Both from Saigon, Hat and Chia had not yet met when his parents approached hers about making a traditional match between their families.  After the marriage, they had a bicycle shop in Cambodia, then returned home to Saigon where they ran the same business for over 20 years.  Escaping the Communists in 1975, their eldest daughter (living in Rome) sponsored them to come to Italy.  Now U.S. citizens, they moved to Virginia and have lived in the United States since 1988.

Hat and Chia had six children, four of whom are living.

Hat:
I was a ladies' man.  Was unfaithful.  But not anymore.  I gave up being unfaithful.

RF:
How is the Vietnamese attitude towards marriage different from what you see in America?

Chia:
The difference is, Asian married for life.  Even if I don't love him anymore, I still feel I have to take care of him.  If American, people don't love anymore, [they] throw away.  I don't know what to say because I'm pretty old right now.  I guess I will stay with him till my death.