18,000. That is how many international marriages are registered in Vietnam every single year, on average. Marriage in Vietnam, particularly transnational marriage, is a growing trend that reflects deep cultural intersections and global connections. We call them transnational marriages. And over 95% of those involve a Vietnamese woman and a foreign man. But those relationships and marriages don’t always have a happy ending. Because love in Vietnam isn’t always sunshine and bánh mì. Sometimes, you end up collecting so many red flags it looks like a General Assembly of the Communist Party!

Today’s story is for every foreigner in Vietnam who needs a wake-up call. The kind of story that might make you think twice before you toss your heart and your bank account into the ring. Believe me, after you hear this story, from stolen car to bank coming after you, you’ll want to keep your eyes open wider than a motorbike driver navigating an overcrowded sidewalk. So, let’s get started.

The Allure of Love and the Risk

For many foreign men, the idea of marrying a Vietnamese woman is like a dream plucked straight out of a romance novel. Gentle, loyal, family-oriented. These are the common traits that echo through the stories of men who have taken the leap. Marriage in Vietnam promises simplicity, tradition, and the kind of love that Western culture sometimes seems to have forgotten.

But here’s the plot twist: not every love story is built to last. Divorce in Vietnam is not just a break-up; it’s often a full-blown financial and emotional warzone. And if you think signing a few papers is all it takes, you might as well believe that driving in Ho Chi Minh City is a peaceful experience.