Supermodel Ha Anh and her journey to a sweet and lasting marriage.

My marriage

We got married in the summer of 2016, after two years of dating. My husband, Olly Dowden, is a very responsible and loving husband and father. Since the arrival of Myla last year, this has been further confirmed and enhanced as he is always there to encourage, care for, praise, and share responsibilities with me, even the smallest things.

We've always known that marriage isn't always rosy, but we've always been committed to each other, to navigating the difficult and dark times that everyone experiences, that every couple goes through. For us, marriage is a special journey where you and your partner voluntarily commit to each other of fidelity and responsibility in life, constantly renewing and nurturing your relationship to bring romantic feelings to your married life. Olly and I still often have private dates like when we first fell in love, to remember how strong our feelings for each other still are, to understand that love has led us to this marriage, to temporarily set aside the stresses of the outside world, and to strive harder for a lasting love.

Travel connects hearts.

My husband and I share many common interests and lifestyles, especially our dynamic personalities and love for experiencing and traveling to new places to broaden our worldview regarding the culture, people, food, and life of each country. From the time we started dating until the birth of our daughter Myla, we have traveled throughout Vietnam and all over the world. Just over a month old, Myla traveled with her parents to Da Nang – one of our family's favorite and most meaningful destinations, where Olly proposed to me and where our wedding took place three years ago.

When we were dating, traveling helped us relax, unwind, and feel refreshed, sparking inspiration and a desire to learn more about each other. I remember on American Independence Day, we had an amazing trip to Malibu and Venice Beach. During that time, Olly and I just relaxed and... relaxed, enjoying the most beautiful moments from sunrise to sunset in a carefree and romantic way.

Once married, the "nature" of a trip changes. It's no longer simply an excuse for private, romantic time to rekindle feelings and create a fresh atmosphere in the marriage, but also helps to make the marriage easier and gives us a chance to truly be closer to each other. We "coexist"—especially after having a baby—in a new place, for no other reason than to strengthen our bond, to see each other's difficulties clearly, to understand, be tolerant, and to elevate our feelings to a higher level than ever before.

Now that we're married, traveling is no longer just for us; it's also a way to connect both our families. We currently live and work in Ho Chi Minh City, while my parents live in Hanoi and my husband's parents live in France. Not to mention, Olly was born and raised in London, the capital of England, where I spent nine years studying and working. Therefore, our family trips often include Myla's paternal or maternal grandparents – sometimes the whole extended family if my husband's parents visit Vietnam. This has subtly created a strong emotional bond, nurturing the love between husband and wife, parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, and daughter-in-law and son-in-law. I also want my daughter to feel the love of her family from childhood to adulthood, just as I always had my parents and grandparents by my side, experiencing and watching over my life from my innocent childhood to my adulthood and marriage.

The journey to a lasting marriage.

As mature adults, Olly and I have both had considerable experience in relationships. We're not the idealistic romantic type who thinks that simply being in love guarantees eternal happiness. My wife and I believe that love can only be strong when both partners work together to build it. Olly and I always pay attention to each other's needs and changes, participate in each other's personal lives, and give each other space when necessary. These are the factors that determine the strength of our love.

Before and after having children, my husband and I have always maintained our love, respect, and appreciation for each other. After having children, our admiration and affection have grown even stronger. Every time he watches me caring for and breastfeeding our baby, he hugs both of us, caressing and comforting us. And in my heart, I feel an overwhelming sense of love and connection whenever I see him caring for and playing with our child. Many times, during long trips away from home, he would take care of everything himself – from washing and drying clothes to folding, washing dishes, and cleaning the house – so that I could have time to care for Myla. Just these simple, everyday acts of sharing household chores with me are enough to fill me with immense happiness.

And remember, always talk to each other about your feelings. Besides sweet getaways, no matter how busy we are, we always make time for dinner dates, dressing up, holding hands intimately, sharing stories and affectionate gestures at all times. Let's nurture, strive, and love each other, so that every time we lie down in bed, just the tight grip of our spouse's hand is enough to understand how much love is bound together in our marriage.

Ha Anh