France began invading Vietnam in 1858, officially making it part of French Indochina by the late 1800s.

France wanted raw materials, new markets for trade, and greater political power in Asia.

Vietnam was controlled through military force and a colonial government, with Vietnamese people having little political power.

Culture: French language, architecture, and Catholicism spread, while many Vietnamese traditions were discouraged.

Economy: Land was taken for plantations producing rice and rubber. Many Vietnamese farmers became poor and worked under harsh conditions.

Education: French-style schools were created, but only a small number of Vietnamese could attend, creating inequality.

Identity: Many Vietnamese struggled between preserving their culture and adapting to French influence, leading to growing nationalist feelings.

French rule inspired Vietnamese nationalism and independence movements, led by figures such as Ho Chi Minh.

After World War II, Vietnam declared independence, but France tried to regain control.

The First Indochina War (1946–1954) ended with France's defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.

Vietnam was then divided into North and South Vietnam, setting the stage for the Vietnam War, which forced many families—including the one in The Best We Could Do—to flee the country.

Vietnamese refugees fleeing after the end of the Vietnam War (1975)

Left Vietnam by overcrowded boats across the South China Sea

Many ethnic Chinese Vietnamese also fled due to discrimination

Estimated 800,000–1 million people escaped by sea

Thousands died during the journey from storms, starvation, dehydration, or pirate attack

Born in Vietnam in 1975

Her family fled Vietnam as refugees

She grew up in America

She is also an artist and teacher

Temporary camps in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and the Philippines

Lots of overcrowding

Limited food, clean water, and medical care

Poor sanitation and spread of disease

Long waiting periods (months or years) for resettlement

Uncertainty about being accepted into another country

Emotional trauma and family separation

Inherited Stress & Anxiety: Children absorb their parents' hypervigilance, emotional distance, or survival mindset, leading to higher rates of anxiety and PTSD—sometimes reinforced by inherited biological/epigenetic stress changes.

Parentification: Second-generation children often act as translators, negotiators, and cultural guides for their parents, taking on adult responsibilities prematurely.

The Sacrifice Burden: Children carry intense pressure to succeed to justify the life-threatening sacrifices their parents made to escape.

Cultural & Economic Reset: Families face a loss of identity and wealth, struggling with cultural disconnection in a host country while rebuilding financial stability from scratch.

Learning a new language

Adjusting to unfamiliar culture

Difficulty finding jobs

No recognition for previous education or professional qualifications

Finance problems

Racism and discrimination

Coping with trauma, grief, and survivor's guilt

Rebuilding family relationships after separation

Adapting to a new society

After France left in 1954, Vietnam got split in two: communist North (led by Ho Chi Minh) and anti-communist South (backed by the US)

The US got involved to stop communism spreading across Asia (the "domino theory")

North wanted to reunite the country under communism, the South and US wanted to stop that

US sent combat troops in 1965 and the war dragged on for years

Lots of guerrilla fighting, heavy bombing, and chemicals like Agent Orange

Around 2–3 million Vietnamese died, plus about 58,000 US soldiers

Villages, farmland, and everyday civilian life got destroyed

US pulled its troops out in 1973

April 30, 1975: the North captured Saigon (the South's capital), known as the "Fall of Saigon." The war was over and the country was reunited under communism

After the North won, many South Vietnamese feared persecution and re-education camps

This started the refugee crisis, the "boat people" who fled by sea

Thi Bui's family were part of this, which is what the whole memoir is about

Intentional Scattering: The U.S. government placed refugees in different states to avoid overwhelming any single city.

Loss of Support: This isolated refugees from people who spoke their language or shared their trauma.

Secondary Migration: To fight this isolation, thousands of refugees moved across the country on their own.

Community Building: They reunited in places like California and Texas to build supportive neighborhoods like "Little Saigon."

Communication: Most early arrivals didn't speak English, which means they were hard to have communication with local communities.

Employment: High-skilled professionals often had to take low-wage, entry-level jobs due to language limitations and non-recognized foreign degrees.

Loss of Support: Families were separated, and elders lost the traditional respect and community safety nets they knew back home.