The miserable story of a Nghe An woman returning home after 20 years of being sold to China

One day in mid-December 2018, the small house of Mrs. Ho Thi Dao (born in 1965), residing in Tan Phong block, Quynh Phuong ward (Hoang Mai town), was crowded with neighbors and relatives coming to ask questions. Because not long before, her younger sister, Mrs. Ho Thi Hoa (born in 1969, residing in Mai Hung ward), had just returned from China.

Returning home after 20 years missing because her ex-husband had a new family and her two children were working in the South, Hoa had no place to stay. In that situation, Mrs. Dao opened her arms to take care of her sister.

After 20 years of being sold to a foreign country, Ms. Hoa was reunited with her family. Photo: Tran Vu

According to her family, in 1998, Ho Thi Hoa was introduced by a woman who invited her to Thanh Hoa to wash dishes for a restaurant. Because she had just divorced her husband and had to raise two small children, Hoa really needed a job. After agreeing, Hoa was taken to China by the "kind" woman, only when she arrived did she realize she had been tricked. She begged and cried, but what Hoa received were life-threatening beatings.

Knowing that she could not escape from that house, Ho Thi Hoa had to grit her teeth and accept being a wife in a foreign land. During her time living there, this woman gave birth to 5 children. The irony was that her husband and his family did not allow her to have contact or be close to her children. She said that after giving birth, about a month later, they separated the children from their mothers. She loved her children, but she was helpless.

Although she did not know Chinese, Ms. Hoa was forced by her husband not to speak Vietnamese in front of the children. Being physically and mentally abused made Ms. Hoa even more depressed and despondent.

Mrs. Dao was happy to have found her sister. Photo: Tran Vu

After 18 years of living together, Mrs. Hoa became seriously ill, her skin was yellow, her face was swollen, and she was tired. At this time, her husband had the heart to throw her out on the street. For 2 years living on the streets, Mrs. Hoa only knew how to beg and collect scrap metal to make a living. At night, she chose to sleep under the bridge. This woman was often chased away by bad guys.

Although she really wanted to return to her homeland, Ms. Hoa did not know where to start. Fortunately, a woman named Hai (from Nghe An) helped her return to Vietnam. Ms. Hai is a trader who often travels between the two countries, so she accidentally learned about Ms. Hoa's situation. This woman posted photos and personal information about Ms. Hoa on Facebook, asking the online community to help find her relatives.

“The world is round, so Hoa’s son (her ex-husband’s son) who is working as a factory worker in the South accidentally read that information. He sent me pictures and information to verify. When I saw that picture, I couldn’t believe my eyes because I was sure that was my sister who had been missing for many years,” Ms. Dao recalled.

On December 15, as scheduled, they took a bus to Tan Thanh border gate (Lang Son) to pick up Ms. Hoa. On the other side of the border gate, Ms. Hoa was taken home by a group of Vietnamese people. Not only was she given clothes, but the kind-hearted group also donated 10 million VND to give to her.

After returning home, Ms. Hoa was given a temporary residence book by the police. Photo: Tran Vu

Recalling the process of searching for her sister, Ms. Dao confided: "The day Hoa went missing, the family inquired in many places but had no news. Some people said my sister had died, but many others thought she had been tricked and sold to China. Therefore, the family decided not to set up an altar, waiting for a miracle. And that happened. My family would like to thank the benefactors who helped us in one way or another."

When asked about her future plans, Ms. Hoa said that for now, she will live with her sister’s family and do odd jobs to forget her humiliating past. As for her Chinese husband, she will never return.

After returning home, Ms. Hoa reported to the local authorities. Mai Hung Ward Police issued a temporary residence book to Ms. Ho Thi Hoa.