The American Navy soldier overcame challenges to marry the girl from Saigon.

After 10 years of moving to the US with her husband, Dy An is now the owner of a well-known nail salon in Oregon. The girl from Saigon has transformed herself with a sophisticated and elegant style. Dy An is in control of her life in a foreign land, earning approximately $250,000 per year. This Vietnamese woman, born in 1985, manages her business while fulfilling her roles as a wife and mother.

After many years of marriage, Darell's love for his wife grew stronger. Every morning, the American Navy sailor would place a rose on Dy An's pillow. When his wife was busy, he would make time to come home early to pick up the children, do housework, and cook dinner. Their marriage, which began with "internet romance," brought unexpected happiness to Dy An. But for her, it wasn't luck or a "fairy tale."

"I am a 21st-century person, and I believe in love that comes from both sides, from a sincere heart, and from the sacrifices two people make for each other," a Vietnamese bride in America confided.

Over two years of a long-distance relationship, meeting only once every three months.

While living in Vietnam, Dy An ran a fashion shop. She had a few relationships before meeting Darell, but none of them ended happily. Dy An always told herself not to rush into love, especially online relationships. After four months of chatting with Darell via email, she gradually changed her mind and placed more trust in her new acquaintance. In February 2006, Darell promised to visit Dy An in Vietnam but then missed the appointment due to a work assignment. A phone call from America extinguished the excitement and anticipation of the Vietnamese girl who was counting down the days to meet him. Once again, Dy An reminded herself: "Don't trust too much; distance separates us, who knows what's in someone else's heart?"

Subsequent letters Darell sent to Dy An were met with lukewarm replies. Dy An was torn between wanting to stay in touch and losing interest in her friend who lived half a world away. At times, she felt a pang of longing, imagining the American Navy soldier she had never met. However, she quickly reassured herself, not wanting to waste her emotions on a love story that didn't exist.

In May of that year, Darell called to announce he would be taking the earliest flight back to Vietnam. Dy An wasn't as excited as before. It wasn't until the American man sent pictures of his itinerary and flight information that the Vietnamese girl believed him. The day before Darell's arrival in Vietnam, Dy An was frantic about her unkempt appearance. At that time, she was busy with work and hadn't had time to beautify herself. While Dy An was getting her hair done at the salon, she unexpectedly received a call saying Darell was already at the airport, earlier than expected. The girl from Saigon, with her hair still wet and wearing an unironed ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress), rushed to the airport with a bouquet of flowers in her hand.

The airport was crowded and stuffy at 12 pm. Dy An held the bouquet of flowers for two hours, constantly searching for Darell. Just as she was about to despair, the blond-haired young man in the red shirt suddenly appeared. Dy An cast aside her shyness and ran to Darell's side. That moment, according to Dy An, was something Darell could never forget. "My husband often tells me, 'I fell in love with you at first sight, with your simple, unadorned hair and your plain white dress,'" Dy An said.

During Darell's time in Vietnam, Dy An took him to visit many scenic spots in the South. When they arrived in Nha Trang, the American Navy soldier's phone unexpectedly received a text message from a female friend.

"For some reason, a profound sadness welled up inside me. I remained silent throughout the long journey, which gradually made him understand something. He held my hand, looked straight into my eyes, and promised he would never make me sad again, not even once," the girl from Saigon recounted.

On his last day in Ho Chi Minh City before Darell returned to the US, he went to church with Dy An and her mother. Before the statue of the Virgin Mary, the American man presented a ring engraved with the initials D&D (short for Dy An and Darell) and proposed: "Dy An, please accept me as your girlfriend – this isn't an engagement ring, just a promise to return once more to see you."

"I burst into tears, and my mother also started to sob. I agreed to wear the ring and decided to believe in his promise from that moment on," the Vietnamese girl shared.

Since then, during their two-year long-distance relationship, Darell flew to Vietnam to visit Dy An once every three months. While they were apart, the American man dedicated all his time to working, earning money, and waiting for their next meeting. In September 2007, Dy An officially became Darell's wife, and they moved to the United States in November of that year.

"I tested his patience by suggesting we meet every three months. The long flights cost him money, time, and energy, but Darell never once complained. Two years was long enough for me to trust and accept his love," Dy An happily said.

Happiness 'sproutes' from pain.

Dy An temporarily left her family and her successful business in Vietnam to move to America. In the early days away from home, the Vietnamese bride cried a lot because she missed her mother and couldn't adjust to Western life. Dy An would occasionally hide in the bathroom to cry alone, not wanting her husband to worry. Darell understood his wife; he hugged her tightly, kissed her forehead many times, and promised to take care of Dy An for the rest of her life.

It took the girl from Saigon about 7 months to adapt to her new life. A year after arriving in the US, Dy An knew how to drive, spoke the local language fluently, and attended university. In 2011, after graduating with a degree in accounting from the University of Phoenix, Dy An decided to learn nail art and open her own salon. To date, the nail salon is operating stably, bringing in an income of $250,000 per year for this Vietnamese bride.

Despite his busy work schedule, Darell still manages to take his family on a trip every two months. He often does romantic things for his wife, such as placing a rose on her pillow and tattooing her image on his back. The American son-in-law spends a lot of time learning about Vietnamese culture and customs to get along with his wife. The couple rarely argue after many years of marriage.

""He's not the perfect man and I'm not the perfect woman, but we're perfect together," Dy An said.

The Vietnamese bride will never forget the summer of 2010, when she suffered a miscarriage. In that moment of physical and emotional pain, Darell hugged his wife, stroked her hair, and held back his tears.It was that warm embrace that gave Dy An the strength to overcome her loss and continue to rekindle hope.

Baby Dev Saxton, son of Dy An and Darell, was born in 2014, further strengthening the love between the Western husband and Vietnamese wife. Dy An is cherished by her husband like a precious treasure; he takes care of everything for their child so that his wife has time to focus on her business, beauty treatments, and rest.

""We still spend every day together, laughing and talking, and visiting beautiful places. When I'm with him, I feel like a child, wanting to be pampered and be hugged by Darell. For us, our love has never faded; it only grows stronger and deeper," Dy An confided.