My Wasian Baby Is a “Golden Child”: The Story Behind Lincoln’s Birth

by Linh Hoang, father & co-founder

When my son Lincoln was born, I knew immediately that he had changed my life forever. Every father probably feels that overwhelming emotion when he first holds his child, but for me, Lincoln represented something even bigger. He was the coming together of two families, two cultures, two ancestral histories, and two very different parts of the world. Lincoln is my Wasian son. His mother is Estonian, and I am Vietnamese. From the beginning, I knew he would grow up with a unique identity, but I didn't initially realize just how significant his birth would be within traditional Vietnamese culture.

As I began learning more about the traditional Vietnamese beliefs surrounding the circumstances of Lincoln's birth, I discovered a story that I found incredibly meaningful. Lincoln was born in 2025, the Year of the Ất Tỵ, traditionally associated with the Wood Snake. He was also born during the Thìn hour, traditionally known as the Hour of the Dragon, which corresponds approximately to 7:00 AM through 9:00 AM. Most significantly within traditional Vietnamese family structure, Lincoln is the first son of the eldest son, a position known as the Đích tôn. According to certain Vietnamese folk and astrological traditions, the combination of these circumstances can be considered exceptionally auspicious and associated with the idea of a “Golden Child.”

The expression “Golden Child” in this context is different from the modern Western use of the term, which can sometimes refer to a child who is favored within a family. In the Vietnamese cultural tradition I learned about, the idea is much more closely connected to family lineage, ancestors, blessings, fortune, responsibility, and continuity. An auspicious child can be viewed as a blessing that carries forward the good fortune and accumulated virtue of previous generations. That concept immediately made me think about Lincoln differently. Before becoming a father, I understood family history as something that belonged to the past. After Lincoln was born, I began to understand that family history also belongs to the future.

One of the Vietnamese concepts that resonated with me most strongly is Phúc Đức. Broadly, Phúc Đức refers to accumulated virtue, blessings, merit, or good fortune associated with a family and its lineage. Traditional Vietnamese beliefs can interpret the arrival of an especially auspicious child as a manifestation of blessings accumulated by previous generations. I don't know whether destiny literally works that way, and I don't consider these traditions scientific predictions, but I understand why they have remained meaningful for Vietnamese families for generations. They offer a way of connecting a child to something much larger than themselves.

Lincoln was born under Ất Tỵ, the traditional Vietnamese designation for the Year of the Wood Snake. Within Vietnamese folk cosmology, the Snake is often associated with intelligence, intuition, adaptability, transformation, and thoughtfulness. The Ất Heavenly Stem is traditionally associated with Wood, which symbolizes growth and development, while Tỵ represents the Snake and carries traditional Fire associations within the Vietnamese elemental system. Some traditional interpretations describe Ất Tỵ as an especially auspicious combination and may use descriptions such as a “100-year rarity.” I think it is important to distinguish cultural tradition from scientific fact. There is no scientific evidence that being born in Ất Tỵ determines a person's destiny, but the cultural symbolism surrounding the year is fascinating and meaningful to me as a Vietnamese father.

The Thìn hour adds another layer to Lincoln's story. Traditionally corresponding to approximately 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM, Thìn is associated with the Dragon. In Vietnamese culture and broader East Asian symbolism, the Dragon has traditionally represented strength, leadership, authority, transformation, and exceptional potential. A traditional interpretation of a Snake born during the Dragon hour creates a particularly beautiful image: the Snake has the potential to transform into a Dragon. I don't interpret that literally as a prediction of Lincoln's future, but I love the symbolism. One day, when he is old enough to understand the story of his birth, I can imagine telling him that according to an old Vietnamese tradition, he entered the world during the Hour of the Dragon.

The fact that Lincoln is the Đích tôn makes the story even more meaningful to me. Traditionally, Đích tôn refers to the first son of the eldest son and can hold a particularly important position in Vietnamese family lineage. In families that maintain strong ancestral traditions, the eldest grandson can be viewed as an important figure in continuing the family line, honoring ancestors, and carrying family traditions into another generation. Lincoln is not simply my son. He is also part of the continuation of my family history. The stories, values, traditions, and memories that were passed down to me can now become part of his life.

But Lincoln's story is not exclusively Vietnamese. That is what makes his identity so uniquely Wasian. His mother is an Estonian supermodel, so he carries European genetics and heritage alongside his Vietnamese ancestry. His identity isn't divided between two cultures. It is the combination of both. He is Vietnamese and Estonian. He is Asian and European. He is East and West. He is Wasian. I created Wasian Baby™ because I believe children like Lincoln deserve to grow up understanding that having multiple cultural identities isn't something they need to explain or choose between. It is something they can celebrate.

When I think about the idea of Lincoln being a Vietnamese “Golden Child,” I also recognize that traditional blessings can sometimes come with traditional expectations. A child who is considered particularly fortunate may also be expected to carry significant responsibilities as they grow older. In traditional family structures, those responsibilities can include honoring parents and ancestors, maintaining family reputation, achieving financial success, supporting relatives, and helping carry the family forward. Those expectations can be meaningful, but they can also become a heavy burden for a child.

As Lincoln's father, I want to be careful about that distinction. I don't want him growing up believing that his birth circumstances have predetermined his future. I don't want him to think he has to become wealthy because someone interpreted his birth chart that way, or that he must follow a particular career because traditional astrology suggests it. I want him to understand his heritage without becoming trapped by it. His Vietnamese ancestry can give him roots, but those roots should never prevent him from growing in whatever direction he chooses.

The traditional information I learned about Lincoln's birth chart also suggested a connection with Tài Bạch, traditionally associated with wealth and financial matters. Again, I view this as part of Vietnamese cultural astrology rather than a scientific prediction. Maybe Lincoln will become an entrepreneur. Maybe he'll become an investor, business owner, scientist, artist, teacher, doctor, athlete, or something I can't imagine today. Perhaps he'll have nothing to do with money or business at all. Whatever he chooses, I want him to understand that his value isn't determined by wealth or status. The greatest blessing a father can receive isn't necessarily a wealthy child. It is a healthy, happy, confident child who knows that he is loved.

That is ultimately what makes Lincoln's story so meaningful to me. His birth brought together two ancestral worlds that could never have imagined meeting generations ago. My Vietnamese ancestors could not have imagined that one day their family line would connect with an Estonian genetics and produce a Wasian son. His mother's viking ancestors could not have imagined that their descendants would eventually become connected to a Vietnamese family. Yet here Lincoln is, carrying pieces of both histories into the future.

I think many Wasian parents understand this feeling. Raising a multicultural child means thinking about which traditions to preserve, which languages to teach, which holidays to celebrate, which foods to introduce, and how to help a child understand multiple sides of their heritage. It can sometimes feel like you're raising a child between two worlds. But I don't see Lincoln as being caught between worlds. I see him as belonging to both.

That is the message I want Wasian Baby™ to share with parents and children around the world. A Wasian baby doesn't have to choose one culture over another. A child with Vietnamese and European heritage doesn't have to decide whether they are more Asian or more European. They can be both. They can honor their ancestors while creating something entirely new. They can carry tradition forward while building a modern identity that belongs uniquely to them.

I don't know what Lincoln's future holds. I don't know whether the traditional Vietnamese interpretation of his birth will ultimately have any connection to the life he chooses to live. I don't know whether he will become the successful leader, wealth manager, or family caretaker that traditional interpretations might associate with his birth circumstances. And honestly, I don't want to know. I want Lincoln to surprise me. I want him to discover his own interests, make his own mistakes, choose his own path, and become his own person.

What I hope he does inherit is something more important than a prediction. I hope he inherits a deep connection to his Vietnamese family. I hope he pursues his Estonian heritage. I hope he understands the sacrifices and accomplishments of the generations that came before him. I hope he respects his ancestors without feeling controlled by them. I hope he grows up comfortable in both cultures and confident in his identity as a Wasian man.

When I look at Lincoln, I don't see a prophecy. I see my son. I see the continuation of a Vietnamese family line. I see his mother's Estonian heritage continuing into another generation. I see East meeting West in the most beautiful way I could imagine. And I see what I consider the greatest blessing of all: my son is here.

One day, when Lincoln is old enough to ask me about the circumstances of his birth, I will tell him about the Year of the Wood Snake, the Hour of the Dragon, the meaning of Đích tôn, and the Vietnamese belief in Phúc Đức. I'll tell him that some people might have looked at those circumstances and called him a Golden Child. But I'll also tell him something that matters even more.

He doesn't have to become the person anyone predicted he would be. He doesn't have to carry the weight of anyone else's expectations. His heritage gives him a story, but it doesn't write his future. He gets to write that himself.

FAQs

What does Golden Child mean in Vietnamese culture?

In some Vietnamese traditional and folk contexts, an especially auspicious child may be viewed as a blessing to the family lineage. The concept can be connected with ancestral fortune, family continuity, and Phúc Đức, or accumulated family virtue and blessings.

What is Ất Tỵ?

Ất Tỵ is the traditional Vietnamese calendrical designation associated with the Year of the Wood Snake. In Vietnamese folk cosmology, Snake symbolism is often associated with intelligence, adaptability, transformation, and intuition.

What is the Thìn hour?

The Thìn hour traditionally corresponds approximately to 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and is associated with the Dragon in the Vietnamese zodiac system.

What does Đích tôn mean?

Đích tôn traditionally refers to the first son of the eldest son in a family lineage. In traditional Vietnamese families, the Đích tôn can hold a particularly significant position in relation to family continuity and ancestral traditions.

What is Phúc Đức?

Phúc Đức is a Vietnamese concept broadly associated with accumulated virtue, blessings, merit, and good fortune connected with family and ancestral lineage.

Why is Lincoln's birth considered unusual in this Vietnamese tradition?

According to the traditional interpretation I learned, Lincoln combines several auspicious circumstances: being born in the Ất Tỵ year, during the Thìn or Dragon hour, and as the Đích tôn. The combination is therefore viewed by some traditional interpretations as especially fortunate.

Is Vietnamese astrology scientifically proven?

No. Vietnamese astrology and folk cosmology are cultural and spiritual traditions rather than scientifically validated systems for predicting personality, destiny, or future events. I share these traditions because they are meaningful parts of Vietnamese culture and Lincoln's family story.

What does being Wasian mean for Lincoln?

For Lincoln, being Wasian means having Vietnamese heritage through me and Estonian heritage through his mother. His identity includes both sides of his family, and he will have the opportunity to develop his own relationship with each culture.

Does being a “Golden Child” mean Lincoln has to become successful?

No. Traditional beliefs may associate auspicious birth circumstances with future fortune or responsibility, but I don't want Lincoln to feel that he owes anyone a particular future. His life should ultimately be his own.

Why am I sharing Lincoln's story on Wasian Baby™?

I created Wasian Baby™ to celebrate children like Lincoln and the growing community of multicultural families around the world. His story is personal, but the questions it raises about identity, ancestry, culture, family, and belonging are shared by many Wasian parents.