Every day at 5 p.m., as the sun's intensity waned, Mr. Francois and his father-in-law, Mr. Vo Tran Tien, would head to the Hau river for a swim. The two men, one tall with fair skin, the other slender with sun-darkened skin, immersed themselves in the turbid, alluvial waters.

Over the past two months, the sight of the foreign man living like a Mekong Delta farmer has become familiar in Hoa Long commune, Dong Thap.

Videos recorded by Ms. Vo Vy, 32, showing her French in-laws bathing in the river, gardening, and making banh xeo (Vietnamese savory pancakes) have garnered millions of views on social media.

Mr. Jean Francois, 64 (left), a Frenchman, and his father-in-law Mr. Vo Tran Tien, 62, from Hoa Long commune, bathing in the river, 4/2026. Photo: *Vy Vo*.

Mr. Francois, 64, and Mrs. Martine, 63, arrived to visit their daughter-in-law Vo Vy's family in early 2/2026. This was their second trip to Vietnam after their son Jason Cavaille married Ms. Vy in 2024. Their previous visit was only two days, and they regretted not having enough time to learn about local customs. Therefore, in early 2026, they decided to stay for about one week.

Arriving in Dong Thap on the 28th day before Tet, Mr. Francois observed families diligently cleaning their homes, whitewashing, and spraying down fences from morning until night. "I felt like I had stepped into a cleaning festival. Everyone I met smiled and greeted me, even if we were strangers," he recounted.

Mr. Francois and Mrs. Martine joined their in-laws in the preparations. Mr. Vo Tran Tien explained that communication was primarily through gestures, but Mr. Francois followed along with every task, from tilling the garden soil to helping paint the gate. Meanwhile, Mrs. Martine swept the yard, cooked in the kitchen, and helped arrange fruit on the altar for offerings.

The following day, Mrs. Martine began her Mekong Delta experience by accompanying her mother-in-law, Mrs. Pham Thi Nga, to the local market early in the morning, buying flowers for Tet decorations, and learning to make banh xeo. "Cleaning the house and taking the ferry across the river to visit relatives allowed us to observe the tradition of family reunion after a year of work for the local people," Mrs. Martine stated.

The Francois family photographed with their in-laws during Tet, 2/2026. Photo: *Provided by subject*.

Since Ms. Vy's parents' home did not have enough rooms, Mr. Francois and his wife rented a nearby hotel for the nights. During the day, they spent all their time at their in-laws' house.

Each morning, Mr. Francois and Mr. Tien shared coffee. The meal menu featured no European dishes, replaced instead with boiled vegetables dipped in soy sauce, braised pork with eggs, and fresh fruit. Mr. Francois shared: "I ate fruit with cold rice, a local custom. The taste was very unique, nutty, and refreshing."

In the afternoon, the couple was taken on motorbike rides around the neighborhood by the family. Locals frequently invited Mr. Francois into their homes for tea. "In France, neighbors typically maintain personal space. It's interesting how all the families here know each other," he remarked. Over two months, outside of gardening, the two fathers-in-law maintained their routine of river bathing, karaoke, napping in hammocks, and teaching each other languages.

After the Tet holidays, Mr. Francois decided to postpone his return to France to remain in the Mekong Delta because he "loved the life here too much."

Mr. Jean Francois, 64 (left), a Frenchman, and his father-in-law Mr. Vo Tran Tien, 62, from Hoa Long commune, 4/2026. Photo: *Vy Vo*.

Ms. Vy mentioned that she often sent videos of her family's life in the countryside via chat groups to update her in-laws. Despite this, she was surprised when her father-in-law hugged her parents and cried during their reunion. During their time in Vietnam, both sets of parents worked together on household chores, gardening, and visiting neighbors. "That action bridged the cultural barrier. I appreciate my in-laws taking the time to learn about where I grew up," Ms. Vy said.

By the end of 4/2026, Mr. Francois and his wife had to return to France. On their farewell day, both families shed tears. To ease the longing, Mr. Tien began learning to use his phone to send messages in French to Mr. Francois using a translation tool.

Currently, Mr. Francois is planning to return to Vietnam and is considering living alternately between the two countries in the future. "My son and daughter-in-law also live and work in Vietnam. Dong Thap is now a place where a family awaits my return," he said.

Nga Thanh