Police Reunite Father and Daughter After 43 Years Apart in Vietnam
Translated from Vietnamese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Police in Can Tho, Vietnam, successfully reunited a father and daughter after a 43-year separation, using minimal information provided by the daughter.
- The father, Phan Van Quy, had been searching for his daughter, Huynh Thi Cam Tu, since her birth in 1984 after his first wife left him while pregnant.
- The reunion was facilitated by the Mแปน Quแปi Ward Police, who meticulously cross-referenced data and investigated leads to connect the family members.
In a heartwarming reunion, a father and daughter in Vietnam have been brought back together after 43 years of separation, thanks to the diligent efforts of the Mแปน Quแปi Ward Police in Can Tho City. The police successfully connected Phan Van Quy, residing in Can Tho, with his daughter, Huynh Thi Cam Tu, who lives in Ho Chi Minh City, using only sparse details.
Mr. Quy recounted his long search for his daughter, who was born in 1984. His first wife had left him while pregnant, and upon learning of his daughter's birth, he traveled to her mother's hometown in Trร Vinh province. However, by the time he arrived, both mother and child had already moved. This marked the beginning of a decades-long quest, hampered by difficult travel conditions and a lack of communication methods in those years.
Despite remarrying in 1994 and starting a new family, Mr. Quy never stopped searching for his lost daughter. He often spoke of her to his other children, urging them to continue the search if he could not. He expressed his deep fear of running out of time due to his heart condition, emphasizing the importance of reuniting with his eldest daughter.
Meanwhile, Ms. Tu, now 42, grew up with a void, knowing only her father's name, her paternal grandfather's name, and an old address that had long since changed due to administrative boundary adjustments. These fragmented clues made her search incredibly challenging.
The breakthrough came when Ms. Tu approached the Mแปน Quแปi Ward Police on August 10th. The officers meticulously reviewed population data, verified identities, and collaborated with police in other localities. They painstakingly followed every small lead, cross-referencing information multiple times to ensure accuracy and avoid misidentification, ultimately bridging the 43-year gap between father and daughter.
Father and daughter were separated for so long, I was afraid I wouldn't have time left. I have heart disease and take medication daily, so I always told my children that if anything happened to me, they must remember to find my daughter.
Originally published by Thanh Niรชn in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.