Exactly 19 years ago, Viet was a student at the Naval Academy. During a cultural exchange event organized by the Ha Tinh Medical College, the witty "d5" student, who had returned home for a visit, was also present. When student Tran Thi Nhung appeared on stage, Viet was completely captivated by her charm. It wasn't until Nhung finished singing the song "So Close to Truong Sa" and went down to interact with the audience that Viet had a chance to approach her.

The happy home of Lieutenant Colonel Bui Van Viet.

It's unclear how, but by the end of the gathering, Viet had obtained Nhung's address. Both from Cam Xuyen ( Ha Tinh province ), the two quickly became close and... fell in love. However, they had to endure eight years of trials before finally getting married. They started dating in 2006, but broke up three years later. After five years of pretending not to see each other, they realized they couldn't live without each other. A warm wedding was held with the blessings of family, friends, and comrades. The groom looked dignified in his new navy blue military uniform; the bride was graceful in her flowing white ao dai. Just ten days after their wedding, Viet received orders to go to sea on a mission...

Nearly a month after Viet left, his mother had an accident. At that time, Nhung, who had just become a daughter-in-law, had to shoulder all the responsibilities in the family. From early morning, she rushed to the hospital to care for her mother-in-law, then returned to the commune's health station to work. At noon, Nhung made time to visit and encourage her mother, and in the afternoon, after work, she went back to the hospital to care for her. For three long months, Nhung silently cared for her mother-in-law, often almost to the point of exhaustion, but she still persevered so that her husband could focus on his work far out at sea. They overcame many challenges, and their love blossomed. In early 2015, Nhung gave birth to their first son, Bui Tran Minh Nhat. Exactly three years later, the family welcomed their second child, a daughter, Bui Tran Diem Quynh.

On the same CSB 8005 (Coast Guard Region 3) ship sailing to India on a military diplomatic mission, Lieutenant Colonel Bui Van Viet shared with me: "Luckily, thanks to this exchange, I met my lovely wife. If you ever come back to my hometown, please come visit my house..."

During a recent business trip to Ha Tinh, I took the opportunity to visit a Vietnamese family. In their small, simple house in the flood-prone area of ​​Cam Xuyen, Ms. Tran Thi Nhung was busy cleaning. Seeing us arrive, she quickly stopped what she was doing, greeted us, and poured us some water. Nhung confided, “Having a husband who is a Coast Guard soldier is a great honor, but it’s also quite difficult. My parents and in-laws are both elderly, and my work at the commune health station is busy. My civil servant salary is limited, so I have to try to save and economize. Every Tet holiday, when I take my children out to visit relatives and friends, the women at the station often tease me: ‘You’re married but you’re still single.’ Hearing that, I miss my husband terribly. Because of his duty, he and his comrades are always on duty in the remote sea area.”

Ms. Tran Thi Nhung is happy alongside her husband, Lieutenant Colonel Bui Van Viet.

Although she had accepted that being the wife of a Coast Guard soldier meant he would be away from home frequently, Nhung still felt a pang of sadness every time she saw her husband off at the bus station as he returned to his unit. She shared: "After he left, the house felt bigger and emptier. We got married in 2014, and it's been 11 years now, but if you add up the time we've spent together, it's probably only a few months. Both times I gave birth, I had to go through the delivery alone, and sometimes when I think back, I feel sad. Luckily, he's kind and gentle; even when I'm angry, he just smiles and shrugs it off..."

When talking about personal feelings, Nhung's voice was soft and full of emotion: "What I remember most is the first time Viet took leave to go on duty. The emotions were so intense, hard to express in words. We were separated, missing each other terribly, and when we met again, we felt so awkward... and then there was a whole world of happiness. I remember the afternoon before he took the bus to Coast Guard Region 3, during dinner, our eldest son, Bui Tran Minh Nhat, personally served food to his father and said, 'Dad, eat, I love you so much!' Hearing him say that, Viet hugged him and said, 'I love Mom and you two very much too. You must be well-behaved, obedient to Mom, and study hard.' Our youngest daughter, Bui Tran Diem Quynh, whined, 'Dad, you have to stay home with us, don't go away again!' That night, we tossed and turned. Thinking about our children, we felt so sorry for them, but because of our duty, we had to put our personal feelings aside..."

The love story of Lieutenant Colonel Bui Van Viet and his wife Tran Thi Nhung is simple yet touching. To allow her husband to focus on his work in the harsh environment, Nhung overcame adversity and strived to excel in all her duties. She deserves to be recognized as a loyal wife, a gentle mother, and someone who loves her husband and children unconditionally.

Text and photos: PHAN TIEN DUNG

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    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/phong-su/nho-giao-luu-duoc-vo-hien-831534