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Linh Pham
UWRT 1101
Connie Douglas
8 October 2014
Oral History Interview with Nga Nguyen:
A Transcript of a Boat Peoples Oral History
Nga Nguyen was born on February 26, 1960 in Saigon, Vietnam. She grew up in a big
family of eleven people which was her parents and her eight siblings. Most of Ngas childhood
consisted of working to help her family, and along that line she had to maintain good grades in
school. The Vietnam War (1954-1975) was between the Communist North and its allies in South
Vietnam against the South Vietnam government. The Communist North wanted to remove all
Western influence out of Vietnam; however, South Vietnam wanted to keep an alliance with the
United States (U.S). The Vietnam War was mostly influenced by the Cold War between the U.S
and the Soviet Union. The U.S attempted to put an end to the spread of communism started by
the Soviet Union. The Communist North received aid from the Soviet Union and China while the
South Vietnam government received support from the U.S. After the fall of Saigon on April 30
of 1975, millions of Vietnamese escaped Vietnam by boats; those people who successfully
escaped would seek refuge in neighboring countries, such as Philippines, Malaysia and
Indonesia. However, there were people who were captured by the new government and were
thrown in jail.
After the fall of Saigon, Nguyens family faced poverty because of financial hardships.
Her oldest brother was sentenced to working camp since he was a soldier for the South
Vietnamese military. In 1980, with the help of her oldest sister, Nguyen and her eight year old
niece, Nicole, left Vietnam in search for freedom. Nicole was entrusted to Nguyen by her oldest

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sister. Six months after Nguyen and Nicole escaped, their family received a confirmation letter
stating that they were alive and were living in Hong Kong.
Nga Nguyen is my aunt and she is the person I respect the most. She left Vietnam when
she was only nineteen years old; she had no family to guide her and protect her along the way.
She was the same age as me when she had to take responsibility for herself and Nicole. Her
story of survival and success inspired to work hard every day because I have her to guide;
therefore, I have no reasons to fail. Her story of surviving in the escape from Vietnam is truly
inspiring and fascinating and I want to share it with everyone I know
Pham: What was your childhood like?
Nguyen: when I was in Vietnam, I had a good childhood but it was very difficult to make a
living after the communist took over. I decided that I want to have a better life, so I told my sister
that I want to escape from Vietnam. So she spent every penny she had on me and her daughter,
her only daughter who was eight years old. I was nineteen years old. She paid for a small boat so
we can leave, and I left Vietnam in April 1979.
Pham: Who is your role model?
Nguyen: My mother and father were my role models; I have a lot of older sisters and they would
take care of the younger siblings. We had to work at a young age, because we have to support
our family. When I was six years old, my parents and older sisters took me to China Town to sell
lottery tickets in the evening, and I would go to school in the morning. At midnight, my mom
would bring food to my siblings and me, and afterward we would go home. Everyday would be
consisted of coming home late at night and waking up early in the morning for school. After
school, I would come home and do homework before I go sell lottery tickets. Most of my
childhood consisted of working in order to help my mom and dad.

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Pham: Do you have a favorite childhood memory that does not involved working?
Nguyen: At the end of every month, my father would get paid and he would take us to a
restaurant to eat noodles. All of us would look forward to end the month because that was when
we would get to eat out. We did not have toys or power, so at night all of us would sit around
my mom and she would tell stories. Those are some of my good memories; I love my brothers
and sisters. We were poor, but we had each other.
Pham: Life was hard prior to the fall of Saigon, what was it like after the fall of Saigon?
Nguyen: After Saigon fall, the Communist government made everything difficult for us because
you have to be careful because if they dont like us then they will take you to jail at the middle of
the night. Even when you have money you were not allow to buy whatever you want. For
example, they would control the amount of rice you purchase a month depending on the size of
household. Before 1975, if you have money you can buy anything; after 1975, the government
tells you what you can buy. Life went from bad to worse; and that was why I wanted to leave
Vietnam.
Pham: Can you describe your last night in Vietnam?
Nguyen: The night before I didnt know when I was going to leave. I had to leave home that
night and spend the night at my sisters house because we dont know when we had to leave. I
told my mom that I was leaving, and I cried to my mom. My mom said this is the way that you
have chosen; dont be afraid and dont look back. You just walk away and you dont have to
worry about us. It was difficult for me because I had to spend my last away from my family.
That night, I thought about the ninety nine percent of the people who escaped and died. I didnt
know if I was the lucky one percent because most of the people who escaped would die because
of shipwreck. Freedom was my motivation to bet my life against the ninety nine percent.

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Pham: Where was your first stop after leaving Vietnam?

Nguyen: Our boat barely made it to the southern coast of China; we were stuck on the boat for
three days before the Chinese government send out the coast guards to bring us into the
mainland. On our first night, the Chinese sheltered us with a tent that was covered with holes.
Unfortunately on that night the area was hit by a typhoon; we were soaked and we had no way of
warming ourselves. The morning after, we ran into the woods to find food. We came across rich
Chinese people who were living there, and they shooed us away from their yard. We continued
our search in a poor village, and a lady offered us food. She offered us sweet potatoes and rice
soup; the recipe called for one part rice and five parts sweet potatoes. She also offered us some
food to bring back to our friends at the shelter. We were so desperate for food that we had to pick
our food laying two feet away from a pile of humans feces.
Pham: How long did it take for the boat to make it to Hong Kong?
Nguyen: Our boat did not make it all the way to Hong Kong. By the time we made it to the coast
of China, our boat was falling apart. We stayed there for a month before the Chinese government
finish fixing the boat. Afterward, it took us a week before we made it to Hong Kong.
Pham: Can you describe the village? Why do you think the poor people were nice to you?
Nguyen: If you have ever seen Chinese movies, the houses were nothing but little shacks. The
only different between the pigs house and the peoples house is the fact that there is a wooden
bed. The poor understood our situation; they gave us food. Their living situation was bad but
ours was worse.
Pham: What was your priority after making it to Hong Kong?
Nguyen: Family. After I made it to Hong Kong, I went to work and saved money. Eventually I
managed to send a big package home to my family in Vietnam. I bought clothes, bras,

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underwear, and MSG packets. My priority was to make money and send that money home to my
family.
Pham: What was your familys reaction after upon receiving your package?
Nguyen: My father did not let anyone open the package. Since I did not have any skills when I
was living in Vietnam, my father was afraid that I made money by prostitution. The package was
not open until a couple months later and inside a package was a letter that I wrote telling that I
was working and saving money. I put so much love and thoughts into the first package because I
know that my family needed them. Comparing the first package to the amount of money that I
can send home now, I would say there were more love in that first package; when you put
thoughts and efforts into your gift, it means more than money even though it cost less than
money.
Pham: How long did you stayed in Hong Kong?
Nguyen: I stayed in Hong Kong for almost a year before Our Lady Catholic Church sponsored
us to come to the U.S
Pham: How does it feel after you received notice about coming to the U.S?
Nguyen: The minute after we arrived at the Hong Kong refugee camp, I knew that I am the
lucky one percent to escape death. During the escape it was difficult because we had no food and
water; but it was worth it after we made it to Hong Kong.
Pham: Can you describe your living situation after coming to the U.S?
Nguyen: When I first came to the U.S, the church helped us with our basic needs, such as renting
an apartment, buying groceries, and teaching us English. They paid for our living expenses. I
was happy to come to the U.S because I could learn English and go to work. I was happy to
make money and send money to my family. My family was the number one priority; they are the

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reason why I escaped Vietnam and risked my life for them. When I came here, I would see all
these Vietnamese families, and I was sad because I miss my family. However, there was nothing
I can do. I went to school to learn English. I got married and have family.
Pham: How does growing up in a big family affect the way you raised Nicole by yourself?
Nguyen: It was really difficult because at that time I was still a little kid; I was not allowed to go
anywhere without my parents and now I have to raise an eight year old girl. Life was difficult
because I myself was a little kid, but I managed to raise her well.
Pham: When you left home, you were only nineteen years old. How did you managed to raise
Nicole into a proper young woman?
Nguyen: Raising a teenage was not easy; luckily I have a good husband who helped me raised
Nicole. She was also a good kid so it was not too difficult. She is now a successful chemistry
engineer. A mother raising a daughter is easier compared to an aunt raising a niece; if Nicoles
mom raised her and she failed to become successful then it is her mothers responsibility.
However, if I fail to raise Nicole properly, then I have to take responsibility for everything she
does wrong because I promised her mother that Nicole will graduate from college.
Pham: Your son now has a child of his own, how would you want him raised his son?
Nguyen: I would want him and Nicole to raise their children the way I raised them. I want them
to be strict and discipline their kids. I have a happy family; therefore, I would like them to have
that as well.
Pham: Throughout the whole interview, you only mentioned your mother, how come you did
not mention your father?
Nguyen: The day I left Vietnam, my father did not know that I was leaving. The morning before
leaving Vietnam, I went to work and my father was there; however, I did not say my goodbye to

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him because I was afraid that I was going to cry and I will go to jail if anyone knows that I am
planning to escape. Therefore, I walked away and did not turn around to look at him. I regret not
saying good bye to my father.
Pham: Are you satisfied with your ability to financially support the family in Vietnam?
Nguyen: Yes I am, because I was able to take care of my mother and siblings. I was not able to
take care of my father because he died before I started becoming financially stabled. He died in
1986 and I was not there to say good bye to my father. I was able to support my mom until the
day she died. I sponsored my sister and her family, and my brother and his family.
Pham: Do you have any regrets?
Nguyen: I feel like I have accomplished so many things in life; I was able to take care of my
mother until the day she passed away, and I was able to support my family. The only thing that I
regret the most is not saying goodbye to my father. It hurt because I couldnt support him when
he was dying because I did not have any money. Life is harsh and there is nothing I can do to fix
my mistakes.
Pham: What was your biggest fear after you were diagnosed with breast cancer?
Nguyen: My biggest fear was I might have to leave my family. My sister and brother need me to
take care of them because they have only been in the U.S for 2 years. I was afraid if I die then I
would not be able to guide them. I was scared because no one would be there to take care of my
mother. My main priority will always be my family because they are the reason why I escaped
Vietnam.
Pham: You had successfully beat cancer in 2009; unfortunately you are diagnosed with cancer
again this year. What is your attitude towards cancer this time around?

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Nguyen: At first I was sad because I thought about leaving my family and my new grandson;
however, it did not take long for me to realize that I have so many people that loves me and cares
about me. I was tough enough to be the lucky one percent to have escaped Vietnam, and I was
tough enough to beat cancer the first time. My mentality is strong because I know I can beat
cancer again.
As I was interviewing my aunt, I listened to her story and I developed questions along the
way. Prior to the interview, I wrote down fifteen basic questions; however, as I was listening to
her, my restated my questions because those questions would require more in depth answers. I
practiced my questions before the interview, but some of the questions came naturally because
personally I am interested in her story and importantly I want to share her story with everyone I
know. The most important aspect of this project is the questions. I listened to the recordings over
and over again; I was trying to figure out where each questions should go in order to make her
story flow smoothly. I think that I did well in terms of picking the questions; however, since I did
not organized my questions well enough, I had wasted time trying to organize the questions
properly. Personally, the most important factor of this project is I want to share my aunts story
of survival. I think her story is amazing, I have to justify her story because she gave me the
chance to share her story.