Why Living in Vietnam Reconnected Me with My Vietnamese Identity

Introduction – An Identity Between Two Worlds

Growing up in France as an adopted child of Vietnamese origin meant constantly navigating between two worlds. French in culture but Vietnamese by birth, I long felt a subtle fracture between who I was and where I came from. For years, Viet Nam was a place I only knew through stories, images, and assumptions. Then, I made a decision that changed everything: I moved to Vietnam. That choice reshaped my life and allowed me to reconnect with a part of myself I had long ignored.

The Shock of Returning to My Roots: A Cultural and Personal Immersion

Familiar Yet Unknown Landscapes

Arriving in Southeast Asia as an adult was like stepping into a waking dream. The sounds of the street, the scent of pho and banh-mi from street-food stalls, the omnipresent motorbikes—everything felt both foreign and strangely familiar. It was as if a buried memory was being reawakened. Seeing Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Hanoi, or Nha Trang wasn’t about sightseeing. It was a rediscovery of a life I might have lived. Exploring the Ben Thanh Market, riding a cyclo like a local, or strolling along the Saigon River made the experience even more vivid. I remember taxis swarming the city-centre, travellers chatting on rooftops of hostels, and buses lined up near the international airport. Boutique hotels, budget hotels, riverside hotels, and luxury hotels lined the boulevards, all within walking distance of temples, city hotels, and nightlife districts. Flights with Vietnam Airlines to nearby provinces or Lao Cai opened even more perspectives. Foodies from around the world join food tours to sample local noodle specialties or discover Ha Long Bay's seafood stalls. From Phnom Penh to Laos, Southeast Asian borders blurred as I explored the region's soul.

Language: The Key to Cultural Memory

Vietnamese, a language I barely spoke, became a personal challenge. Learning it opened invisible doors: connection with Vietnamese people, understanding cultural nuances, engaging in traditions. Every word, every tone brought me closer to reclaiming my identity. Visiting the Vietnamese embassy and consular services or sorting documents at the consulate-general became part of my immersion. Applying for visas and visa-on-arrival procedures, navigating the official name of cities, reading about historic buildings demolished for expressway expansions, speaking with locals, and understanding the role of the Vietnamese government gave depth to my experience.

A Reconstructed Identity Between Past and Present

Meeting My Birth Family: A Defining Moment

One of the most powerful experiences was reuniting with my biological family. Facing my own history helped me place emotional landmarks, put faces to long-held silences, and understand the reasons behind my adoption. It wasn’t closure—it was a new beginning, one I could narrate myself. Tracing back stories of the Viet Minh, Viet Cong, the Tet Offensive, and even Ngo Dinh Diem helped me make sense of the fractured past. Learning about the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Geneva Accords, French Indochina, and the anti-communist movements, as well as the bombing campaigns and Soviet influence during the American War, deepened my historical understanding. The Fall of Saigon, the role of the National Assembly, the rise of communism and nationalism—these were no longer abstract events. Exploring articles on the Wayback Machine made many of these narratives more vivid.

A Culture of Memory, Family, and Transmission

Living in Vietnam means embracing a different way of being. Ancestors, rituals, family values, and collective identity form the core of society. Visiting places like Hue’s ancient pagodas or the Cu Chi Tunnels connects one to the past, including the Vietnam War, Indochina War, and the period of reunification. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, shaped by Communist Party influence, the Soviet Union, and colonial legacies, is a living archive. Visits to the Presidential Palace, revolutionary museums, the Fine Arts Museum, History Museum, and even the Mausoleum in Hanoi, or watching a traditional water puppet show brought those memories to life. This culture of memory and reverence moved me deeply. It allowed me to rebuild my own inner lineage. The Emperor’s legacy, remnants of French colonial architecture, and the Cao Dai spiritual movement all echo the long struggle toward liberation.

Contemporary Vietnam: A Country in Motion, a Mirror to My Own Journey

Tradition and Modernity Side by Side

Vietnam today is transforming. Glass towers and skyscrapers rise near Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office, while French colonial buildings coexist with modern hotel spas like The Reverie and sleek central hotels. TikTok collides with ancient Khmer, Indochina heritage, and temples. The Opera House hosts both traditional and international arts performances. International schools and high schools flourish across Central Vietnam, from Da Nang to Ha Long. This constant interplay between modernity and tradition created a unique space for reflection. Like the country, I, too, exist between two worlds—and here, that duality is not a weakness. It's a gift. Cafés, expressways, serviced accommodations, and check-in counters cohabitate with street stalls, food tours, homestays, and cultural festivals. Across Vietnam, the diversity of places to stay offers both the lowest prices and unique cultural immersion.

From Rootlessness to Belonging

Living in Vietnam gave me the chance to anchor myself emotionally and physically in a land I didn’t know but had always been part of me. Adoption left a wound—daily life, local bonds, and personal rituals slowly helped it heal. Whether riding a motorbike through the Mekong River region, exploring the Mekong Delta, or discovering Vung Tau and Long Bay on a private tour, each moment was filled with reconnection. Tasting Vietnamese food, learning about FDI growth and GDP statistics per capita, visiting museums, avoiding scams, traveling the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and speaking with former guerrilla fighters gave me a richer sense of identity. From the city airport to urban districts and wards across South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and Central Vietnam, each step of my time in Vietnam strengthened the bond. From half-day excursions to full immersion, the experience was transformative. Even my final departure felt like a promise to return.

Conclusion – Living in Vietnam as a Journey Back to Self

This country I barely knew has become, in just a few months, part of who I am. Living in Vietnam is not just about relocating. It’s about making peace with your origins, embracing identity doubts, and rebuilding yourself from long-forgotten roots. It is both a geographical and emotional homecoming—one that spans Southern Vietnam, Northern Vietnam, and the legacy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. From Ha Long Bay to the South China Sea, from the Palace Hotel to riverside hotels and centre hotels, this land holds more than just sights—it holds answers. For Vietnam, for its people, and for foreigners like me seeking meaning.

FAQ – Reconnecting with Vietnamese Roots: Common Questions

Why does living in Vietnam help reconnect with identity?
Because it allows you to experience the cultural codes, values, language, and emotions tied to childhood or lost origins.

Can adoptees truly find their roots again?
Yes, at least partially. Identity searching is rarely linear, but by opening yourself to your family’s story and the local context, healing can begin.

Does moving to Vietnam heal the sense of uprootedness?
Not completely—but it soothes it. Understanding, feeling, and reliving key aspects of your origin can close emotional wounds.

Do I need to speak Vietnamese to reconnect?
It helps a lot. But even without fluency, immersion, human connection, and emotional experiences already do so much.

Is Vietnam a good place to live for adoptees of Vietnamese origin?
Absolutely. It offers a rare opportunity to live between cultures in a welcoming, dynamic society that is deeply rooted in history. From Cu Chi to Ben Thanh, from pagodas to cathedrals, every sight becomes a symbol of reconnection. Whether you're staying in a budget hotel, boutique hotel, or city hotel, enjoying rooftop breakfast options, or exploring revolutionary history with locals, the best things about Vietnam are what it brings out in you. Whether paying in yen, USD or VND, the value lies in what you rediscover inside. And as the Prime Minister once said, “Vietnam is a place where past and future hold hands.”