Seven years ago, Vu Anh Phuong (29), then a third-year student at the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture, was assigned to accompany a group of international students visiting Vietnam for cultural and academic exchange. That was when she met Chancelor Bart Clark (28, now a PhD holder), an American who would later become her husband.

From the moment she first saw him, Phuong felt a deep connection with Chancelor, a tall, handsome young man. He experienced the same instant spark - he had fallen in love with the Vietnamese girl at first sight.

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Vu Anh Phuong and her husband appeared on the show Newlyweds. Screenshot from video

“At that moment, I knew it was love at first sight,” Chancelor said.

At the time, he was only in Vietnam for a week. Although he really liked Phuong, he believed a relationship was impossible due to the long distance. When Phuong invited him out, he declined with regret: “We’re only meeting for a week, and I have to return to the US. The chances of us ever meeting again are nearly zero.”

Still, Phuong was undeterred. She confidently told him, “Give me one year. I will come to the US to find you.”

With plans to pursue a master’s degree in the US, her encounter with Chancelor only strengthened her resolve. She doubled down on improving her English and searched for scholarship opportunities. During that time, they kept in regular contact via phone. On one occasion, Chancelor stayed up until 3 a.m. to call and chat with her.

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Determined to be with the man she loved, Phuong pursued her dream of studying in the US. Screenshot from video

Six months later, Phuong achieved her goal - she was awarded a full scholarship to study in the United States. Reuniting with her in America, Chancelor felt an overwhelming sense of relief and joy. He had long hoped for this moment.

“Before that, we weren’t sure what the future held. Whether we could be together depended on luck. We didn’t expect anything. When I learned she had come to the US, it felt like a gift from heaven,” Chancelor said.

When they met again, he confessed his love. He spent all the money he had at the time to take her out on a three-day trip. To this day, Chancelor believes it was the best investment he ever made.

After six months in the US, Phuong had to return to Vietnam to defend her graduation thesis. Before she left, Chancelor proposed. He knew that if they wanted to plan a life together, they needed clarity in their relationship. In 2019, they officially got married with blessings from both families.

“My dad once asked, ‘Are you sure you want to be with someone living thousands of miles away?’ I said ‘Yes,’ and he immediately agreed,” Chancelor recalled.

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In Chancelor’s eyes, his wife is beautiful, smart, and a great cook. Screenshot from video

The couple lived and worked in the US for six years. Just over a month ago, they decided to move to Vietnam so their children could learn Vietnamese and experience local culture. Phuong is now working in international education consulting.

To Chancelor, his wife is a remarkable woman - beautiful, intelligent, and a great cook. His only complaint? She’s always late. But he doesn’t expect her to change - not even that “bad habit.”

Phuong described her husband as an introvert who dislikes attention and avoids the spotlight. She had to work hard to persuade him to join her on the show Newlyweds and share their love story.

The couple also shares several traits - they’re both a bit messy and love to spend money. These similarities, they say, have helped prevent conflict in their marriage.

During the show, Chancelor held her hand and looked into her eyes, saying, “I will always love you.” Phuong responded, “You’re handsome and smart. You’re a wonderful father, and I love you very much.”

Thanh Minh