As if there was never a separation: 'I cried when I gave my child away, but she just smiled'

A deeply emotional reunion unfolded on the Vietnamese television program "Nhu Chua He Co Cuoc Chia Ly" as Vu Thi Sinh was reunited with her daughter after a separation of 47 years. The program, which helps reunite separated families, witnessed Sinh's overwhelming tears as she recounted the painful story of her life.

Sinh's life was marked by hardship. Her family, overseas Vietnamese from Thailand, returned to Vietnam in 1960. After her father's death in 1966, she faced immense challenges. At 18, pregnant and rejected by her partner's family, she found herself homeless and destitute, resorting to selling second-hand goods. A run-in with market inspectors led to her belongings being confiscated.

Facing the final months of her pregnancy with no support, Sinh made a drastic decision: she intentionally stole a low-value watch to be arrested. She believed imprisonment was the only way to ensure she had a place to give birth and receive care. In prison, she gave birth to a daughter, whom she named Vu Thi Kim Chi, now known as Lien.

When her daughter was only 5-6 months old, a prosecutor named Thuong offered to adopt the child. Hearing that her own mother was seriously ill back home, Sinh made the heartbreaking choice to give up her daughter, hoping for a better future for her. "When I handed my child over to someone else, I cried, but my child just smiled," Sinh recalled tearfully.

Tragedy continued to shadow Sinh. After her release, she learned her mother had passed away. Further complications arose when she was re-arrested and served another three years for violating residency regulations after being temporarily released. Despite these immense struggles, including a subsequent marriage that did not result in more children, Sinh's desire to find her daughter grew stronger with age. After an unsuccessful personal search, a friend helped her write a letter to "Nhu Chua He Co Cuoc Chia Ly," leading to this poignant reunion.

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When I handed my child over to someone else, I cried, but my child just smiled.