Man stayed behind so his pregnant wife could escape postwar Vietnam — 45 years later, his daughter finally got to thank him
She only knew her father's name and that he sold Eastern medicine, which was not enough information to find him
Imagine being a young girl cramped up in a roach-infested apartment in America, where her mother worked multiple jobs just to put food on the table, as she tried to send enough money back home in Vietnam so that their father could make it over to the United States. For Jade, this was her difficult reality, which started in 1958 post-war Vietnam, with her mother, who was pregnant with her back then, escaping to Thailand by boat, leaving her father behind, as they could only afford one ticket. What followed was a grueling phase in their lives and, finally, a search for her birth father after 45 years. Jade shared her story with Kyle Le Dot Net on April 21.
Growing up
After a brief stay in Thailand, where Jade was born, she and her mother moved to the U.S. and tried to stay in touch with her father, sending money so he could join them. But communication was slow, with letters taking nearly a year to reach the recipient. However, ironically, one day a letter arrived saying he had remarried and wouldn’t be coming. This broke little Jade and her mother, and they cut off contact with him immediately. Jade grew up, started her own family, and carried years of anger toward the father she believed had left them behind. Over time, though, that anger turned into questions, and eventually, a need to understand his side of the story.
Hunt for a temple
While on a charity mission in Vietnam, just days before leaving for the U.S., Jade decided to contact Kyle Le and explained her situation to him. However, with her having very little to no information about her dad, it seemed almost impossible for him to be found. All she knew was her father’s full name, approximate age, and that he lived opposite a specific temple. Jade started the hunt for her father with Kyle in the Sami area of Siagon, which was where her dad and mother had lived before. She knew that her dad was an Eastern medicine herbalist, but his vague description wasn't enough, as the duo hit several dead ends.
However, Jade didn’t give up — she followed a lead from an address her mother had for a cousin her father had recently visited. That search brought her to a local shop, where a hesitant tenant eventually shared her uncle’s address. At first, she couldn’t find him no matter where she went, but not long after, she finally met her uncle, who recognized her and helped arrange her meeting with her father, leading to an emotional reunion.
A chapter closed
When Jade's father arrived, they immediately embraced, with Jade crying tears of relief while her dad looked on in complete wonder, stumped by the reunion he had never expected. However, his eyes hint at a long wait and undying hope that one day, he would be able to meet and hold his own daughter. Thankfully, it came true.
The End of the War created a refugee crisis
Jade’s reunion was rare among the thousands who lost their families. According to History.com, after the Vietnam War, around 140,000 refugees were evacuated to the U.S., but many more were left behind to face harsh consequences. By 1979, tens of thousands fled by boat each month, only to be turned away by neighboring countries. An estimated 25,000 to 50,000 died at sea, while others who reached camps still faced separation, uncertainty, and loss.
That's why people couldn't help but shed a tear for Jade and her father, who were separated because of this very war. "This was truly heartwarming. Discovering your dad, even after he remarried, speaks volumes about the depth of your love, regardless of the circumstances," @filipino96817 wrote. Meanwhile, @XposinTheFakes stated, "Her stepmother knows the pain he's been through, but I can also imagine how sad her sister and stepmother would feel knowing that his daughter was his favorite even out of sight."
More on Scoop Upworthy
Couple share emotional reunion after wife's long bout in the hospital and we're weeping
Share on Facebook
