My dear future children, maybe someday you will be interested in how your parents met. We wrote our love story out for the immigration, so we will as well keep it for you.
We first met in 8th April 2012 in Hanoi when Phuong was back to his home town for a short holiday. We knew each other through introduction of Phuong's cousin (Mr. Trung Nguyen Ha, my cousin and a close friend with Hanh). Because Phuong had not met his relatives for a long time as he mainly worked and resided in Australia, Phuong decided to invite Trung for a nice coffee at a coffee shop named Maxx and Hanh came with Trung on that day as a friend. We immediately had rapport and connection, then we went out together several times. Because I came back to Hanoi for only 1 week (7 April-14 April), we agreed to connect through internet. We kept in touch and quickly find in each others a trusted friend who shares many similarities. We spent hours daily to talk and chat with each others. And above all, we value highly and really appreciate each others.
Similar point of view and matching value systems allowed us to understand each others deeply. For example, we both studied at the special mathematic classes at the gifted school and attended different competitions / olympiads of mathematics and physics at various levels. We both lived in Europe for a while and experienced the university life abroad. We love study, scientific research, reading books and we are our types. But most importantly, we find the other person is the one we are looking for.
As Phuong's parents still live in Hanoi, Hanh had the opportunities to come visit Phuong's parents, relatives and Phuong's house multiple times, and her relationship with Phuong's parents and relatives deepened and they liked her a lot. She also joined such family special events and anniversaries, for instance: farewell to Phuong's cousin Ha Anh Minh to study overseas in Thai Lan, welcome party to Phuong's younger brother and Phuong's uncle back to visit home and so on.
Not too long after our first meet, Phuong came back to Vietnam again on 26 July 2012, and stayed until 7 September 2012 (more than 1 month). Due to the company Phuong works for having a branch in Hanoi, Phuong was allowed to work in Vietnam for a few weeks with normal pay. Thanks to it, Phuong had more time staying with his sweetheart (Hanh) and it truly remarked a milestone in our relationship.
In this time, our relationship was officially known to friends and family (we also publicized our relationship status on Facebook too since - see attachments for more information). Our families met, recognised and supported our relationship. We also introduced each others to our greater families, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends. I did join her cousin's wedding on 28th July 2012 which gained attention of her great family and relatives as well as friends (see picture...)
We celebrated our love with a trip to Sapa, a beautiful northern city from 31/08/2012 to 02/09/2012. Although it was a short trip,
It became a love that is so fulfilling both emotionally and intellectually. When I again go back to Melbourne, our connection and communication never got interrupted. We chatted all day. Our communication means went through many evolutions - different applications were used. Facebook, then Viber, then Line app were used daily. We also used iMessage and FaceTime - as we both have iPhone - and Skype as video chat. We send each others photos everyday, sometimes we get complained by other people for being glued to the smartphone, but we enjoy each other's truly.
I came back again to Vietnam for 1 month from 3rd February - 2nd March 2013 during Tet holiday.
She came to visit me in Melbourne from 28/04/2013 to 06/05/2013. During her stay in Melbourne, we went sightseeing a lot. We went around Melbourne city center, visited Melbourne Botanic Garden, Melbourne Zoo, Sanctuary Lake where my home is located, and enjoyed a night out watching Iron Man 3 together at Werribee. We also went to Sydney together and had a beautiful time. In Sydney, we stayed at Cambridge Hotel- small, convenient hotel located in Surry Hills (212 Riley Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia)Our marriage was planned for September 2013. We chose the day 10 September as the day of registration and 21 September (also her birthday) for the ceremony. I came back to Hanoi on 11th August in order to have enough time to prepare for the wedding. We also went to Hoi An and Da Nang for our wedding album.
In addition to these two dates (10/9 and 21/9), our wedding lunch was also organised in 18 September at the University where my father-in-law works. Preparations for these dates were very tedious, there were a lot of details and we have to constantly encourage ourselves that it is once-in-a-life-time, but thanks to the assistance of our parents and relatives, those 3 events were really successful and fulfilling. So many people came to wish us a happy life together. After the wedding, we planned to have our honeymoon in Phuket, but then decided to enjoy the honeymoon in Australia.
My wife has a good command of english and a Masters degree from Holland so we believe that she will be able to live and work in Australia. She also passed the exam to receive the driving license. After one year and 6 months relationship, now we just want to be with each others, to start our own family and our life together.
