What do you know about your family history? by Vietnamese American Roundtable

2025-06-14 17:17:46 UTC

That we are originally from China and the North of Vietnam. We then moved to the South to Ho Chi Minh city and changed our last name from Do to Nguyen. No idea why. Now there are 2 parts of my last name - the Nguyen part and the Do part. :)

2025-06-14 17:17:56 UTC

They came here on boats and during their journey, they made contact with pirates.

2025-06-14 17:19:09 UTC

my family fled vietnam in 1969

2025-06-14 17:20:12 UTC

Half came by boat, others came as asylum seekers.

2025-06-14 17:21:11 UTC

My mom is from south Vietnam and my dad is from north Vietnam. My mom’s brother escaped Vietnam and found people to sponsor the rest of my mothers side of the family. While my dad escaped Vietnam alone and sponsored the rest of his family to America.

2025-06-14 17:22:37 UTC

I barely know anything. The most I know is that my family split off to Australia, Canada, and the US during the Vietnam War. My dad is from North Vietnam and my mom is from South Vietnam.

2025-06-14 17:23:06 UTC

Both of my parents came from former military and escaped after the fall of Saigon in 1975. My paternal grandfather was also imprisoned for about 10 years.

2025-06-14 17:24:30 UTC

My family consisted of merchants on both sides and lost everything in the war. Parents met a refugee camp in Malaysia, where they lived in limbo for 2 years.

2025-06-14 17:31:30 UTC

I was always told stories after the Fall of Saigon. My parents lived normal lives until then and their lives definitely shifted and faced adversity. My grandpa and grandfather were generals in the war and when they were held captive in jail, it was difficult for my my grandma and grandmother to provide for their 10+ kids. Food wasn’t always on the table, but my parents definitely tried to make the most of their situation.

2025-09-06 15:52:58 UTC

My maternal grandfather was a Cardiologist in the Air-force while my paternal grandfather was an Army Captain. Both were imprisoned in Reeducation camps until they later escaped. My mom’s side escaped to Thailand often considered the shortest route but most dangerous due to the Viet Cong actively looking for escapees and Thai pirates who would rob and take advantage of these fishing boats filled with refugees. My father’s side escaped through boat as well but since my paternal grandfather was able to navigate through the stars, They escaped to the Philippines. Both of my parents made it to the US. My father lived in Galesburg, Illinois and later moved to Anaheim and then Fountain Valley, California. My mother has lived in San Jose for most of her life until graduating from college where she worked all over the country in disaster restoration.