Leaving the homeland, the place where one was born and raised with many dear memories, is a very difficult decision for a person who always has a heavy heart for his fatherland. But after the April 1975 incident, more than two million Vietnamese people tried to escape a harsh dictatorship. Ms. Nhat Phuong was one of those who chose to leave by sea. Although she knew that on a fragile boat in the middle of the vast ocean, she knew that her life was hanging by a thread, so she brought along an amulet with the belief that it would be a blessing. What she prepared for herself was not food and water, but a handful of soil, which she carried with her as the most intimate thing of her homeland, always keeping with her even if her body had to sink deep into the ocean... And then she miraculously survived even though the boat was hit by a Soviet ship, water flooded into the cabin... To know the details of Ms. Nhat Phuong's fateful journey, we invite you to listen to her personally recount this entire extraordinary journey across the ocean. History Through Stories is one of the projects of the Vietnamese Heritage Museum to preserve stories in memory, directly through the stories of those who participated or were witnesses to recent historical events. This project is a research work with the purpose of collecting, storing and explaining the history of Vietnamese refugees. Vietnamese refugees who survived need the opportunity to directly share their experiences, or witness the historical events of the nation, on the path to freedom, as well as the initial difficulties of settling and making a living in a foreign land. This is an opportunity to sympathize and understand each other better among refugee generations; at the same time, it also creates for future generations to understand, be proud of, and be grateful for the sacrifices and courage of their ancestors. If you have memorabilia and stories that you would like to share, please contact us via: ➤ Email: [email protected] ➤ Phone: 714-846-8438 (714-VHM-VIET) ➤ Website: http://vietnamesemuseum.org ➤ Facebook: / vietnamesemuseum ➤ Mail: PO BOX 27372, Santa Ana, CA 92799 --- VIETNAMESE HERITAGE MUSEUM ORAL HISTORY PROJECT: Through these oral history interviews, we will be able to learn and celebrate the personal experiences of notable Vietnamese-Americans, who offer their own accounts of history. These interviews document aspects of the historical experience of Vietnamese refugees, immigration, and settlement, which tend to be missing from most mainstream sources. These oral history documentaries will provide an avenue for both understanding and appreciating of the present and future generations of Vietnamese refugees throughout the world. #boatpeople​​​​​ #vietnameserefugee​​​​ #reeducationcamp​​​​#vietnameseheritagemuseum​​​​​ #vietnamesemuseum​​​ #vhmusa