We started in the same country, shared so much in common, and yet only after traversing 7 continents and 5 oceans, we finally met at the moment we least expected it. Anna spent 15 years in Vietnam, 11 years in Singapore, 2 years in Canada & Latin America & Europe, and another 3 years in the United States. Josh spent 17 years in Vietnam, followed by 17 years in California, New York, and frequent world trips. In June 2022, a mutual friend, entrepreneur, and spiritual soul named Vinh Vuong introduced us professionally, insisting that we had to meet for an undisclosed reason. He, later on, said it was just his intuition telling him that Anna and Josh could have a very unique connection. Meanwhile, Anna was planning her debut back in Singapore. Josh was busy with M&A deals. Both were not looking for anything romantic. And yet, after the first meeting, we both knew this connection was so special that will last for a lifetime. The rest was history.

In the spring of 2020, Stanford was unusually empty due to the pandemic, though with a unique charm. Every morning as Anna walked around the campus alone (shelter-in-place social distancing), she always made a stop in front of the church (Stanford Memorial Church) and silently wished that one day she will meet that special someone and he will propose to her in front of this church, in the middle of the campus of their beloved school. She kept that thought in her heart yet never told anyone. Either by a miracle or by fate, Josh proposed to her at the exact place. To make it even more special, Josh secretly coordinated with his friends and her friends (without her knowing anything the whole time) to be there, hiding behind the church, to witness this unforgettable moment. When she said "Yes", everyone in the Main Quad clapped (including the tourists) and their friends ran out to congratulate them. She was overwhelmed by surprise and happiness to see everyone there. This is a core memory that Josh and Anna will cherish dearly on their journey ahead.

Anna prides herself as a global citizen. She has traveled and worked all around the globe for 16 years, she speaks four languages fluently (working on the fifth). Anna carried in her the deep roots of Asia, love for Latin America, fascination for Europe and now calling North America home. She doesn't identify with a single country/culture, but a combination of all the countries she has lived in and all the beautiful cultures that have touched her soul. Her passion is to improve everyone's lives, not only her beloved, but also as many lives as she could touch, through impactful policymaking and policy strategizing. She has deep expertise in digital tech and seeks to harness the power of these advancements to enhance our humanity and preserve mother nature. Anna loves beauty & design, home aesthetics, gastronomy, photography, plants, books, and being outdoors. She is forever dreaming about her next trip to explore another corner of the world that she has not yet been to.

Josh has always been the life of the party with an incredible sense of humor. Beyond the charm that is obvious to most people, he is also exceptionally creative with his problem-solving (also a management consultant in the same company that Anna worked at) and his deal-making abilities (ask him about M&A deals). Josh is as well-traveled as his wife and has been to a fair share of exotic destinations around the world, with the highlight being his expedition to Antarctica. Josh loves food, that's the one thing that will rival his love for his wife, or maybe not because he loves his wife's food the most. He shares many other interests with his wife including home aesthetics, plants, books, and being outdoors. Josh is perfecting his capacity as a charismatic leader, changing the world in the most positive and meaningful way.

We had a cozy traditional Vietnamese tea ceremony at our place in Sunnyvale, California in the presence of our parents and families, both in person and on Zoom. The tea ceremony follows our culture's customs where the bride and the groom wore Áo Dài and offered their respect to the ancestors, parents, and family members. Head to the Gallery for photos of the Tea Ceremony and more.

In addition to the traditional tea ceremony, we will have three receptions. Our Western-style ceremony will take place in California U.S., on June 9th, 2023. We look forward to celebrating our love and union with our friends, teachers, colleagues, and families in North America. Our second reception will take place in Quy Nhon, Vietnam on June 16th 2023. This is where Anna's parents and brother's family live. This will be a celebration with the bride's side family and friends. Our third reception will take place in Sai Gon, Vietnam on June 19th 2023. This is Joshua's hometown. This will be a celebration with the groom's side family and friends.

Anna gifted Joshua this song for our engagement. https://youtu.be/aeQe77zBpEw Sometimes it feels Like the whole world Conspired to makes us be Together, you and me We were just meant to be From our Vietnamese roots To living in different countries Working for the same company Going to the same university At different times But we’d finally meet June 22nd, connected instantly And you told your Mom I was the one Didn’t want me leaving So you dropped down on one knee In front of Memorial Church At Stanford proposed to me Was the easiest yes I’ve ever had When you know, you know And Josh, we both Knew from the start That we were meant To find each other All along, never want to be apart Because, when you know, you know When you know, you know Married happily, now and forever Love our life in Sunnyvale Our very own home Loved all the moments that we’ve had And all the special ones yet to come From dinners at your brother’s house To you teaching me how to drive To traveling the country, hand-in-hand And I still remember our first kiss And us staying up all night, laughing Josh, with you, I’ve Had the time of my life When you know, you know And Josh, we both Knew from the start That we were meant To find each other All along, never want to be apart Because, when you know, you know When you know, you know