Brian Jeffrey
Celebrating Love Across Distances
Nguyen Duy Khuong, a 2000-born individual from Tay Ninh, and Huynh Thai Nhut, who is from 1999, have found joy in each other’s companionship, supported by their accepting families.
Their friendship blossomed after connecting on Facebook in mid-2023. At this time, Nhut was abroad, while Khuong was in Tay Ninh, and they exchanged messages as friends.
As time went on, Nhut began to realize his feelings were deepening. Khuong reminisces about how attentively Nhut catered to his needs, keeping the spark alive even when Khuong hesitated to embrace his emotions.
By mid-2024, Khuong embraced Nhut’s affectionate advances, officially dating without having met face-to-face yet.
When Nhut returned to Vietnam in November 2024, their first meeting occurred. Khuong felt anxious about how his partner’s family would react to their relationship, but to his delight, they received him warmly.
Initially, Nhut’s grandmother had doubts, but ultimately, she was touched by the genuine affection shared by the couple.
“We had a lovely family dinner, with all relatives present. Nhut’s mom invited me to stay overnight and introduced me to everyone the next day,” Khuong shared.
From a young age, Khuong was aware of his sexual identity but felt compelled to keep it secret from his family. It was through his relationship with Nhut that he gathered the strength to come out.
On November 19, 2024, Khuong confidently introduced Nhut to his parents by saying, “This is my boyfriend.” Although his parents appeared serious at first, Nhut’s cheerful demeanor soon eased the atmosphere, leading to acceptance of their relationship.
As their families were 42 kilometers apart, Nhut’s mother encouraged them to consider marriage soon, initiating discussions about engagement and wedding plans with Khuong’s parents.
The wedding took place on December 1-2, 2024, featuring 700 attendees.
During the ceremony, Khuong’s family presented an array of bridal gifts, including eight trays of fruits, a tray of tea and wine, and 11 gold bars. To support the couple, Nhut’s mother gifted VND100 million in cash, while Khuong’s family contributed four gold bars as part of the dowry.
