In 2022, after four years of studying abroad, 27-year-old Le Mai Anh returned to TP HCM for work. One weekend evening, she and a friend visited a newly opened South African restaurant.

Cawood Matthew Blaze, the 28-year-old owner, was preparing to leave. Seeing the customers, he stayed to introduce the menu. Noticing the female guest was sitting directly in the air conditioner's draft, Blaze discreetly adjusted the temperature.

Impressed by his thoughtfulness and the unique flavors of the food, Mai Anh went home and left a 5-star review on Google Maps, along with positive comments to support the restaurant. Two days later, she received a thank-you message from Blaze, which included an invitation for coffee.

"I was impressed by her confident demeanor from our first meeting. Reading her sincere review further deepened my positive impression," the South African man recalled.

Blaze proposed to Mai Anh at a restaurant in TP HCM in 2024. Photo: Le Mai Anh

Initially, Mai Anh only intended to meet Blaze to make a new friend in the city. However, their wine date extended beyond expectations as they discovered common ground in their childhood stories and journeys of independence.

Blaze was born into a Catholic family in South Africa. Family challenges forced him to mature early, leading him to work part-time from the age of 14. Despite having a stable job, he decided to move to Vietnam to start a business. In Mai Anh – who had worked for a non-governmental organization in the UK but left it all to return home and be closer to her parents – Blaze recognized a modern woman who still valued family.

Their affection grew through shared sports activities and a healthy lifestyle. Blaze won Mai Anh over not only with his personal attention but also through his treatment of those around him. When the restaurant was quiet, he often chatted with staff, asking about their future aspirations. Learning that the cleaner's daughter was ill, Blaze visited her at home to offer support.

"His kindness deeply moved me," Mai Anh said.

As their feelings deepened, Mai Anh faced an internal conflict. She had given up her career in the UK to be closer to her parents. Now, she was in love with a foreigner, and their future in Vietnam was uncertain. Mai Anh's parents worried their only daughter might face disadvantages due to the geographical distance and language differences. They proposed an "online interview" before an official introduction.

Blaze prepared for the meeting as meticulously as a job interview. He practiced answering difficult questions. However, when facing his future in-laws on screen, he chose to speak honestly about his feelings and made a commitment: "If Mai Anh wants to move to Ha Long, I am ready to follow."

However, true trust was forged when the two families – Vietnamese and South African – met via video call. Blaze's parents explained the meaning of his name, "Blaze," signifying fire and symbolizing determination. They showed their future in-laws a bedroom sketch Blaze had drawn himself at 6 or 7 years old, as proof of his independence from a young age.

"Observing Blaze's parents' conversation and the happiness within their family, I believe my son-in-law is well-raised," said Bui Thi Tam, 52, Mai Anh's mother.

Mai Anh and Blaze on their wedding day in 2024. Photo provided by subject

In 2024, the couple married after two years of dating. However, a multicultural marriage presented its own challenges. Three months after the wedding, Mai Anh was shocked when her husband said, "I need some time alone."

Accustomed to close connections, she feared her husband no longer loved her. After candid conversations, Mai Anh understood that for Westerners, personal space is essential for recharging, not a sign of emotional distance. She learned to respect her husband's need for "alone time," using that period for yoga and self-care.

The next challenge arrived when Mai Anh became pregnant. Keeping his promise, Blaze and his wife moved to Ha Long, Quang Ninh, to live with her family. Coming from a private life in TP HCM, the South African man was overwhelmed by the Vietnamese extended family culture: open doors and relatives visiting without prior notice.

To adapt, they established a principle of honest communication. Mai Anh acted as a cultural bridge, while Blaze learned patience and integration. In return, he received unwavering support from his in-laws with childcare – something rare in Western cultures.

After one year of marriage, Blaze grew to appreciate the warm atmosphere of the Vietnamese family. The young couple occasionally reminisces about that fateful dinner. "I gave a 5-star rating just to encourage a stranger, never expecting it would bring me a family," Mai Anh said.

Pham Nga