Brian Jeffrey
Kim Hoa Gouguet, formerly known as Nguyen Thi Kim Hoa, grew up in Vietnam as the youngest of seven siblings in a struggling family before being adopted by a French couple.
After facing various hardships like hunger and poverty, Kim Hoa’s birth parents decided to give her up for adoption, hoping for a better life for her. She was taken to an orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City before being adopted by a French couple at the age of just one.
Throughout her childhood, Kim Hoa was aware of her adoption and received unconditional love and support from her adoptive parents, who encouraged her to embrace her Vietnamese roots.
Despite having a happy childhood, Kim Hoa always wondered about her birth family and contemplated searching for them, especially during visits back to Vietnam with her adoptive parents.
After battling professional challenges and depression, Kim Hoa made the decision to search for her birth parents during a trip to Vietnam in 2024 without informing her adoptive parents. Armed with her adoption records and a photo of a Vietnamese couple given to her by a nun, she embarked on her quest.
Sharing the photo with a Vietnamese friend, Kim Hoa’s story quickly gained traction on social media and within hours of posting, she received news suggesting her birth parents had been located.
Returning to France, Kim Hoa was overjoyed to meet her birth family via video call, which led to an emotional reunion with her father, mother, siblings, and extended family members.
The reunion with her birth family filled Kim Hoa with overwhelming emotions and a sense of completeness after 30 years of separation. She also successfully located her adopted sister, Kim Huyen, and reunited with her in France.
Reflecting on her journey, Kim Hoa hopes her story inspires other adoptees to never give up on finding their birth families and encourages adoptive parents to support their children in reconnecting with their heritage.
To those searching for their roots, she advises utilizing social media, connecting with local authorities, and leaning on trustworthy friends to aid in the search process.
