Hello Ms. Pham Thi Yen. After nearly 1 year of marriage, what has changed in your life?
- Former player Pham Thi Yen: When I have a small family to care about, I also need to rearrange my time and define clearer goals for life. Before, I was used to making decisions myself. Now, each choice must be considered more carefully, thinking about many people and from many different angles.
- Do you think entering the role of daughter-in-law and wife is different from the biggest pressures you have ever experienced on the court?
- Before getting married, I also had certain worries. But when I really became a daughter-in-law, that feeling quickly passed. I lived in a family where my parents-in-law and siblings always loved and treated me like a daughter in the family. Therefore, I always felt close, comfortable, and without any pressure.
- As someone who has lived in a highly disciplined environment, how does that help you adapt to a family life that is easily disciplined?
- My parents-in-law both used to work in the Army, so they are used to living and working disciplined. My husband and I have also been trained in personality and awareness thanks to my parents' lifestyle. I myself still maintain a disciplined, orderly lifestyle, and the demeanor of a soldier when building a home. My husband and I regularly advise and share with each other. For things we don't know, I ask my parents directly to be clearer.
My parents-in-law loved me very much, so there was almost no distance, and there was no "mother-in-law - daughter-in-law" thing. My mother-in-law often called to ask and share. Even when I was sulking at my husband, I called to "tell him to love" my mother.
- Did the first Tet as a daughter-in-law bring you much excitement or worry?
- I don't feel surprised. When I became a daughter-in-law and received a lot of love from my parents as well as my husband's family, I felt very lucky. When contacting relatives, aunts, uncles, everyone gave me special affection, often asked and shared. If I don't come home for a long time, people also ask about me, interact a lot on social networks. Therefore, I always want to come home to meet my family to reunite and chat more.
- You have temporarily stopped playing with the Binh Chung volleyball team in phase 2 of the 2025 national championship. That was after getting married. Where did this decision come from?
- After getting married, my husband and I discussed and discussed very carefully about future plans. Both are no longer too young, so my husband hopes his wife will have a baby soon. This is also a common wish of both families. That became the motivation for me to temporarily put aside my professional work and spend time fulfilling my motherhood duty.
- What moment in the past year made you realize: the aura, the passion for volleyball has stayed behind, and family is your new journey?
- Starting from my husband's initial desire to have more family members. Every time I visit my parents, meet the grandchildren in the family, I also feel very loving to my children. Also because there are many factors combined that make me want to spend more time with my family and private life.
- What about your husband (Dang Duc Chung) makes you feel that you are still protected even though he often has to go on duty?
- During the year, my husband continuously has to go on duty, on duty at the unit. The end of 2025 is even busier when he participates in duty at the 14th National Party Congress.
But even though he is busy, whenever he has time, he still often calls to ask about me, takes advantage of going home to eat, picking me up and dropping me off to work. In times of force majeure, I also understand and do not want to put more pressure on him.
Contrary to the serious, somewhat cold image when on duty, at home, my husband always lives in accordance with the responsibility of a husband, caring, respecting and very indulgent to his wife.
- You are used to being a spiritual support for teammates and students. Are you now learning how to make your husband a support for you?
- No matter how strong or successful a woman is, she always hopes her husband is her support. There are times when women need to be weak, unable to decide everything themselves. I am learning to share more, so that my husband can show responsibility and the role of pillar in the family.
- In your opinion, what is the most important thing in marriage?
- For me, it is trust, sharing and mutual respect. Husband and wife need to create a sense of emotional security for each other. Dialogue may not help fully understand each other immediately, but it will help grasp the thoughts, thereby empathizing and uniting with each other in both work and life.
- What are your and your husband's Tet plans this year?
- Both husband and wife are still working, so we plan to return to our hometown to wish Tet to both parents. This year I have an earlier holiday, and my husband may have to be on duty for Tet, including New Year's Eve. When there is an exact schedule, we will arrange it to both fulfill the responsibilities of children to both families and be suitable for his work.
- A message for yourself and your family in 2026?
- In 2026, I hope that I and my family will always live fully, be grateful, and cherish every moment together. I will wish my family always good health, peace and happiness!
