They first met in Singapore in 2009 when Lan Phuong was 25 years outdated and Gregory Ducat had simply turned 27. They have been each transplants working within the island city-state: she from Vietnam, he from Belgian.
Phuong’s first impression of Gregory discovered him light and approachable, whereas the younger man was interested in her hard-working mindset. He friended her on Fb, and he was the one who made some extent of protecting in contact with Phuong even after he moved to England for a brand new job.
Within the following years, they talked backwards and forwards as buddies. Yearly when there have been particular events like birthdays or Christmas, Gregory despatched his needs, and Phuong would usually share tales of her life as a younger lady removed from house – each her sadnesses and her joys.
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Gregory Ducat and Lan Phuong captured in a second of togetherness on the streets of Bruges, Belgium, in March 2023. Photograph courtesy of Gregory Ducat and Lan Phuong |
9 years later they met in particular person once more for the second time, and every part between them appeared unchanged. Phuong was at all times enthusiastic and vigorous, whereas Gregory was nonetheless calm and quiet, sometimes sneaking a smile at her. On the finish of the assembly, he requested Phuong to change into his girlfriend, however she refused as a result of she didn’t like long-distance relationships. She wished to search out an Asian man near house who may join deeply along with her household.
A number of months later, Phuong and her greatest buddy traveled to England as vacationers and stayed on the resort the place Gregory labored as a supervisor. Upon receiving the information of their upcoming arrival, Gregory instantly requested for 3 days off to take Phuong to go to his favourite locations.
Their first scheduled cease was Windsor Fortress: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding ceremony venue. Phuong joked with Gregory that she hoped to search out her “dream prince” there. However the day they arrived, the fortress was closed. Unable to assist his buddy fulfill her want, Gregory took her to go to Cinderella Fortress, trip the merry-go-round, and go to the traditional city of Tub – the place Phuong had most wished to go to.
In images they took collectively, the Belgian man at all times wished to get bodily nearer collectively, however the Vietnamese lady at all times backed away as a result of she did not need the connection to transcend friendship.
The day he took Phuong to the airport, Gregory confessed his love for Phuong. He mentioned if she agreed, he would return to Singapore for work to be close to her. However for the second time, Phuong refused.
“At the moment, I had no emotions for Gregory. I used to be at all times searching for one other splendid boyfriend, not him,” she mentioned.
In 2019, the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Gregory’s resort trade was hit exhausting. Phuong stayed in contact and usually checked up on him to ask about his well being and work state of affairs.
Three years later, Phuong took a enterprise journey to Spain. Similar to final time, Gregory instantly requested for depart and flew to Barcelona to satisfy Phuong. Phuong had simply gone by means of a heartbreaking break up along with her final boyfriend. She mentioned she had “misplaced religion in real love.”
As quickly as she arrived in Spain, her first sight was Gregory standing there ready for her on the station. He got here ahead to hug her tightly. Phuong felt like she was reunited with a cherished one after a very long time aside.
“When our eyes met, I abruptly puzzled if perhaps this was the prince I had been searching for all these years,” Phuong mentioned.
Throughout their days in Barcelona, Phuong regularly opened her coronary heart to Gregory and commenced to really feel moved by his love for her. Subsequent to this man, the Vietnamese lady “felt surprisingly at peace.”
On her final day in Spain, Phuong was the one who took the initiative to speak about love with Gregory. She mentioned she appreciated his never-ending persistence.
“In the event you nonetheless don’t have anybody else and need to take our friendship to the following degree, I am prepared to provide us an opportunity,” Phuong advised Gregory, to his shock.
From that second on, they have been formally a pair.
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Gregory Ducat proposing to Lan Phuong on the famend “love bridge” in Bruges, Belgium, captured in March 2023. Courtesy of Gregory Ducat and Lan Phuong |
For a while, Gregory remained in London whereas Phuong continued her work in Singapore. Regardless that they have been 7 time zones aside, Gregory at all times waited patiently and committedly for Phuong to be free to name and chat, no matter whether or not he needed to keep up late or get up early. To keep up their relationship, the 2 deliberate to satisfy in particular person each 2-3 months.
On the finish of 2022, on Phuong’s birthday, Gregory was invited to Vietnam by Phuong’s household for the primary time. Through the journey, he took excellent care of Phuong’s mother and father.
He opened and closed all doorways for the aged couple. On the restaurant, he pulled out chairs for everybody and served Phuong’s mother and father first – a ritual of respecting and serving one’s elders that Gregory had realized earlier than coming to Vietnam, a rustic he was now falling in love with as nicely.
“I used to be additionally captivated by the attractive surroundings, individuals, and delicacies right here,” Gregory mentioned. After a visit to his lover’s hometown, Gregory started cooking Vietnamese dishes for Phuong. His greatest have been pho and spring rolls.
In March 2023, Phuong went to Belgium to have fun Gregory’s mom’s birthday. Whereas the 2 have been strolling over the well-known “love bridge,” he abruptly knelt and proposed to his girlfriend.
They held two weddings in July and September later that 12 months, in Singapore and Vietnam, respectively.
On the wedding ceremony in Singapore, the place the 2 met for the primary time, they used 14 years’ value of images and movies to showcase their journey from buddies to lovers. A few of these included footage of Gregory jokingly saying he would “go discover” Phuong’s “dream prince” once they arrived at Windsor Fortress, or the images the 2 took at Cinderella Fortress, which Phuong had at all times dreamed of visiting.
On the wedding party held within the bride’s hometown – the northern port metropolis of Hai Phong – two months later, the couple organized for the groom’s household from Belgium to put on Vietnamese ao dai and dance with the bride’s household on stage.
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The marriage of Gregory Ducat and Lan Phuong, celebrated in Hai Phong, the bride’s hometown, in September 2023. Photograph courtesy of Gregory Ducat and Lan Phuong |
After turning into a Vietnamese son-in-law, Gregory celebrated Tet (Lunar New 12 months competition) in his spouse’s hometown for the primary time in 2024. Gregory likes ao dai, so he wished a non-public photograph shoot whereas sporting one. He additionally loved the environment of the city’s major temple in the course of the first days of the brand new 12 months, so he went a number of instances to burn incense to hope for luck and happiness for his small household.
Gregory has since stop his job within the U.Ok. to work along with his spouse on a plan to carry genuine Vietnamese espresso to Belgium. The couple’s dream is to have a small cafe in Gregory’s hometown of Bruges – a spot often called the “Venice of Northern Europe” – the place historic mossy bridges cross small canals.
“I’ll at all times be with my spouse,” mentioned Gregory. “My coronary heart is hers and at all times factors to the place Phuong is.”