Thousands of soldiers from military units in the North arrived at Bien Hoa Station (Dong Nai) to participate in the national celebration, in a solemn and pride-filled atmosphere.

An overwhelming moment of reunion

Among them, one touching scene stood out: Captain Nguyen Ngoc Khanh (33), a pilot from Regiment 935, Division 370 under the Air Defense–Air Force, was reunited with his wife, Second Lieutenant Bui Thi Lan Cham (28), a cultural-political officer in the same unit who had been training with the military band in Hanoi.

For over two months, the couple had been separated by more than 1,500 kilometers. Though both were immersed in their responsibilities, feelings of longing remained strong.

“I’ve waited a long time for this day,” Captain Khanh said emotionally. “We both understand the sacred nature of our work and that separation is sometimes inevitable. But the feeling of missing her is something hard to put into words.”

Tears welled up in Second Lieutenant Cham’s eyes as she described the moment: “It was so special. I was anxious, emotional. When the train stopped and I saw him standing there with his comrades, I couldn’t hold back my tears.”

Despite the exhausting training period, even a brief encounter was enough to reenergize the couple, fueling their sense of duty.

Captain Khanh didn’t hesitate to help his wife with her luggage, escorting her to the vehicle that would take her back to her assignment.

Before parting ways again, they both pledged to fulfill their duties with excellence for the upcoming 50th anniversary of reunification - and expressed their readiness to take on the honor of participating in the 80th anniversary of National Day on September 2, if assigned.

A journey that began on a train

The love story of Captain Khanh and Second Lieutenant Cham began on a train ride in 2015. Khanh had just attended a wedding in Nha Trang and was on his way back to duty.

Cham, then a first-year student, was headed to Ho Chi Minh City to begin her studies in public administration at the Southern Campus of the National Academy of Public Administration.

“I never imagined that the man sitting next to me on that train would become my life partner,” Cham recalled. “Though the train was crowded, fate placed us next to each other. I was tired and, at times, leaned on her shoulder,” Khanh added with a smile.

Despite feeling a bit awkward, Cham patiently sat beside her rugged-looking seatmate. As they approached Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh woke up and noticed the concern in her eyes.

“I apologized and asked for her number, hoping to make it up to her. Luckily, she said yes,” Khanh recalled.

They kept in touch via text messages, and gradually their connection deepened. Cham later saw a photo of Khanh in a pilot’s uniform next to a military aircraft on social media and “liked” it - a simple gesture that brought them closer.

“He began texting more often and was always caring. Our relationship grew naturally from small gestures,” Cham said.

A month later, Khanh traveled to Ho Chi Minh City to see her again. That meeting solidified their bond.

Cham was drawn to Khanh’s maturity, humility, and kind heart, while Khanh was captivated by her simple, independent, and graceful nature.

“We decided to get married in June 2019,” Khanh said. “Soon after, my wife was also accepted into Regiment 935.”

Their family has since grown, now filled with more laughter and joy thanks to their 6-year-old son.

Hoang Anh