Swedish woman's emotional search for Vietnamese birth mother

A young Swedish woman, whose biological mother is Vietnamese, has returned to Vietnam twice in search of the woman who gave birth to her 34 years ago before she was adopted and moved abroad.

Driven by an unwavering desire for a reunion, she holds onto the hope that one day, her efforts will lead to a miracle.

With tears in her eyes, Hoa, as she is called, recently shared her story with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, expressing her heartfelt wish to meet her birth mother.

The 34-year-old woman, with jet-black hair, speaks Vietnamese hesitantly but understands most of what is said to her.

“I’ve been learning Vietnamese ever since I discovered my origins,” Hoa said, her voice tinged with both pride and determination.

“I learned mainly through YouTube, so my speaking isn’t fluent. But since returning to Vietnam about a year ago, my Vietnamese has improved.”

Hoa also shared how she has embraced local life by learning to ride a motorbike, a skill she now uses to navigate her journey of searching for her mother.

Adopted by Swedish couple

Hoa carries with her a stack of documents that trace her Vietnamese origins.

These include a handwritten letter from her biological mother addressed to the National Hospital of Obstetrics in Hanoi, requesting the hospital to care for her; her birth certificate; a notice from the hospital regarding her adoption; a commitment letter from her adoptive Swedish parents; and an adoption handover document featuring a 3x4 photo of Hoa as a newborn, signed by the hospital's director, the adoptive parents, and a representative from the Hanoi People’s Committee.

In the letter, Hoa’s mother, Nguyen Thi Hoan, introduced herself as an 18-year-old from Nguyen Trai Commune, Thuong Tin District, Ha Son Binh Province, now part of Hanoi and Hoa Binh Province in northern Vietnam.

A handwritten letter dated July 10, 1990, shows a Vietnamese mother, Nguyen Thi Hoan, requesting that the Hanoi-based National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology care for her newborn daughter, Nguyen Thi Kim Hoa, who was born on the same day.

She wrote that she gave birth to Hoa – full name Nguyen Thi Kim Hoa – on July 10, 1990, but could not afford to raise her. The letter, signed on the day Hoa was born, led to an adoption shortly thereafter.

Hoa’s birth certificate, issued by the hospital, left the names and addresses of her parents blank. However, in a notice sent to the Hanoi Department of External Relations, the hospital mentioned that Hoa’s mother had stated she gave birth out of wedlock at the age of 18 and had previously lived in Pho Lu Town, Bao Thang District, Hoang Lien Son Province, now Lao Cai Province in the northern region.

Hoa’s adoptive parents, Uef Grundel, an organizational and management consultant born in 1949, and Eva Hof, an office assistant born in 1952, reside in Jerfalla, Sweden.

“I am fortunate to have been raised by my adoptive parents, who nurtured and educated me for over 30 years. Now, I wish to meet my birth mother. If she is living a happy life, I will not disrupt her or impose on her,” Hoa said.

Hoa added that her adoptive parents had brought her back to Vietnam several times as a child, sparking a growing awareness of her roots and a longing for her mother’s love.

This deep connection to her origins has inspired her to search for her birth mother in the hope of a reunion.

Journey to look for birth mother

Hoa’s search for her biological mother began in 2009 when, at the age of 20, she returned to Vietnam for five months.

During her stay, she volunteered at a Hanoi-based center caring for children with HIV and worked remotely for Save the Children to support disadvantaged children.

Despite her efforts, she left Vietnam without any leads.

In early 2023, with the blessing of her adoptive parents, Hoa returned to Vietnam to continue her search.

This time, she has stayed longer, renting a room in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh District, learning Vietnamese, practicing motorbike riding, and taking a part-time job.

Fortunately, Hoa has found supportive friends in Vietnam who are helping her in her quest.

One of them, Dinh Thu Thuy, told Tuoi Tre: “When I learned about Hoa’s determination to find her mother, I rearranged my work schedule to accompany her, as her Vietnamese is not fluent enough.”

Together, Hoa and Thuy have explored numerous leads. They visited the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Hanoi, where the adoption took place, but were told that no additional records about the adoption exist beyond what Hoa already possesses.

At the Hanoi Department of External Relations, they discovered that Hoa-related files were no longer stored.

The department referred them to a former translator, now around 80 years old, who had worked with Hoa’s adoptive parents in the 1990s. However, the translator could not recall any contact with Hoa’s birth mother.

In the autumn of 2023, the pair traveled to Pho Lu Town in Lao Cai Province, where Hoa’s mother had reportedly lived.

They spent four days working with local police and visiting schools, hoping to find records of her mother’s attendance. Unfortunately, they found no information.

Back in Hanoi, Thuy assisted Hoa by calling eight hamlet leaders in Nguyen Trai Commune, Thuong Tin District, formerly Ha Son Binh Province. However, none of the officials had any knowledge of Hoa’s mother.

Despite these setbacks, Hoa remains determined to continue her search, driven by the hope of one day reuniting with her birth mother.

Pursuing search with hope for miracle

“Initially, I planned to stay in Vietnam for six months to search for my mother, but it’s been over a year now,” Hoa said. “I see my future here in my homeland, and I want to build my life in Vietnam.”

Hoa’s adoptive parents have supported her decision to remain in Vietnam and continue her search.

The Swedish couple, who also adopted a son in addition to Hoa, encouraged her to follow her heart.

“Sweden offers more opportunities for a better life,” Hoa reflected. “But like other adopted children, I can confirm that one’s roots, language, and culture are far more meaningful than material wealth in a foreign country.”

Over the past year, Hoa has reached out to multiple agencies, including the Ministry of Justice’s Department of Adoption, but has yet to find any information about her biological mother.

“If my mother reads this article, I want her to know that I was raised well, just as she wished,” Hoa said. “Now, all I hope for is the chance to meet her and to know that she is living a happy life.”

Despite the challenges and setbacks, Hoa remains optimistic.

“Maybe a miracle will happen one day, allowing me to meet my mother. I wait for that miracle every single day,” she said, her voice filled with hope.