The family name comes from the father. The middle name can come from the mother s maiden name or it can be a chosen name by the parents. The first name is a chosen name just as any first name in the west. If you browse through some of the photos on this site and read the bios you will see that many of the Ladies have the word Thi in their name. Thi is a classifier that lets you know this name belongs to a woman.
Most Vietnamese names have no gender, which is to say that they can be used for both men and women.
Thi is a classifier used for a woman and Van is a classifier used for a man. Knowing how to write, pronounce and having an idea of what the ladies names means will always make them feel appreciated and she will know you are truly interested in her. Imagine her receiving your first letter and the first thing she notices is that you have written her name incorrectly. A good first impression is one of the keys to success with Vietnamese women, and a small thing such as a name can make all the difference. Remember you never get a second chance at a first impression.