Vietnamese farmers' Valentine photos prove carrots are no less romantic than roses

By Kim Anh February 14, 2018 | 08:21 am PT

This farmer couple's Valentine's Day photos, taken by their own son, have received hundreds of comments and shares in just one day.

Coming home to celebrate Lunar New Year, Nguyen Dinh Nhu, a fourth-year Online Journalism student at the Academy of Journalism and Communication, persuaded his parents to do a photo shoot commemorating their relationship.

Coming home to celebrate the Lunar New Year, Nguyen Dinh Nhu, a fourth-year online journalism student at the Academy of Journalism and Communication in Hanoi, persuaded his parents to do a photo shoot commemorating their relationship.

Back then my parents only took photos of their engagement and did not take any wedding photo. This is my present to them for the 24th anniversary of their wedding, so they could recollect their youths, Nhu said.

"Back then, my parents only took photos of their engagement and did not take any wedding photos. This is my present to them for the 24th anniversary of their wedding, so they can recollect their youth," Nhu said.

The main characters of the album "The field of love - farmers' Valentine" are Nhu's father Nguyen Van Tuyen, 45, and mother Nguyen Thi Gam, 42.

According to Nhu, his mother initially refused to participate as she rarely had photos of her taken and did not find herself photogenic. His father however supported the idea, and evetually both agreed to pose for the album.

The photos were taken on Tuesday, just one day before Valentine's Day and three days before Lunar New Year, at the family's vegetable farm where they grow carrots, cabbages and nuts.

Including Nhu, his parents have a total of two sons and one daughter. Occasionally, while assisting his parents on the farm, Nhu still gets to hear his mother recount their old love stories.

Both of Nhus parents came from Nghia Hung District in the northern province of Nam Dinh, but were from different communes. As his family was poor, Nhus father earned a living by roaming the streets selling ice cream. It was on one of these trips that he met and fell in love with Nhus mother.

Both of Nhu's parents come from Nghia Hung District in the northern province of Nam Dinh, but are from different communes. As his family was poor, Nhu's father earned a living by roaming the streets selling ice cream. It was on one of these trips that he met and fell in love with Nhu's mother.

In Nhu's family, his mother is the strict, hot-tempered and talkative parent while his father is the quiet and humorous one. His parents therefore never fight and whenever his mother is angry, a joke from the other family members would quickly make her laugh.

In this countryside noone knows what Valentines Day is, but on every March 8 and his wifes birthdays, Nhus father would buy the ingredients and prepare her favorite dishes himself.

In this countryside noone knows what Valentine's Day is, but every year on International Women's Day 8 and his wife's birthdays, Nhu's father would buy the ingredients and prepare her favorite dishes himself.

I take these photos as a way to thank my parents for giving birth to and raising me and my siblings. On the occasion of Valentines Day and Lunar New Year, Id like to wish my parents good health, Nhu said.

"I take these photos as a way to thank my parents for giving birth to and raising me and my siblings. On the occasion of Valentine's Day and the Lunar New Year, I'd like to wish my parents good health," Nhu said.

Photos by Nguyen Dinh Nhu