Vietnamese brides enjoy life in rural China(2)

Liu went through a bitter divorce just before going to Vietnam and didn't think he was ready to start another relationship, but Ho changed his mind.

He explained that Vietnamese women are usually understanding wives and loving mothers, which makes them the ideal type of women for Chinese men.

The unusual number of Vietnamese wives in this small township has raised the eyebrows of outsiders.

Some believe the women have married the men for money, while others believe the women were trafficked to China.

But Liu dismissed their suspicions as groundless, adding that the marriage didn't cost him any extra money other than the 4,800 U.S. dollars he spent on the wedding.

"When we got married, her family didn't ask me for any money," he said. "Her family lives a pretty decent life in Vietnam, and she also had a pretty good job there."

Liu Jianhua, who brought his Vietnamese wife to China in July last year, said most Vietnamese women are not materialistic.

"I told my wife honestly when we were about to go back to China that I only had an old house, as well as a younger brother to support," he said. "She said it would all be fine as long as I treat her well."

The Vietnamese wives enjoy a very good reputation in Linqi. They have been getting along with local housewives, and are known by locals for being polite, hardworking and loyal.

In their spare time, the women love to get together to share news from their hometowns and trade practical advice on raising children.

There's only one problem that keeps bothering them: although their children are registered as Chinese nationals, the women still have to apply for a visa every three months, since they cannot get permanent residence permits.

According to Chinese immigration law, if a foreign woman wants to apply for a permanent residence permit after marrying a Chinese man, she has to have been married and have lived in China for at least five years.

Tuan said she is looking forward to getting the permit, as she has already made China her second home.

"It takes time to adjust, but as long as I know that my husband loves me and cares about me, I don't feel lonely," she said.