Pax Thien - a nearly 10-year journey from a Vietnamese orphanage to America
From a shy boy who burst into tears when Angelina Jolie came to adopt him, Pax Thien has now entered his teenage years, grown up and confident when attending events with his mother.
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Pax Thien (birth name Pham Quang Sang) was born on November 29, 2003 in Ho Chi Minh City. After birth, Sang was abandoned by his mother, a drug addict and unmarried. His grandparents took him to Tam Binh Orphanage (Ho Chi Minh City). In March 2007, he was adopted by Angelina Jolie and brought to the US. The star once explained that the name Pax Thien she gave her son means "Peaceful Sky". |
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Angelina Jolie shared about her adopted Vietnamese son on People in 2007: "It takes a lot of courage to face so many new things around him, with new faces, new languages. He is very strong. We are slowly building trust and connection with Pax." |
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In May 2007, Angie asked a Los Angeles court to change Pax's last name from Jolie to Jolie-Pitt so that Brad Pitt could become the boy's adoptive father. |
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In his new family, Pax Thien gets used to life with paparazzi following his every move and keeping company with Shiloh, Zahara, and Maddox. Angelina Jolie sends her children to private school. |
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In the family, Pax Thien was described by Angelina Jolie as "the wildest child". His personality has many similarities with his adoptive mother. |
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In 2008, Pax Thien welcomed twins - Knox and Vivienne. A few months later, Angelina Jolie shared with People that Pax and his siblings all take good care of him, even changing the twins' diapers. |
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Being the son of the most powerful couple in Hollywood, Pax Thien is often taken by his parents to many places around the world during filming. The Vietnamese boy has been to France, Czech Republic, England, Cambodia, Myanmar... |
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In November 2011, Pax Thien was taken by his parents to Vietnam to visit his homeland. This trip included all of Pax Thien's siblings including Shiloh, Maddox, Zahara, Vivienne, Knox. They mainly vacationed in Con Dao. |
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During a chat on the radio show "Woman's Hour" in the UK on May 16, Angelina Jolie shared that she still lets Pax Thien learn Vietnamese. |
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Angelina Jolie revealed that her second son loves music and wants to become a DJ. In addition, Pax Thien has loved cooking since he was a child and was encouraged by his mother to pursue this hobby. At Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's wedding in 2014, Pax Thien was the one who made the multi-layered chocolate cake. |
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In 2015, Pax Thien looked mature and strong when he and his mother went to do charity work in Myanmar. Pax and Maddox often appeared with their mother at humanitarian events. |
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Pax Thien will turn 13 at the end of November. He and his siblings are living with his mother in a Miami mansion after Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt split. His family in Vietnam has denied rumors that his biological mother wants Pax Thien back.Pax's grandfather said they always wished him a good life and never intended to take him back. |
According to VNE