At the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, more than 1.6 million Vietnamese sought political and social freedom as they fled the country in droves of wooden boats. Placing their safety, dreams, and lives in boats no stronger than the war-ridden country they were leaving behind, those that survived landed on islands throughout the Asia-Pacific, barely improving their conditions of life. While thousands were prevented from even entering the islands, hundreds of thousands were persecuted upon the islands, continuing their journey of hardship

By creating a community of individuals, this site creates a valuable network of friendship and support for all Vietnamese boat people and their loved ones while inviting all to share their stories in order to honor the struggle and gain understanding of the Vietnamese boat people.

June 9, 2008 --Laura Chau