Tears of Nghe An woman returning home after 23 years of being tricked and sold to China

For the past two days, the family's small house has been bustling with people coming to visit and share joy with Ms. Truong Thi Thin, born in 1967 - who has been considered missing for 23 years.

Retelling her story, Ms. Thin choked with tears:"I was tricked and sold to China because I trusted a woman in the commune. During that time away from home, I looked forward to returning home every day, but when I returned, both my parents were gone. It was so painful."

Ms. Truong Thi Thin reunited with her son after 23 years apart. Photo: Dinh Thuy

According to Ms. Thin, in 1997, she had two young children (a 5-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl). Because she had leg pain that could not be cured by medicine from many places, one day, a woman in Nghia Long commune said she would take her to get medicine and promised that the medicine would cure her illness, so she agreed.

This woman took Ms. Thin to the car, saying that she was taking her to a herbalist to get some medicine. After getting in the car, halfway through the journey, the person asked if she wanted to drink water and gave her a sip of water. From then on, Ms. Thin was unconscious until she woke up. The woman who took her told her to sit there and wait, she was going to the restroom, but Ms. Thin waited for a long time and the person did not return. Then a stranger came and took her away and handed her over to another person. Only then did she realize that she had been tricked and sold to China...

She struggled to return but was in vain because she did not know the language, all her money was taken and there were always guards around, she could not move a single step. Then Ms. Thin was sold to a Chinese man.

Ms. Thin confided: At first, my husband and family did not let me go anywhere because they were afraid I would run away. Being in a strange land and climate, I was sick all the time, suffering from malaria for 3 years straight. I thought that after being sold here, I would never be able to return. I tried to commit suicide twice, but my husband discovered and stopped me.

Missing my children, my parents, my hometown always torments me. Even in my dreams, I see my children crying because they miss their mother. Life there is hard and difficult, but there is no money. The person I call my husband now sold all the property in the house to buy me. They are poor but they love me. I have lived with him since then and we have 2 children together. Living far away from home, I always long for the day I can return. I have sent countless letters, but I don't understand why the letters never reach home.

After more than 23 years of wandering, Ms. Thin stood before her parents' altar, lit incense and cried. When she was sold to China, her two children were still young, one was 3 years old and the other was 5 years old. At that time, her parents were in poor health but still tried to raise their two children to study. Until now, the daughter has married and has children. After Ms. Thin disappeared, her family searched for her, hoping for information every day but all in vain.

Before the day to meet their daughter, Ms. Thin's parents both fell ill and passed away. Before they died, they both asked for information about her. Mr. Truong Cong Nhuong, Ms. Thin's younger brother, said: The family was very happy to hear that she was still alive. Seeing her healthy was a great joy. For 23 years, the family has been hoping for a miracle, that she would return. Currently, Ms. Thin's son is living in the house his grandparents left behind. Although life is still difficult, he is protected by his brothers and neighbors, so it is less difficult.

Neighbors came to share joy with Ms. Thin's family. Photo: Dinh Thuy

Talking about her days living in a foreign land, Ms. Thin said: at first, she witnessed a number of cases of Vietnamese women being sold to hide in the village but were caught and beaten. Moreover, when I left, I was afraid of being sold again. I married a man 7 years younger than me, but luckily he loved me. During my most desperate days, my husband said he would try to work hard and contribute money for his wife to visit her hometown.

Then luckily I met a person in Vietnam, I asked them to send a letter home because I sent thousands of letters without any response. Unexpectedly, that person knew how to use the internet, so I posted it online so I could talk to my brothers and children online. A week later, my husband sold 3 cows and gave me money to go home.

On February 27, 2019, Ms. Thin returned home to the great joy of her children and relatives. Ms. Thin also reported the incident to the local authorities. She shared: "The area where I live is Hainan Island, there are many cases of trafficking like me, some of the children were still young and suffered a lot. I also want to warn everyone to be careful, not to trust people too much and then suffer many losses like myself and many other women. And I also hope that human traffickers will be punished appropriately."

Mr. Truong Van Tam - Chief of Nghia Long Commune Police, Nghia Dan said: Ms. Truong Thi Thin has filed a complaint with the local authorities and her case has also been reported to her superiors. In the immediate future, the commune will complete the procedure to request the restoration of her household registration and ID card according to Ms. Thin's wishes.