Tran Dinh Manh (born 1996, from Ha Tinh) and Aura Lehikoinen (born 1990, from Finland) first met in May 2023 in Ba Dinh District, Hanoi. Aura worked at an embassy and had lived in Vietnam for a few years, while Manh was then a businessman.

When he saw her passing by his workplace, Manh boldly approached her to ask her about her contact number. 

Thanks to Aura's fluency in Vietnamese, the couple communicated effortlessly. From casual messages, they gradually opened up, shared more, and their bond grew stronger each day.

"I saw kindness and gentleness in her. She's compassionate and always helps others," he said.

After two months of getting to know each other, Manh brought his Finnish girlfriend to his hometown to meet his family. His parents were surprised and raised many questions. They were fond of the beautiful, polite foreign woman but also had concerns, particularly about the geographical distance and cultural differences between the two.

"My parents worried we wouldn't last long term. But over time, we proved we were truly compatible," Manh said.

In 2024, after nearly a year of dating, Manh visited Finland to meet Aura's family. He was warmly welcomed by her family, who treated him like one of their own. They even researched and cooked a full Vietnamese meal for him, which deeply touched Manh and made him feel valued.

That visit marked a significant step forward in their relationship. Overcoming minor arguments and brief breakups due to misunderstandings, they committed to nurturing their love and building a life together.

Foreign bride wins village's praise 

The couple's wedding ceremony took place on June 14 in HaTinh. A week earlier, Aura's family, including her mother (her father passed away), siblings, relatives, and friends—25 people in total—arrived in Vietnam to attend the ceremony.

Everything for the wedding day was prepared by the groom's family. As for the wedding feast, Dinh Manh specially prepared a few more dishes to suit the bride's family's taste. However, he found that they were more excited about the rustic dishes of Vietnam’s Central region.

The wedding followed traditional Vietnamese customs. 

"The evening was the most fun. Relatives and friends, along with local young people, danced joyfully. Everyone embraced the lively atmosphere," Manh said.

Aura's family was amazed by the vibrant Vietnamese wedding. In their homeland, they were used to intimate ceremonies with a few dozen guests. This was their first experience of a wedding with over 100 tables and a constant stream of attendees.

Thanh Minh