Reunite Families in Viet Nam

My name is Huyen Friedlander, and I want to thank you for visiting my page and for your interest in this deeply personal cause of mine.

I was born in 1971 in Bien Hoa, Vietnam during the war, and I lived with my birth family until I was four years old. My birth father was an American soldier. Out of concern for my safety due to my mixed race, my birth mother relinquished me to the Friends of the Children of Viet Nam to be adopted. I was flown out of Viet Nam as a part of Operation Babylift and arrived in the US in late April 1975. I was adopted into a loving American family. I am one of a few thousand adoptees who share a similar story.

My story is unique in that I returned to Viet Nam in 1996 and was able to find my birth family using a copy of my birth certificate that my adoptive father had the foresight to secure during my adoption process. I still consider my reunion to be miraculous, and we have maintained a relationship for almost thirty years now.

Unfortunately, most Vietnamese adoptees were not given access to their birth certificates, and many have no information about their birth mother or the circumstances of their origins. Until recently, birth mothers and their lost children could not imagine a way of finding each other.

The advent of DNA testing has created the possibility of reconnecting adoptees and their birth families, providing some hope that people will reconnect and heal some of the pain of their past.

In April 2025, I will be returning to Vietnam to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. As a part of Viet Nam Family Search (a non-profit, adoptee-led organization), I will be joining other adoptees from the US, Australia, and Europe to participate in a 5-day fundraising bike ride covering 284 kilometers across the beautiful Mekong Delta. Our mission is to raise awareness and provide essential DNA testing kits and care packages along the way to mothers who were separated from their children during the war.

This is more than just a commemoration; it’s a heartfelt initiative aimed at reconnecting families, supporting elderly mothers in the Mekong Delta, and providing essential resources for women who have carried emotional burdens for too long.

Your donations will help provide:

DNA testing kits and follow-up support: Allow mothers the opportunity and hope to reunite with their children. Allow adoptees to discover their roots and hopefully reunite with their biological families.

Feed Those in Need: We aim to distribute food parcels to elderly mothers who struggle to make ends meet, ensuring they have access to nutritious meals.

Build Homes: We will also raise funds to construct safe and comfortable homes for these deserving mothers, giving them stability.

Every dollar you contribute will directly impact the lives of those affected by the war and its aftermath. By supporting our campaign, you are helping to heal wounds that have lasted generations and bringing hope to families yearning for connection.

Join us in this meaningful effort to honor Vietnam's mothers and support those in need.

Your generosity can make a life-changing difference—Donate today and help us spread love, hope, and healing!