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The victory of Dien Bien Phu (1954).
This day is one of the most important days in Vietnamese history. It's the day when Vietnam reclaimed their freedom back from the French after about 100 years of being colonized.

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The Americans stepped in right after the French's defeat, claiming that they would 'help' the South Vietnam to fight against the North Vietnam or the Vietcong. Thus, they 'unknowingly' took over the South Vietnamese government and separated Vietnam into two different 'countries', with two different governments.

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 (1967~1968) But the Americans were losing the battle

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 (1967~1968) But the Americans were losing the battle

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both in America and Vietnam. With the humanitarian movement in the US, the protest against the Vietnam war, the American soldiers were not receiving supplies and support like the Vietcong did from Russia and China. After the death of King in 1968 and the shooting at an anti-war protest in May 1970, the protest against the Vietnam War got bigger and started having more influence.

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The end of US involvement in the Vietnam War (1973) 

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The end of US involvement in the Vietnam War (1973) 

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January 1973, Nixon officially ended the US' involvement in South East Asia, he signed in the Paris Peace Agreement (01/27/1973), and troops were sent back. Leaving the South Vietnamese government officials and troops in fear of being put in reeducation camp or imprisoned.

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The war was basically over at this point. My host, or Mrs. Nguyen, was 13 at the time, and her family was ally with the South government. So her family was not allow to leave or go anywhere, because there was people from the North government who were always watching their actions.

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Her father managed to bribe one of the person in charge of that area so he took all of his family on a boat and sailed into the sea.

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3 days and 2 nights on the sea, Mrs. Nguyen's family found themselves in Hong Kong's water. At the time, Hong Kong's camp for Vietnamese refugees was pretty well-known. As quoted in an article Hong Kong Refugee Camp 1975-2000, "no boat has ever been turned away". But unfortunately, in Mrs. Nguyen's story, her family was pushed back ashore by two military boats, they were given foods and supplies, but were not allowed to stay.

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The same thing happened. However, I was told by Mrs. Nguyen that the people there were so friendly and kind that the government had to wait till 2 a.m. in the morning, while everybody were as sleep so they could kick her family back to the sea.

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Philippines (about 3 weeks drifting on the sea)

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Philippines (about 3 weeks drifting on the sea)

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Her family was finally accepted in Philippines, and they were put in a camp for 18 months, waiting to be approved for the refugee status and transported to the US.  Finally, in 1977, her family made it to the US being sponsored by a church and her dad's friend, ending their long and exhausting journey. But that was just the start.

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Almost being expelled for using 'Dau gio' 

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Almost being expelled for using 'Dau gio' 

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Vietnamese culture is different, and at the time of her high school years, Americans were still uneducated about the diversity of their nation, so discrimination and racism happened on a daily basic. Mrs. Nguyen told me that she struggled with the language and culture because she was living in a predominantly whites area. She said she was often mocked for her food and economical status, as well as her accent, even once she was almost expelled for making the school evacuated because of the smell from her 'dau gio', or medicated oil.

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This act provided basic needs for incoming refugees from Vietnam with English and employment training, cash assistance and many other assistances that the refugees needed. Mrs. Nguyen said she did not have many idea about this act when it first released, but she admit that she was offered lots of assistance regarding language training or the settlement of her family.

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Almost 30 years later, Mrs. Nguyen is now working to provide a home for international students to live and experience the US in the best way possible. She has a happy family in San Jose, and a job that she loves. I didn't hear her mentioning about any of her achievements, but from everything that she gave me and taught me about the US, I can assure you that she has done more than enough to be recognized and loved.