Build a one-page family map
List close relatives, approximate dates, siblings, spouses, migration events and old and current place names. Separate confirmed facts from stories.
Keep all known spellings but do not merge people because spellings look similar.
Prepare records for review
Caption photographs and explain how each document relates to the person. Redact identity numbers, addresses and unrelated private details.
A concise timeline is easier to assess than unexplained images.
Search responsibly
Use online genealogy to identify possible branches, then ask an archive administrator to verify. Let the person being sought decide whether to respond.
CaoFamily.vn provides English pages for descendants of the Linh Xuan branch.
Frequently asked questions
How should unaccented names be searched?
Try multiple orders, familiar names, accented and unaccented forms.
What should an inquiry include?
A family map, name variants, places, dates and captioned records.