In a rare twist of fate, two brothers from Bac Lieu named My married two sisters  -  both named Linh. This extraordinary connection continues to surprise and delight everyone who hears it.

A match made in family

“Brought my sister to her wedding, and ended up marrying her sister-in-law,” joked Phan Hoang My (born 1997) in a now-viral social media post. His younger sister is Phan Thao My (born 2000).

Hoang My never asked his parents why both children were given the same name, or why his own name sounded feminine. But over the years, their matching names became a distinctive symbol of their sibling bond.

According to Hoang My, his wife is Do Yen Linh (born 1999), while Thao My’s husband is Do Khanh Linh (born 1995). The kicker? Do Khanh Linh and Do Yen Linh are siblings, too.

Thao My and Khanh Linh met in 2017 through a matchmaker. After a year of dating, they got married in 2018. Their families live just 20 kilometers apart.

Hoang My’s romance with Yen Linh had more ups and downs. The two met through family connections  -  their siblings were married.

“At first, I didn’t like her much, and I’m pretty sure she didn’t like me either,” Hoang My recalled. “But after our families became in-laws, we saw each other more often  -  either when I visited my sister or when my sister and her husband came over, bringing Yen Linh along.”

Over time, they began to warm up to each other. With enthusiastic support from both families  -  and especially from Thao My and Khanh Linh  -  their romance blossomed.

“My sister always said I was kind and easygoing, and that her sister-in-law was sweet and well-mannered. So she and her husband played matchmaker,” Hoang My said.

Both sets of parents loved the idea and gave their blessing. Encouraged, Hoang My reached out to Yen Linh, expressing his desire to get to know her better. Once their relationship deepened, he brought his family over to formally propose.

“I didn’t think too much about it. We got along well, and I knew if this worked out, our families would be even more connected,” Hoang My shared.

A family doubled

Hoang My was deeply moved when his father once said, “I’ve always wished you two would become a couple. I hope this strengthens our family ties.”

That dream became reality when Hoang My and Yen Linh were married in 2019.

Their wedding stirred excitement in the small countryside community. Relatives and neighbors were stunned by the unusual but heartwarming love story. Seeing the same two mothers-in-law exchange daughters-in-law again was an especially touching and amusing moment.

“I was overwhelmed with joy to have her as my wife. Our two families became even closer. That day was full of emotions  -  excitement, happiness, and a bit of nervousness,” Hoang My recalled.

The question he’s most often asked is: “How do the families and children address each other now?”

Surprisingly, the family sorted it out quite easily. Yen Linh and Thao My still refer to their own brothers as anh (older brother). Everyone else addresses each other based on actual age  -  older ones as anh or chị, younger ones as em.

The same system applies to their children. Thao My and Khanh Linh have two children, aged six and one. Hoang My and Yen Linh have a five-year-old. The kids refer to each other according to their age hierarchy, as siblings would.

“The parents see each other as siblings, so the children are raised to treat one another as family too,” Hoang My said.

Since the marriages, both families have grown exceptionally close  -  almost like one big household. They live separately, just 20km apart, but unite during special occasions, family events, or even spontaneous get-togethers.

“There’s no in-law tension in our homes. Each mother-in-law treats her daughter-in-law like her own child  -  after all, they swapped daughters,” Hoang My said with a laugh.

Reflecting on his married life, he added: “Marriage has its ups and downs, of course, but our families have never had a serious dispute. I’m truly grateful for that  -  because there’s nothing more precious than a big, harmonious family.”

Thanh Minh