On October 1, 2013, at Binh Long Town General Hospital in the southern province of Binh Phuoc, baby girls Ngoc Yen (on the right) and Lan Anh (on the left) were accidentally given to the wrong mothers shortly after birth.
Lan Anh, the biological daughter of Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, was mistakenly handed to Thi Lien, an ethnic S'tieng woman, while Ngoc Yen, Lien's biological daughter, was given to Trang.
When Ngoc Yen was about one year old, Trang and her husband, Khien, began to suspect something was amiss. The child bore no resemblance to them or their elder daughter, Lan Phuong. She had darker skin and curly hair, traits common among the S'tieng ethnic group.
Khien suspected that their child might have been switched with another baby born to an ethnic S'tieng mother who had shared a maternity ward with his wife. The couple quietly searched for the other woman but were unsuccessful.
It was not until 2016 that Trang's father while selling bread in a village 10km away, noticed a woman carrying a girl who looked strikingly similar to his son-in-law and granddaughter. His suspicions led him to bring the family to investigate further.
They discovered that the woman was indeed Thi Lien, who had given birth on the same day as Trang at Binh Long Town General Hospital. The girl in question was Lan Anh.
Khien proceeded with a DNA test, which confirmed that Ngoc Yen was not biologically related to them. Following a complaint, the hospital conducted further DNA tests, which confirmed that Ngoc Yen was Lien's daughter and Lan Anh was the biological child of Trang and Khien.
On the afternoon of July 25 2016, Binh Long Town General Hospital organised an official ceremony to return the two girls to their biological parents after three years.
The girls are returned to their biological parents in 2016.
However, on their first night with their birth mothers, both girls cried inconsolably due to the unfamiliar environment. The two families then agreed to alternate custody every week.
At that time, Lien was pregnant again, and her husband had abandoned her. Seeing her struggle, Khien and Trang offered to adopt Ngoc Yen to provide her with a stable upbringing and education.
The two girls soon became inseparable, living under the same roof, attending school, and playing together daily. Now, at 12 years old, they share a deep sisterly bond.
Reflecting on the past, Trang and her husband worry about how their daughters might feel as they grow older. However, Trang has never differentiated between them, treating Ngoc Yen as her flesh and blood.
"Some people warned me that if I raised Yen, she might one day leave to reunite with her biological mother and forget about me. But my husband and I never thought about that. We just want our daughters to grow up happily. When they reach adulthood, their choices will be theirs," Trang said.
Trang, Khien and their three daughters.
Khien works tirelessly to provide for his family of five. In addition to his job as a deliveryman, he takes on various tasks, including electrical and plumbing repairs, welding, motorbike taxi services, and even tree cutting, doing whatever it takes to support his children.
Trang also earns a modest income from singing at events.
Ngoc Yen and Lan Anh visit their mother, Thi Lien (right), and grandfather.
On weekends, Lan Anh often asks her father to take her to visit her mother, Lien, and her grandfather in the village. She frequently messages Lien to check-in. Despite living away from Lien for many years, Lan Anh still cherishes visiting her and enjoying the meals she prepares.
As they grow older, the two girls understand their extraordinary past. When asked about it, Lan Anh smiles and says, "Most kids have only one mum, but I have two. That means I get double the love and feel really lucky."
