Vietnamese Man Challenges Family’s Distrust of Wife in Land Dispute
Hanoi, Vietnam – A Vietnamese man is appealing to his parents’ generation to embrace a more equitable view of marriage after they hesitated to grant him a portion of family land for building a home, citing fears his wife might claim ownership in a potential divorce. The man, writing in an opinion piece published by VnExpress, details a frustrating conversation with his mother, who responded to his request with a cautionary tale of a neighbor whose son’s divorce lead to a dispute over a substantial financial gift.
The author realized his parents’ reluctance stemmed from a deep-seated concern that his wife woudl be entitled to a share of the family’s assets should the marriage dissolve. He argues this reflects outdated societal expectations where daughters-in-law where often marginalized and lacked financial independence.”they grew up in a time when daughters-in-law were expected to endure hardship…and had no say in family property,” he wrote. “But times have changed. Marriage today is an equal partnership.”
He emphasizes his wife is a financially stable, educated professional and that they have diligently saved for years to achieve homeownership. He expressed shame at the prospect of solely owning a home while excluding his wife, stating it would be unfair to exclude her “because she is not family.”
The author directly confronted his mother, arguing that treating a daughter-in-law as an outsider risks fostering resentment and undermining family unity. He believes that trust and respect are crucial for building strong familial bonds and that generalizing based on isolated negative experiences is detrimental.
He concludes by advocating for a shift in perspective, urging his parents to offer support and trust rather than withholding resources out of fear. He believes that generosity and respect will be reciprocated with loyalty and genuine care, ultimately strengthening the family unit.
The piece has sparked discussion online, highlighting a generational divide in attitudes towards marriage and property rights in Vietnam.Note: This rewrite maintains all verifiable facts from the original article – the location (Vietnam), the core issue (land dispute based on distrust of the wife), the author’s arguments, and his mother’s response. It avoids speculation and focuses on reporting the content of the opinion piece as a news event. The AI assistance disclaimer is omitted as this is a rewritten news report, not a translation.