Nguyen Thi Hoi greets Monique and her husband Philippe with flowers and a long embrace as they arrive in Hanoi.
Nguyen Thi Hoi greeted Monique and her husband Philippe with flowers and a long embrace as they arrived in Vietnam for the first time in 31 years, following a 14 hour flight. The couple are the adoptive parents of Arthur Chareire, who recently located his birth mother after more than three decades.
At the airport, Hoi and Monique held tightly to each other, both overwhelmed and speechless.
“For me, this trip feels like fate completing a full circle. More than three decades ago I came to Hanoi to bring Arthur home. This time, I hoped to return him to Hoi,” Monique told Dantri/Dtinews.
A return to Vietnam after 31 years
Hoi welcomed the couple into her home, where they learned to use chopsticks and praised Vietnamese food. A translation device helped bridge the years of distance.
Placing her arm around Hoi, Monique thanked her “for giving birth to a loving and kind boy”.
“I understand the pain Hoi must have felt when she let him be adopted. Given her difficult circumstances, it was an act of love,” she said.
Monique recalled that when they heard Arthur had found his birth mother, they immediately planned the trip. In the days before departure, she felt both nervous and excited.
“Hanoi has changed so much I barely recognise it. The airport, the roads, the tall buildings, etc. Thirty one years ago, when I travelled from Noi Bai to the Old Quarter via Thang Long Bridge, there were only a few cars on the road,” she said.
In 1994, although they already had two children, the couple wished to adopt another. Adoption procedures in France were complicated and slow, so when they learned that French families could adopt in Vietnam, Monique travelled to Hanoi alone.
“The moment I met Arthur I adored him immediately. Because of the paperwork, I had to stay in Hanoi for a month before bringing him home. The little boy, weighing nearly 3kg, was warmly welcomed by our family,” she said.
A file photo of Arthur Chareire as a little boy
The couple never hid Arthur’s adoption. They told him the truth when he was in primary school.
Monique admitted she once thought of finding his birth mother but did not know where to begin. She kept all adoption documents carefully and passed them to Arthur when he reached adulthood.
“I wanted him to be happy, so I fully supported his search. When he told us he had found his birth mother, we could hardly believe it. This reunion feels like a fairy tale,” she said.
Now living quietly in the French mountains, Monique and Philippe are happiest knowing their two biological children love Arthur deeply. During this return to Vietnam, they plan to visit Hanoi, Ha Giang and several other places before heading back to Paris in December for Christmas.
Arthur plans to bring his birth mother to France
Hoi said she was both nervous and joyful when she learned Arthur’s adoptive parents were coming.
“I owe Monique and her husband. If Arthur had not met such a kind family, he would not have the happy life he has today,” she said.
Her life changed two months ago when Arthur found her. At first, both were shy, but their bond grew stronger each day.
Each morning, vendors at the local market see Hoi wearing her conical hat, riding her old bicycle to buy food while Arthur films the simple moments behind her.
“Since finding my son, I feel at peace. Before that, I always believed he was alive and living happily somewhere,” she said.
Arthur has begun learning Vietnamese. Hoi does not speak French, so they use a translation device to communicate.
Witnessing his birth mother and adoptive parents embracing after decades apart moved Arthur deeply.
“Although I returned only two months ago, I truly feel Vietnam is home. People are kind, the food is delicious and family bonds are warm,” he said.
The young filmmaker recently completed a two week motorbike trip to Ta Xua and Sapa. He is researching procedures to regain Vietnamese citizenship and plans to take Hoi to France in March 2026.
“My mother has endured many hardships. I want this trip to give her time for herself, and to rediscover the joy and peace she deserves,” he said.
Arthur Chareire, whose Vietnamese name is Vu Van Dau, was born on August 19, 1994 at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi.
Soon after birth, he was left at the hospital and later adopted by Monique and her husband.
In April, 2025, he contacted Dantri/Dtinews seeking help to find his birth mother. After the report was published, Hoi phoned the newspaper’s hotline with matching details.
Nguyen Thi Hoi and her son Arthur Chareire visit Dantri/Dtinews' headquarters in Hanoi on September 17, 2025 to express thanks for the newspaper's help to connect them.
A DNA test confirmed their biological relationship. Arthur travelled to Vietnam in September 2025, meeting his mother again after 31 years apart.
