hand, grabbed the man by the collar, and pulled out his police badge. He called his colleagues to handle the situation before continuing his date with Huyen.

Witnessing this, Huyen felt a surge of pride in her boyfriend. "Every time he's working or wearing his uniform, I'm smitten," she said.

Since she started dating Willi, Huyen has almost had "no opportunity to grow up." He protects her everywhere, all the time. Conversely, whenever she does anything, even cooking a delicious meal or ironing clothes, he expresses his gratitude and appreciation. Initially, she thought it was due to his profession that he was so protective of women, until she met Willi's mother.

"His mother also treats me like a little girl who needs to be cared for and protected. From a young age, he was taught by his mother to be chivalrous towards women," Ngoc Huyen said.

For the German man, his relationship with the Vietnamese woman is destiny. She brings him feelings of being cared for, shared with, and loved with loyalty—things he never experienced in his two previous relationships.

"She's very affectionate," Willi said. "I was really surprised when Huyen said she wanted to take care of her in-laws in the future, instead of sending them to a nursing home, even though she works in that field."

Unfortunately, they didn't have the opportunity to do so. At the end of 2022, Willi's mother was diagnosed with bone cancer. Although she had a private doctor and was accustomed to an independent Western lifestyle, Huyen often encouraged Willi to visit his mother, sometimes just to sit with her and tell her stories to cheer her up.

The disease progressed rapidly. From someone who could still manage at home, she didn't survive after emergency surgery. Upon receiving the news, Huyen and Willi rushed home to his father. His mother had already been taken directly to the funeral home, with no final goodbye like in Vietnam. The funeral was brief, with many people attending, but almost no crying.

This cultural difference was initially difficult for Huyen to accept. But then, during the afternoons spent with Willi and his father at the dining table, where his mother's chair used to be, she gradually understood: Their lack of tears didn't mean they weren't grieving. They were just trying to contain their sorrow and process it internally. She decided to take a month off work to be with him and his father.

"Just her presence made me incredibly grateful," Willi shared.

They've been through good times and bad together. Willi became increasingly determined not to lose this Vietnamese woman. In the summer of 2023, he secretly bought an engagement ring. For months, he "plotted" the proposal, but it never felt like the right moment. And then, the moment arrived in a very ordinary way.

Ngoc Huyen and Willi take wedding photos in preparation for their two weddings, which will take place at the end of 2025 and early 2026. Photo: Provided by the couple.

On Christmas Eve, Berlin was adorned with festive lights. Their city apartment also twinkled with lights. Church bells chimed in the distance as the couple snuggled on the sofa. Suddenly, Willi got up and went into the room. Less than a minute later, he returned, knelt down, and held out the ring: "Marry me!" Surprised and moved, she nodded.

"I spent so many days planning the proposal, and in the end, I decided in 10 seconds," he said with a laugh.

At the end of 2023, the Hanoi woman introduced her fiance to her family and prepared the paperwork for their marriage. Since then, they have visited her family two more times. They plan to hold a wedding in Vietnam at the end of this year and another in Germany early next year.

Their love is fully supported by their families and friends. Recently, the couple even received a wedding congratulatory letter from the German Federal Police.

"I also officially changed my name to Willi Dam Wegener to show my pride and commitment to my love for Huyen," the officer said.

Phan Duong