In his final years, a 74-year-old man from Ho Chi Minh City searches for his daughter’s American birth mother.
Since losing his wife during the Covid-19 pandemic, the modest home of 74-year-old Le Trong Toan in an alley on Xom Chieu Street, Ho Chi Minh City, has remained quiet. He only opens the door when someone hires him for a ride.
Searching for her mother
Mr. Toan points to a childhood photo of his adopted daughter. Photo: Ha Nguyen
For over 40 years, Mr. Toan worked as a local security officer. After retiring due to age, he turned to traditional motorbike taxi driving. His main focus now is to find the American birth mother of his adopted daughter.
Thirty-five years ago, he and his wife adopted a baby girl under extraordinary circumstances. At the time, the couple was grieving the devastating loss of their own children.
In 1981, they welcomed twin daughters. Tragically, both babies passed away within months after falling ill.
Three years later, they had a son. But at just 13 months old, he too became ill and passed away.
Having lost all three of their biological children, the couple was overwhelmed with sorrow. In 1990, a neighbor told Mr. Toan that someone at Da Kao Market (District 1, then part of old Saigon) was looking to give up a baby for adoption.
Mr. Toan went immediately and brought the baby home. He recalls, “She was the daughter of a young Black American woman with curly hair. When I arrived, the baby girl was only one month old. Her skin was dark and her hair curly, just like her mother’s. I brought her home and raised her as my own. I named her Le Thi Ngoc Anh.
She was so frail then, with pale skin. Fortunately, we were financially stable at the time thanks to our family’s beading business, so we could care for her properly.”
From the day they brought her home, joy returned to their lives. Mr. Toan and his wife loved Ngoc Anh as their own and provided her with the best care and affection.
Ngoc Anh grew up enveloped in the love of her adoptive parents. However, by fifth or sixth grade, she began developing mental health issues and had to leave school.
Since then, Ngoc Anh has suffered from memory loss and cognitive delays - issues that continue to this day. This is what drives Mr. Toan’s determination to find her biological mother as he nears the end of his life.
Determined to the end
Ngoc Anh as a baby.
“My wife passed away during the peak of the Covid-19 outbreak, leaving just the two of us,” he said. “Now, at 74, the day I’m reunited with my wife isn’t far away.
Ngoc Anh is 35 but doesn’t have the awareness or agility of others her age. I’m afraid that when I pass, she’ll have no one to rely on.
That’s why I’ve made it my mission to find her birth mother. Only if they reunite will I have peace of mind.”
Though he is deeply committed, Mr. Toan has no personal information about Ngoc Anh’s biological mother. He only remembers that she was a young Black American woman renting a home with other Black tenants near Dinh Tien Hoang Elementary School (old District 1).
She was about 25 or 26 years old when she gave her baby up. Just days later, she flew to the U.S. under a repatriation program for Amerasians. Since then, Mr. Toan has heard nothing more about her.
In addition to seeking help from news outlets, Mr. Toan has sent case files to a Vietnamese-American friend living in the U.S., hoping for assistance.
“This friend specializes in connecting adoptees with their biological parents in the U.S. All I know is that Ngoc Anh’s mother boarded a flight to San Francisco in 1990. Beyond that, I have nothing,” he said.
“I know it’s difficult, but I’ll keep trying. When I once asked Ngoc Anh, ‘What will you do when I die?’ she replied, ‘I’ll die too.’ That answer only deepened my resolve.”
Love above all else
Mr. Toan fears his daughter will have no one after he’s gone. Photo: Ha Nguyen
He vows to keep searching for her birth mother. Photo: Ha Nguyen
Ngoc Anh has always seen Mr. Toan and his late wife as her true parents. Photo: NVCC
From a young age, Ngoc Anh was told she was adopted. Despite this, she never felt sad and had no desire to search for her birth family.
“I’ve always seen Dad and Mom as my real parents and loved them deeply,” she shared.
“I have no memory of my birth parents. So I never thought of finding them - if I wanted to, I would’ve done it years ago.
But recently, when I understood my dad’s wish, I agreed, just to give him peace of mind. Even if a miracle happens, I’ll never leave my adoptive father.”
If you have any information about Le Thi Ngoc Anh’s birth mother, please contact Mr. Le Trong Toan at: +84 797 539 907.
Vietnamnet.vn
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