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For department head Nahien Chowdhury, it was love at first sight. “She sat at her desk with grace, a sunshine smile and a powerful presence,” Chowdhury, 31, recalls.

Wanting the newcomer to feel welcomed, he approached and introduced himself. The small gesture eased her nerves. “He just asked if I needed help,” Vy, now 29, says. “When I found out he was my manager, I respected him even more, young, talented, and humble.”

At Boeing, employees often celebrate holidays like Thanksgiving and New Year with potluck parties, where each guest brings their homemade dishes to share. She brought Vietnamese dishes like spring rolls, fried rolls, and grilled beef in betel leaves, while Chowdhury, of Bangladeshi and Arab descent, contributed doner kebabs and grilled lamb. Their culinary exchanges led to deeper conversations about culture, travel, and food.

She was especially intrigued by his solo hunting and trekking adventures across 38 countries. Raised in the U.S., he had dreamed of working with airplanes since childhood, he told her. Becoming an aerospace engineer and joining Boeing felt like a natural path. Vy, who moved to the U.S. at 19 to study, viewed her job at Boeing as a milestone.

One afternoon, during a walk together, he turned to her and asked, “Do you believe in love at first sight?” She laughed, understanding the meaning behind the question, but she was not easily swayed. He once confided that his parents were unsure about him dating someone from a different culture and religion. She hesitated, fearing the relationship could bring conflict, or end as quickly as it started. She declined. He remained patient, telling her: “Take your time. I will wait.”

More than a year after they met, during a dinner at home, he cooked her pilaf, a traditional Arabic dish that requires great care and effort. Touched by the gesture, she was moved to tears. Sensing the moment, he asked, “Will you be my girlfriend? Let’s make it official. I will cook for you forever.” She smiled through her tears and nodded.

A month later, in July 2024, he introduced her to his family in Florida via video call. When they asked where she was from, she answered nervously, “Vietnam.” To their surprise, there were smiles. “That’s great!” his parents said.

With his encouragement, she transitioned from working on the factory floor to working directly with Boeing’s international clients. “It suits me much better and is far more fulfilling,” she says, adding that her next goal is to become a manager.

She fell for him not only because of affection, but also admiration. “He is someone I look up to, competent, grounded and always eager to learn,” she says. Despite a packed schedule, he still makes time for hobbies like fishing and hunting. “He never acts like a superior, not to me when we barely knew each other, and not to others,” she says. “He makes me believe the only limits are the ones we set ourselves.”

For Lunar New Year the last two years he joined her at Vietnamese temples. He wore a traditional ao dai and bowed respectfully like a Vietnamese. He would often remind her to call her parents and younger brother. “He cares about the people I love and the things I value,” she says.

The couple on their wedding day in Vietnam in May 5, 2025. Photo courtesy of the couple

On New Year’s Eve in 2025, aboard a cruise beneath a sky full of fireworks, he proposed. The couple held a Muslim wedding ceremony on Feb. 14 in Florida followed by a traditional Vietnamese celebration in Nha Be District, HCMC, on May 10. Chowdhury’s father, who traveled to Vietnam for the ceremony, was struck by the scale and detail of the event, contrasting with the smaller, more intimate American wedding.

Vy’s family, experienced in wedding planning, handled everything from traditional attire to tailored suits for both families. Her aunt designed the wedding gown, which was embedded with thousands of tiny LED lights that shimmered like fireflies. Her father and uncles transformed the family garden into the wedding venue. “This garden is my father’s pride, he spent three years building it,” she says. “He even surprised us with fireworks. It was incredibly moving.” On her wedding day, she wept with gratitude. Despite language barriers and cultural differences, the families embraced one another.

To Chowdhury, Vy is the perfect match. He loves to cook, while she enjoys cleaning. While he describes himself as quiet and calm, he admires her strength, energy and vibrant spirit.

“Together, we grow,” he told her. “You are my rock, my love, my greatest admiration. You are the brightest flower in my life.”