There are two people in the house: "They got married just 10 days after falling in love, and their relationship lasted 10 years."

Le Ngoc (real name Le Yen Thuy Ngoc), born in 1990 in Ho Chi Minh City. After graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Hotel and Restaurant Services) from the University of Wales (Singapore), Ngoc returned to Vietnam to work at the Park Hyatt Saigon hotel and On The 6 restaurant before owning her own cafe, Yen.

This petite woman's life took a new turn when she decided to marry Anh (often affectionately called "Old Man" Anh by Le Ngoc) after only 10 days of dating. Giving up their stable jobs, they decided to become a freelance couple, leveraging her writing skills and his passion for photography. Their marriage has lasted over 9 years, filled with a full range of emotions.

Together with her husband, Le Ngoc has undertaken many projects on tourism and cuisine, introducing them to domestic audiences. Currently, she is a book author with three volumes of essays and poems that are loved by many readers, such as "A House with Two People," "Even Though Storms Come, Just Dream and Love, My Dear," and "Broken," and is also a co-author of several book projects on tourism, culture, and life.

The blog "Two People in the House" continues to be a diary documenting the daily lives of the two, inspiring couples who pursue a modern, liberal lifestyle, valuing spiritual values ​​instead of chasing after material possessions, with insights into love, marriage, and lifestyle.

Reporter: From a whirlwind 10-day dating period to a 10-year relationship, how did you and your partner begin and maintain this marriage?

Le Ngoc: My boyfriend and I grew up in two separate worlds on the border between North and South Vietnam, rural versus urban, belonging to the early 80s and early 90s generations, with contrasting life circumstances – one struggling, the other prosperous – and contrasting personalities. Yet, at the moment we unexpectedly met, in the music-filled and romantic atmosphere of a live music cafe, an invisible connection seemed to be born. My cafe is tiny. The distance from the counter to the stage is about 15 steps. He looked towards the petite girl diligently working behind the counter. I looked up, searching for the person with the warm, powerful voice performing on stage. Neither of us thought that "touch" could lead to such a beautiful ending. But the connection had begun to blossom.

However, our personalities are very different, completely different. I'm very quiet, while Anh is like a "friendly beauty queen." In almost every conversation, he's usually the one talking, and I just listen. Later, on many issues in life, we might have heated arguments, but we always find a perfect common ground of souls to move forward together.

PV: How important have trips been to your marriage?

Le Ngoc: Travels are an integral part of our daily lives as a couple, contributing to nurturing creative inspiration and refreshing our relationship. When we travel to a new place, besides enjoying the scenery and atmosphere, we can also meet many interesting people. This broadens our worldview, opening our hearts to embrace both good and bad things, so that upon returning, we know how to appreciate and be more tolerant of life and the person beside us.

I remember most vividly the months we spent disconnecting from the rest of the world; perhaps that was the happiest time in our eight-year marriage. We even shared our desire to go somewhere really secluded, far away, to build a new life, just the two of us. Wasn't that a somewhat fanciful idea we both harbored when we were deeply in love? But I believe it wouldn't be fanciful if we both lived fully in the present moment – ​​where we struggle daily with food, clothing, and shelter to hold onto our dreams.

Many years ago, we had an 8-square-meter balcony to grow plants; today, we have a garden many times larger, filled with all kinds of plants. Little by little, we are getting closer to that beautiful vision through our aspirations and efforts.

PV: After deciding to travel together, have you ever taken trips without each other? What differences do you feel between traveling together and traveling alone?

Le Ngoc: Occasionally, we've had a long-distance relationship. Usually, he goes back to his hometown to take care of family matters; I spend time traveling with my mother or best friends. These trips without him help us realize how compatible we are, and that perhaps no one can replace our "best friend."

But interestingly, the geographical distance is filled with longing. Each person always holds a place in their heart, so instead of feeling empty, their love grows even stronger. Furthermore, we believe that even though we share a life together, each person's own private world needs to be nurtured, so we both cherish these private outings.

PV: You two free spirits have met, but have you ever considered or encountered any difficulties that a love of travel might bring?

Le Ngoc: People often believe that getting married means settling down and establishing a stable life, but we think a little differently. The word "peace" here refers to inner peace. And the word "freedom" is the same. What are our values ​​in life? If we're still worried about renting a house, not having a nice car; or bothered by neighbors asking "how much do you earn per month?", "have you bought a house yet?", "why don't you have children?"; or constantly trying to show off our status with piles of designer goods, etc., then it's difficult to choose the lifestyle we want because we've already deprived ourselves of our own freedom.

Once your mind is truly at peace, any kind of life will be fine. Ultimately, freedom of movement or staying in one place is just a choice, whichever suits your own desires.

PV: Since Valentine's Day falls on a weekday this year, do you have any ideas for how you'll spend the holiday together? Can you suggest some travel ideas for Valentine's Day or a weekend getaway for Travellive readers?

Le Ngoc: Every day is Valentine's Day for us. We've both just returned from a long trip, so we don't have any overly special plans. Perhaps relaxing in our beloved home would be a great idea, and in the evening we could cook a lavish meal at home with some wine to add to the romance, since our home is designed to be the most comfortable place for us to be together.

For Travellive readers, we won't give specific suggestions, but we wish everyone will enrich their memories with a memorable experience filled with love. How that memory is created is up to each couple's preference. It doesn't have to be a place everyone goes to. It doesn't have to involve gifts like couples usually do. The care you show your loved one will guide you to create a special, private moment, known only to the two of you.

Interviewer: You and your partner have always had a special love for Da Lat, but there's a common misconception that couples who visit Da Lat together will eventually break up. Could you share a thought or interesting anecdote about this perception?

Le Ngoc: We don't have any preconceived notions about any place. If a relationship is unstable, then no matter where you take each other, that instability will eventually surface. I used to run a small café. Inside, there was a notebook where people wrote diaries. It recorded many love stories. When they were in love, they would come to that charming little café, marking their love there. When they broke up, one of them would return to the café, marking their sadness there. For those who witnessed these unfinished love stories, I saw them like scenes from a film—sad, but beautiful.

Every setback in love helps people grow, appreciate love more, and learn how to nurture relationships. So just love, and don't worry about prejudice!

Yen Nhi