Each year, more than 10,000 estates are opened in the Paris region without any identified heirs. Behind this figure lie vacant properties, frozen bank accounts, and interrupted family histories. Without the intervention of probate genealogists, a significant portion of these assets would remain unclaimed — or ultimately escheat to the State.

From the bustling streets of Saigon to the serene lakes of Hanoi, Banian Genealogy and Coutot-Roehrig embark on a journey through Vietnam in search of forgotten heirs. This travel diary reveals the human side of genealogical investigation — where archives meet emotion, and memory becomes justice. Across Southeast Asia, each trace reconnects families, revives stories, and restores the continuity of lineage beyond borders.