During the pandemic, many medical workers have set aside their private lives to support Vietnam’s healthcare services. This includes frontliner doctors and nurses who were expecting their weddings which were only to be postponed by Covid-19 waves.
Fortunately, as the pandemic situation is stabilizing, 20 Vietnamese medical frontliner couples could finally tie the knot in a group wedding organised by the government.
The wedding took place in the garden of the 175 Military Hospital and was part of a bigger event named Mạch sống (Veins of Life) celebrating medical frontliners.
Image credit: Vietnamese Ministry of Health
On 20th February 2022, in the garden of the 175 Military Hospital, Gò Vấp District, Hồ Chí Minh City, a group wedding was held for 20 couples.
They are doctors and nurses who contributed greatly to the city’s struggle against the pandemic.
Senior colonel Dr. Trần Quốc Việt – Vice Director of the 175 Military Hospital and fashion designer Nguyễn Minh Hạnh spoke at the wedding ceremony.
Image credit: Vietnamese Ministry of Health
The wedding ceremony was initiated by the hospital leaders to honour the medical staff’s efforts and sacrifices. The hospital and other sponsors prepared the event, hosted by Major General – Associate Professor Nguyễn Hồng Sơn, the hospital director.
Photos were taken on the heliport of the hospital with the help of top Vietnamese fashion designer Nguyễn Minh Hạnh. At the event, many famous singers and dancers also performed at the wedding ceremony.
A performance during the wedding depicts the medical frontliner couples’ unwavering love in the pandemic.
Image credit: Pháp Luật Online
These newlyweds are among the forefront staff working at Military Hospital 175. As reported by VnExpress, one couple also had to prioritise their work over their original special day due to the pandemic.
The pandemic had been really challenging for them – while the husband was working with critically ill patients, the wife was pregnant back home. Some couples had also been separated as they got infected by their patients.
Bùi Thị Hoài Thu (the wife) and Trần Văn An (the husband) at their wedding ceremony
Image credit: Pháp Luật Online
One couple, Bùi Thị Hoài Thu and Trần Văn An, fell in love with each other when the two were “blue berets”, or UN peacekeepers in Sudan. They came back to Vietnam in 2018 and originally looked forward to their wedding in 2020. When the fourth wave attacked in 2021, they had to delay their wedding to join the forefront forces.
When the most devastating wave struck the city around June to August 2021, the hospital they worked at was an essential forefront hospital. It not only received and treated patients in critical conditions, but also shared facilities and experts’ support with other temporary hospitals in southern Vietnam.
Frontliner medical staff have always been appreciated by the Vietnamese people, particularly during the last two years. That’s why netizens were genuinely moved by this news, expressing their admiration for the doctors and nurses as well as wishing them all the best.
Image credit: VnExpress
“I was deeply moved! Thanks to all doctors and medical workers who have sacrificed their private happiness to take care of the people and fight against the pandemic. This wedding organised by 175 Military Hospital was humane and meaningful. May you all be happy ever after,” said @choemnoichut.
Image credit: VnExpress
“I couldn’t fight back tears when reading about this! Big thanks and best wishes to all of you. The country will never forget your sacrifices to overcome this pandemic!” said Nguyen Le Hoa.
Image credit: Tuổi Trẻ
“Congratulations to all of you. Thank you for all of your sacrifices,” commented Chris Nguyen.
This wedding is another effort to honour and take care of our medical staff for what they have contributed to the fight against Covid-19. Though the situation is fundamentally under control, they are still relentlessly ready for any new waves to come.
Appreciating and supporting their work are great ways to give them energy through this difficult time.
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Cover image adapted from Tuổi Trẻ
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