Miraculous reunion between French girl and big Vietnamese family at Tan Son Nhat

The reunion of a French girl of Vietnamese origin named Azalée Benoit or Nguyen Thi Thu Mai with her extended Vietnamese family took place miraculously, miraculously, with tears and smiles of endless happiness.

After nearly 3 decades, a French girl of Vietnamese origin burst into tears as she reunited with her biological mother and extended Vietnamese family at Tan Son Nhat airport.

Ho Chi Minh City, one day in mid-February 2025, with sudden unseasonal rains, the house in a small alley on Van Tien Dung Street (old National Highway 50, Binh Chanh District) suddenly became unusually bustling because today was an important day for the family of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thu Hue (53 years old): Mai's homecoming day.

"THE DAY OF MAI'S RETURN"

12:30: Excited

- Reporter: Is anyone home? The interpreter and I are here!

- Mr. Dinh Van Thao (60 years old, Azalée's biological father): You guys come in and rest and have some water. Thu Mai is taking a flight at 5 pm today. The family rented a 16-seat car and the whole family left at 3 pm.

- Mr. Dinh Thanh Sang (27 years old, Azalée's younger brother): Mom is getting her hair done to pick up her sister, she will probably be back soon. The whole family has prepared everything!

Mrs. Hue's family members were both excited and nervous at the special moment of welcoming their loved one back home from France after a "long trip" of... 3 decades.

In the cozy house of Mrs. Hue and Mr. Thao, family members gathered one by one.

PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN

While Sang was busy with "preparations" in the back of the house, Ms. Than Thi Bi (88 years old), Azalée's grandmother, sat in front, waiting. Looking pensively out the door, Ms. Bi confided that she was extremely nervous, unable to sleep last night because it was not long before her granddaughter, whom she had been longing for, would return home.

"When the kids gave her away, she was only half a month old, and I had never seen her face. The other day I saw a picture of Mai, she grew up to be beautiful, pretty, and looked just like her father and mother. I'm so happy now that I don't know what to say. When I see her later, I'll probably just hug her and cry, because I won't be able to speak. If I think about it for a while, I'll probably cry again...", the old lady said.

Azalée’s father, Mr. Thao, was just as nervous as her mother, going in and out anxiously. Every now and then, he would flip through the old adoption papers and look at the childhood photos of his daughter that the French family had sent back more than two decades ago. He imagined the reunion that was so close.

A moment later, Mrs. Hue also returned home. Seeing us, she smiled brightly, her eyes shining with happiness.

I now feel elated, happy, and it is hard to describe. 28 years ago, I followed Mai's adoptive mother to Tan Son Nhat airport to see her off to France. 28 years later, also at Tan Son Nhat airport, I prepared to welcome her back. Oh my God! Happiness!

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hue, residing in Ho Chi Minh City

Everyone was in a state of excitement and anticipation.

PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN

Members depart

PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN

Mrs. Hue added that a few years ago, she confided to her youngest daughter, Hong, that: "If only your fourth sister would come back now, I would be so happy!" But not long after, that dream that seemed only in her imagination miraculously came true in Mrs. Hue's life.

15:00: Departure

As the afternoon wore on, more and more members of Mrs. Hue's family gathered here, more than ten people. The sound of laughter and chatter filled the small but warm house in the middle of Binh Chanh District.

At 3 p.m., a 16-seat car arrived on the street in front of the house. The family members dressed neatly and left their homes to get on the car. The special car departed for Tan Son Nhat Airport (Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City) carrying the excitement and nervousness of Mrs. Hue's family.

The family rented a 16-seat car to pick Thu Mai up and take her home.

PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN

Mrs. Hue's whole family was present at the airport.

PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN

Mrs. Huong reunited with Mrs. Hue's family at the airport.

PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN

On the way, the family did not forget to stop at a small flower shop on Pham The Hien Street (District 8) to buy a bright flower to give to Azalée. Mrs. Hue said that no matter what, the family still had to buy flowers to give to their daughter to feel the love of the whole family.

After a journey of nearly 20 km, the family finally arrived at the airport. Here, Azaléer's biological family also reunited with Tran Thi Thu Huong (49 years old, living in Ho Chi Minh City), one of the benefactors who helped them have today's reunion. When they met, everyone shook hands and congratulated each other.

Everyone is in a state of excitement.

PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN

The French girl and her boyfriend's flight arrived later than expected. Although the French girl still had a few hours to go before she arrived, the whole family was so nervous that they stood at the airport's arrival hall, watching her go inside.

They had waited for the French girl to return for 28 years, now, waiting for a few hours "was nothing". Mrs. Hue stood next to her mother-in-law, Mrs. Bi, nervously waiting for the special moment to come.

18:20: Crying out loud

After landing at the airport and completing all the procedures, at 6:20 p.m., the French girl in a pretty red dress ran out to the arrival terminal like an arrow. She hugged Sang, her mother, father, grandmother, siblings, aunts… in the family and burst into tears.

The hug was so tight, so long, tears flowed, rolling down her cheeks as if to satisfy the longing of 3 long decades. Thu Mai had truly come home in this moment, where all the happiness of life seemed to be wrapped up in the hug, the smile and the tears.

Azalée hugged Sang.

PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN

Grandmother and French Girl Reunited

PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN

The girl could not speak Vietnamese, but with the support of Mr. Nguyen Quang Linh (26 years old, living in Ho Chi Minh City), the free interpreter for the reunion, they shared words of love, greetings and encouragement for each other.

Witnessing that moment, both Mr. Linh and Ms. Huong were extremely moved and happy for the whole family. Afterwards, the whole family took Azaléer home. On the bus, they told each other stories that they had not had the chance to share for the past 28 years.

"When I first left, my grandmother was old and tired. Now that I see you come back, she's not tired anymore. She feels healthy and very comfortable," said Mrs. Bi, and everyone in the car burst out laughing.

After 28 years, Thu Mai has returned to the loving arms of her extended family in Vietnam.

PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN

"This is where my mother was born, the whole family lived here before it was demolished," Sang told his sister as the car passed through District 8, near his old house. Just like that, laughter and chatter filled the entire way home.

20:10: Gathering

At nearly 20:10, the bus returned to Mrs. Hue's house. The French girl and her boyfriend, Mr. Thomas Berard (30 years old) and the family members returned to the house. As soon as they entered, Azalée expressed her surprise because the place where her parents and siblings lived was extremely warm, a traditional Vietnamese house.

The French girl lit incense on the ancestral altar. Then, everyone sat together and chatted. Mrs. Hue did not forget to prepare fruit to invite her French daughter and her boyfriend. Looking at her "son-in-law", she smiled happily. Although she could not speak English or French to Azalée and her boyfriend, every gesture, look and movement of the mother was filled with love.

In the warm house, everyone gathered together

PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN

Laughter and chatter

PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN

"Everything to me is as beautiful as a dream, but it is true. The moment I hugged my mother and everyone, I was truly overwhelmed and moved. Now, in this house, I feel the love and care of my biological family. From here, in Vietnam, I have a family to return to," Azalée choked up and shared.

The French girl's boyfriend, Thomas, also expressed his emotion when the two were warmly welcomed by the family. He said that finding his roots had long been Azalée's strong desire. Now that wish has come true and he is truly happy to be living this moment with his girlfriend.

Mrs. Hue said that she named her child Mai, a typical flower during Tet in Southern Vietnam, hoping for good luck for her child. Azalée also shared about her French name, which was named after the beautiful azalea flower. Coincidentally, both Vietnamese and French names have the meaning of a flower.

Mrs. Hue looked at her children with eyes full of love.

PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN

French girl takes photo with parents and siblings

PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN

The whole family takes a photo together

PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN

"Your parents would like to thank your French adoptive mother for raising you to be such a good person and beautiful. Your parents have no other words but gratitude," Mr. Thao said through an interpreter.