The stormy love story of a British boy and a Vietnamese girl

At that time, the British man was a student, had been through several relationships and lost faith in love. He planned to give up on dating completely but decided to give it one last try by creating a profile on the app and sending a message to Nhu Quynh, a girl from Ca Mau.

"Her innocence and sense of humor set her apart from the rest," the Manchester native said of their first call in 2017 with Như Quỳnh.

The Vietnamese girl was frank in her self-description, saying that she had polyneuropathy, which caused muscle atrophy and paralysis and required her to use a wheelchair for a while. Although she had regained her mobility, Quynh was still weak and unable to do heavy work, so she had to stay home to help her family.

After the first call, they realized that they had one thing in common, they wanted to find true love. From that day on, despite the 7-hour time difference, regular conversations made Kyril believe in his feelings. They became a couple after a month.

On February 1, 2018, Kyril flew to Vietnam on his girlfriend's birthday. Quynh's parents did not believe in online dating and even less in the longevity of long-distance relationships, but they still packed up and went to Ho Chi Minh City to pick up her boyfriend.

The first time they met in person, the young couple hugged each other at the airport. The two-week trip to Vietnam brought the British man through many surprises but more confidence in the future of this love story.

What impressed Kyril the most was the feeling of closeness and warmth like at home. "It's hard to believe that Vietnamese people can be so kind and sincere to people they meet for the first time," he said.

Every day, Quynh's mother cooks delicious dishes to treat her daughter's friends, and her father takes him shopping for clothes, helping Kyril adapt to the heat in Vietnam.

But what he was most unhappy about was that Vietnamese people often gossiped and judged their different looks when they walked on the street. At times like that, Quynh just lowered her head, but her boyfriend held her hand tighter.

"You deserve the best," Kyril repeated to Quynh many times.

After two weeks, the British man began to think about marriage. But before he returned home, Quynh advised Kyril to continue studying for a master's degree, even though this meant she would have to continue the long-distance relationship and wait at least two more years.

"I want him to continue his unfinished dream because his health does not allow it," she explained.

Kyril agreed, returning to England to do research in politics and history at the University of Manchester.

They continued their long-distance relationship for two years until May 2020, when Kyril returned to Vietnam to propose to his girlfriend. On the top floor of the Can Tho hotel, she broke down and cried like rain, thinking that all the waiting had been rewarded.

Kyril loves life in Vietnam and Quynh can't stand the cold climate of Manchester so they chose to build their life in Can Tho, a city that holds many memories for both of them.

However, when Kyril returned to England to arrange work, the Covid-19 epidemic broke out, separating them for the second time. At the same time, his mother died of a stroke, leaving Kyril in despair.

Quynh called her boyfriend every day, encouraging him to cook, clean the house, and start with the most normal things to regain balance. But a few months later, she was also stuck in four walls, depressed because of the pandemic. They argued more. "Love is hard, keeping each other is even harder," Quynh said. "But luckily, he is always gentle and patient."

They survived the two challenging years of their second separation. At the end of 2022, Kyril flew to Vietnam and got a job at an international school in Can Tho. The young couple's life now really began.

But they had to separate for the third time.

In mid-2023, Kyril received news that his grandfather was seriously ill. He was shocked and didn't know what to do, so Quynh advised her husband to return to England immediately. "Nothing is more important than family," she said. Every night, she convinced her husband that in Vietnam, the elderly rarely live far from their children and grandchildren, and that they needed to be cared for.

However, Quynh cried every night for a whole month before the third separation. When her husband returned to England, she stayed home for half a month and then returned to her mother's house for half a month to ease the emptiness.

In April 2024, Kyril's grandfather passed away. Thanks to Quynh, he no longer feels regret and remorse, and cherishes his family's affection more. He is in the process of completing his scientific research and finding a job, moving to settle down in Vietnam.

"And this time nothing can separate us," he said.