To his comrades, Pham Hong Diep's love story was an ideal role model for them to admire and respect. According to him, they were both from Ninh Binh, close to each other, practically separated by a green hedge of morning glory. They knew each other since childhood but never spoke. Growing up and joining the military meant he was often away from home, so the image of his neighbor with the pigtails was vague and faded in his memory. At the end of 2022, Hong Diep arranged time to take leave to visit his family before returning to work in Khanh Hoa .

First Lieutenant Pham Hong Diep and his girlfriend Truong Thi Mai. Photo provided by the subject.

One afternoon, after strolling around the neighborhood and observing the changes in his hometown, he caught a glimpse of a slender girl in the distance, with an oval face, rosy cheeks, carrying many bags, and beads of sweat on her forehead. He walked closer and was even more astonished by her beauty. After a few minutes, they quickly recognized each other. Diep helped Mai carry her bags home; the journey seemed shorter, and a glimmer of joy began to grow in his heart.

Returning home, during family dinner, the young officer skillfully recounted the afternoon's events to his parents, seemingly seeking more information about the girl next door. Guessing her son's intentions, his mother smiled and said, "Mai is a beautiful girl, both in appearance and character. I really like her. If you're still home, go over there, say hello to everyone, and talk to get to know each other better."

Hearing her mother's words was like "opening her heart." Every day, sometimes she would come over to help with housework and decorating for Tet (Lunar New Year), other times she would fix broken electrical or plumbing systems for Mai's house; sometimes she would even bring delicious dishes her mother cooked to share with her "neighbors." With her quick and efficient work ethic and open personality, and her willingness to help with anything, big or small, Diep was well-liked by Mai's parents and everyone else. As for Mai, after many conversations and understanding more about his duties and work, she developed feelings of affection, admiration, and respect for him. Before they knew it, their feelings for each other blossomed.

The evening before Diep returned to his unit, they took a walk around the village, breathing in the fresh air. He held her hand tightly and confessed his sincere love. Mai was moved to accept the feelings of the young officer, who was also her trusted neighbor. Because of the long-distance relationship, the young officer and the teacher could only see each other regularly through social media. Throughout their four years together, the most difficult time was when he was assigned to work in Truong Sa. But with faith and perseverance, they always remained devoted to each other.

When Diep returned to the mainland, their story was no longer just about longing, but about shared plans for the future. The young couple were planning a beautiful wedding, like a piece of music gradually coming to a close—the melody of happiness drawing ever closer.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/hen-uoc-vong-hoa-cuoi-1033564