Giang A Linh, 36, has been in love with Hang Thi Song, 80, for the past 6 years. Despite the long relationship, both of their families are still against their love story.

The couple

As I went to Sa Pa, I came to know of a very unique love story. At first I did not believe it was a true story, but after asking many people, I found no more reason not to believe. “It’s a real story and it’s very interesting and touching,” said Giang Thi Su, a shop owner at Sa Pa’s market.

Su led me to where I could find the couple. She told me that the couple was always together, day and night, hand in hand, and if you find one, you are sure to find the other.

However, after searching all around the market, there were no signs of the couple. Suddenly, a person told us that Linh was drinking wine nearby.

He has a good-looking face and finished the wine and food on the table as we approached.

“Are you Giang A Linh?” I asked. “Why are you drinking alone? Are you sad?”

“Yes, I am. I finished the whole bottle of wine. I want to be drunk but I am not,” answered Linh.

Linh wanted money for his photos

I took out my camera hoping for a photo but he covered his face. “You give me VND5,000 ($0.27) and you can take only one picture of me. Give me VND10,000 ($0.54) and you can take as many as you want,” said Linh.

After accepting some money from me to pay for his meal, he was willing to talk to me about his love story.

He is living at the Su Pan Hamlet, Hau Thao Commune. He was feeling very sad because everyone in his family and Song’s family is protesting their love story. He said he took Song to meet his family 15 times already but they have always shouted at him. “I fail to understand why they oppose our love. I love Song truly, purely. We have done nothing wrong,” Linh told me sadly.

Every time he has taken Song to his house, his mother, who is 10 year younger than Song, jumps up and down as if she has caught on fire. His mother will shout, “Are you blind? How can you bring such an old lady home to see me? Do you want her to become my mother?”

Each time he has had to suffer from such insults, he loses his pride and Song ends up crying.

Song’s family also opposes her love with Linh. Sometimes her children come to see her and try to stop their love.