When Phan Thi Binh gave birth to her third child, her younger sister, Phan Thi Vui, was sent by their parents—traveling from Thua Thien Hue to Vinh (Nghe An)—to help care for her sister. During the time they lived under the same roof, Vui unexpectedly developed romantic feelings for her brother-in-law. By the time the situation came to light, it had taken a complicated turn: Vui was pregnant and insisted, quite adamantly, that she wanted to marry her brother-in-law.
An Unconventional Romance
In the town of Cua Lo (Nghe An), the unusual story of a man who ended up married to two sisters is widely known. Because it has been a frequent topic of local gossip, it was not difficult for us to locate the home of Ho Chi Hieu. Sitting beside his newborn daughter, Hieu and his wife recounted their unconventional and tear-filled love story to us.
Ho Chi Hieu (born in 1958) is originally from Phu An Commune, Phu Vang District (Thua Thien Hue). Born into a large family, Hieu lacked the opportunities for further education or personal development—though he maintains that he is a man of talent. He left school after the sixth grade and spent the following years at home, helping his parents with farm work.
In 1979, as a grown man—and not wanting to remain a burden on his parents—Mr. Hieu enlisted as a defense worker. During his time in the unit, he met and fell in love with a woman from his hometown who was serving in the same unit: Phan Thi Binh (born in 1957). In early 1980, after getting to know each other and realizing they were a perfect match, the couple decided to marry.
Mr. Hieu and his second wife, Phan Thi Vui
The unit hosted a small celebration, and the two officially became husband and wife. However, finding life within the unit too restrictive, the couple decided to move on. At that time, there was a movement to relocate to the North for “new economic zones,” so Mr. Hieu and his wife joined some relatives in Vinh, where they rented a place to live and earn a living. By selling *keo keo* (taffy/pulled candy) and *banh bao* (steamed buns), the couple was eventually able to build a stable life. In 1989, Binh gave birth to her third child. During this period, as Hieu was occupied with his business affairs, Vui was sent by the family from Thua Thien–Hue to Vinh to assist her older sister. While living under the same roof, Vui unexpectedly developed romantic feelings for her brother-in-law. Notably, upon learning of his sister-in-law’s affection, Hieu did not object; instead, he began an illicit affair with her. Despite knowing that their relationship was morally wrong—as if driven by some dark, irresistible force—the two remained deeply entangled.
By 1994, after years of carrying on in secret, the affair between Hieu and Vui was finally discovered by their relatives. By then, Vui was already several months pregnant and declared to the family that she loved no one but her brother-in-law and intended to be with him.
At the time, when the truth about the relationship between Hieu and Vui came to light, both families were filled with outrage. Both Vui and Hieu faced severe verbal abuse and were subjected to brutal physical beatings. There were numerous family meetings—involving both sides—to discuss how to handle the situation.
“At the time, people urged me to start a life with someone else, so that my sister and her husband could find peace and happiness. I knew that was the right thing to do, but my heart and my feelings wouldn’t allow it. I had fallen in love with my brother-in-law; it was a forbidden love, yet so intense that I simply couldn’t bear to be apart from him. I was willing to endure any amount of verbal abuse or insults just to be by his side. Back then, I even thought that if the worst-case scenario were to unfold, I would be ready to die to prove the depth of my love for him,” Vui recounted. Wiping the tears from his wife’s face, Mr. Hieu shared: “It pained me deeply to see Vui being judged so harshly by our relatives. I wanted her to move on and find happiness elsewhere, but she adamantly refused. Faced with such sincere and devoted love, I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. I stepped in to protect her and look after her well-being. In time, I realized that I had fallen deeply in love with my sister-in-law—I simply couldn’t imagine life without her.”
Because of her forbidden love for her brother-in-law, Vui turned away many other suitors. Mr. Hieu noted that ever since she first arrived in Vinh, many men had expressed interest in her, but she declined them all. Even after she gave birth to Mr. Hieu’s child, others still sought to marry her, yet she refused each time. Vui’s genuine devotion to Mr. Hieu eventually won over their families; as time passed, the sting of their unconventional relationship faded, and their relatives—once critical—came to offer their heartfelt blessings to the couple.
Ms. Vui recounts the complicated, tear-filled love story she shared with her brother-in-law—a tragic tale of a forbidden bond between a sister and her sister’s husband.
Back then, after much persuasion, Mr. Hieu and Ms. Vui—with the consent of their relatives and Ms. Binh (the first wife)—were finally allowed to live together. In 1995, due to work requirements and a desire to change their environment following everything that had transpired, Mr. Hieu moved both his wives to the town of Cua Lo to live and earn a living.
Mr. Hieu took it upon himself to secure housing and find employment for both women. At the time, Cua Lo was not yet highly developed; Mr. Hieu and his two wives decided to introduce the traditional Hue-style *banh beo* (steamed rice cakes) to the area—a venture that proved very successful. Life became less arduous, and Mr. Hieu found himself better able to provide for both households. He established a routine: he would spend one month living with his first wife, and the following month he would…