In 2019, Duong, 31, from Thai Binh, Vietnam, arrived in Aichi prefecture, Japan, as a nursing intern. With limited Japanese language skills, life in a foreign land was new for the man born in 1988. His romantic journey began in 2020 when he applied for a job at a local hospital. While waiting for the elevator, Duong saw a nurse drop a stack of documents and quickly bent down to help her pick them up. "Be careful, don't drop them again," Duong said in his still-clumsy Japanese.

The woman smiled and thanked him. In that moment, as their eyes met, Duong felt as if they had "known each other in a previous life." The image of the woman with her large, round eyes and high nose bridge stayed with him for days.

Duong and his girlfriend during a trip to Vietnam, early 2025. Photo courtesy of subject

The woman was Obama Saika. One month later, Duong was hired, and coincidentally, Saika became his work mentor. Day after day, the Vietnamese man diligently followed her, learning to read prescriptions, dispense medication, and care for patients. Despite developing feelings, Duong hesitated to confess due to the language barrier and concerns about cultural differences.

"In Japan, an awkward expression of affection can be seen as harassment and reported to the police. I feared trouble, so I only dared to care for her quietly," Duong recounted.

Whenever Saika worked overtime, Duong volunteered to stay and help her with paperwork. His consistent gestures, like hastily bought drinks and meals, gradually touched the Japanese woman. Once, when Duong dispensed the wrong medication, Saika took the blame to spare him from reprimand. This act of compassion motivated Duong to act.

In early 2023, after more than two years as colleagues, Duong decided to write a handwritten letter confessing his feelings, adding a message: "If you also have feelings for me, please write back."

Two days later, Duong gathered enough courage to hand the letter to her. Reading it at home, Saika burst into tears. She had been in a few relationships but had never received such a sincere handwritten letter.

However, Saika wanted time to think. A day, then two days passed without a reply, making Duong feel as if he had waited a month. "I considered two possibilities: either she loved me, or I would be reported to the police," he recalled with a laugh.

On the third day, Saika messaged back: "I'm also impressed with Duong. Let's take some time to get to know each other," along with her phone number and social media account. That evening, on their way home, they held hands for the first time.

Duong informed his family in Vietnam, but Saika kept their relationship a secret from her relatives and hospital colleagues. She wanted the relationship to be stable before going public, which made Duong uneasy. As an intern with a low income and not-yet-fluent Japanese, he worried about losing his girlfriend one day.

Working at the same hospital, Duong saw his girlfriend laughing and talking with male colleagues. He wanted to express his feelings but, due to his limited vocabulary, only blurted out, "You have a boyfriend, you shouldn't laugh with others." Saika felt controlled. The two entered a period of cold war, avoiding each other during work hours.

Despite this, whenever Saika worked overtime, Duong quietly stayed to help her with paperwork, then walked behind her after work. After three days, he messaged her to apologize, admitting his insecurity had overwhelmed him. Saika also promised to communicate more thoughtfully.

"Instead of feeling inferior, I must strive to be worthy of her," the young man realized. Duong worked and studied, earning a nursing care certificate, achieving N2 Japanese proficiency, and obtaining a driver's license. He also created social media content to increase his income. Every evening, he cooked and cleaned to share the burden with his girlfriend.

In late 2024, the couple bought their own home in Aichi. It was then that Saika officially introduced her boyfriend to her family and colleagues. "My parents were very satisfied knowing that despite being a foreign intern, I had made significant efforts to build a stable life," Duong shared. He was grateful that Saika had planned ahead, allowing him to make a dignified first impression.

Duong and Saika with family members at their wedding in December 2025. Photo courtesy of subject

In early 2025, the young couple visited Duong's family in Vietnam. Huong Nga, 57, Duong's mother, was surprised to see her future Japanese daughter-in-law roll up her sleeves and help with everything in the kitchen. "She always tried to speak Vietnamese," his mother said. During her one month in Thai Binh, Saika also assisted local residents with injections and administering medication as prescribed by doctors.

At their wedding, which took place in late 2025, they held ceremonies in both Vietnam and Japan. It was then that their hospital colleagues were astonished to learn Saika and Duong had been dating for nearly three years.

As they embark on this new chapter of marriage, they plan to open a private nursing home in Japan together before having their first child.

Currently, the handwritten letter from years ago is still carefully kept by Duong and his wife. For him, it is not just a confession of love, but proof of the courage to overcome barriers and fears to embrace happiness.

"If I hadn't taken the risk to write that letter back then, I would probably still be watching her from afar now," he said with a smile, holding his wife's hand tightly.

Pham Nga