From Việt Nam to Northern Virginia

In 2024, Vietnamese Boat People (VBP) partnered with the Humanities Truck, an initiative by American University, to capture the compelling stories of the Vietnamese-American diaspora in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC. These interviews were conducted in Tysons, Northern Virginia, on April 20 and 21, 2024.

The "From Việt Nam to Virginia: Community Recordings" project, a collaboration between VBP and American University, aims to document and celebrate the remarkable journeys of the Vietnamese-American community in Northern Virginia, highlighting their invaluable narratives and experiences.

This community project was made possible by Humanities Truck and Vietnamese Boat People.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the families and individuals who entrusted us with preserving their stories for this collection. We are also deeply thankful to the volunteers who dedicated countless hours to planning the Food & Conversations community dinner, which was a vital part of this project.

We are immensely grateful for the support of the local community in championing this initiative. Special recognition goes to Dr. Christina Juhász-Wood, Len and Kelly Tran, Andy Tran, Nguyen Pham Thu Thuy, Quill Hawk Publishing, and the Vietnamese Youth Educational Association of Washington DC for their outstanding leadership and advocacy.

This community project was made possible by Possibilities Inc. and Vietnamese Boat People, and was partially funded by a Oklahoma Humanities Grant.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the families and individuals who allowed us to capture their incredible experiences and entrusted us in preserving their stories for this collection. We also extend our thanks to many others in the community who contributed to the making of this collection.

We are so grateful for the support of the community in Oklahoma City in advocating for this project and special recognition goes to THN Insurance Solutions, Quill Hawk Publishing, and Asian District of OKC for their leadership and advocacy.

From Việt Nam to Oklahoma City, partnership summary

Video credits: Daniel De Lemos Duas Avos Productions

From Viet Nam to Oklahoma City, Community Recordings Trailer

Video credits: Matt Young

From Việt Nam to Oklahoma City: A Journey of Resilience and the History of the Vietnamese American Community in Oklahoma City

The Vietnamese American community in Oklahoma City has a vibrant and diverse history marked by resilience, determination, and a commitment to cultural heritage. Emerging from the tumultuous aftermath of the Vietnam War, members of this community navigated the complexities of resettlement in a foreign land, demonstrating remarkable strength in the face of adversity. Their enduring contributions have left an indelible mark on the tapestry of Oklahoma City, shaping its identity and enriching its cultural landscape.

We invite you to explore the individual stories below and read more about the history of the community here.

Gallery

Click on the images to read each story.

If you would like to contribute, please Share Your Story.

Kimaleen (Anh Thu) Tran

Ngoc Tuong and Ngoc Diep Doan

Hoang Paul Nguyen

Thang Tran

Nguyen Tan Phuoc

Phuoc Tan Nguyen

Phong Vo and Dao Huynh Thi Huyen

Dong and Suong Tran

Đông and Suong Trần

Hieu Trong Phan

Jackie (Tan Uyen) Ho

Phuong Steckler

Hoa and Anh Thi Khong

Nguyen Tu

Tu Nguyen

Tran Thi Nhu Y

Hoang Vi Kha

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