Star midfielder holds traditional proposal ceremony

Hai’s family arrived at a store in Hanoi’s old quarter, specializing in wedding gifts, by 6 a.m. They were there to receive the gifts he had previously ordered, including a flower basket and traditional offerings such as betel and areca, medicinal wine, and tea boxes.

Appearing in a white suit, the midfielder then traveled to Huyen’s house with his family for the ceremony, which was held in private and attended by representatives of both families only.

Midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai at his girlfriend Chu Thanh Huyen’s house on Dec. 20, 2023. Photo from Lavita Wedding & Event's Facebook

Hai’s club, Cong An Ha Noi FC, traveled to the coastal province of Khanh Hoa on the same morning to prepare for its match with Sanna Khanh Hoa FC on Friday. Consequently, the midfielder will join the team later, after the conclusion of his proposal ceremony.

Hai plans to hold an engagement ceremony with Huyen on Jan. 1, 2024, which falls during the 2023 Asian Cup.

Hai, 26, is one of the most prominent footballers in Vietnam. He is a key player on the national team. With them, he won the SEA Games 2019 gold medal, the 2018 AFF Cup title, and advanced to the final qualifiers of the World Cup for the first time in the country’s history in 2021.

He is believed to earn a monthly salary of VND100 million (US$4,107) from Cong An Ha Noi FC, following the termination of his contract with French club Pau FC earlier this year.

Huyen, 29, is an online influencer and a business owner, with a following of 421,000 on her TikTok account.

Midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai and his girlfriend Chu Thanh Huyen attend defender Doan Van Hau's wedding in Hanoi on Nov. 26, 2023. Photo courtesy of NgoiSao

The couple reportedly started dating in 2021. Huyen went to France to live with Hai in 2022 when the midfielder was playing for Pau FC. However, both have been discreet and rarely show photos of each other on social media.