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My name is Nguyen Vu, some pronounce it Win Vu. I was born in Nha Trang, a province 500 km (+300 miles) north of Saigon, Vietnam. Third out of six children, I was raised in a hostile era known as the Vietnam War. The war in the country side was getting closer to where we were that was when my parents brought us further south, to Saigon, to live with our grandparents. After the communist declared independence in April of 1975, they sought to convert all those who do not believe in their ideology. My father was shortly detained and sent to a "re-educated" camp. My mother fearing more retaliation from the new government, with my grandparent's financial help, arranged to have three of her oldest children, including myself, and my uncle escaped from Vietnam in 1979. 

My journey to America is one that I will never forget.  During our three days in a sickening boat full of refugees in the open sea, I threw up in the upper deck, pee in my shorts at the boat's hull, and cramped from all sides by people in the middle deck.  We encountered with Thai pirates and got our pictures taken by an unhelpful European cargo ship that nearly overturn our tiny wooden boat with its large waves.  On the night of the third day, we landed on a dark sandy beach of Malaysia.  

Malaysia, from my stand point was untouched by civilization or so I thought.  There was just sand and the clear ocean in the horizon.  We stayed there for a week before being forced back into our boat and hauled out into the open sea by the Malaysian Navy.  Not too long, we came upon one of the many islands of Indonesia.  Click the the Malaysian flag for more information >

Indonesia, a country with more islands than any other country, about 13,000 to be exact.  This place was spectacular.  In my journey, I was only able to visit four islands and I have to say, it is just as beautiful as Hawaii, yet, unexplored.  Here, we live in hut that was made almost entirely with the vegetations surrounding the island.  During my adventure, I mostly lived in Indonesia.  Then we boarded a large vessel that took us to Singapore.  Click hyperlink to begin your exploration into Indonesia here >

Singapore, here I cannot say too much for we were isolated from the rest of the city by an enclosed compound prior to being transported to Hong Kong. There was not much to see from where we were except green hills although you can click on the link to find more about Singapore here >

Hong Kong, is a city of lights and high risers.  In the city, you can hardly see the sky because of the sky-scrapers that tower around you and it was so pretty with all the night lights like that of Reno or Las Vegas.  We only stayed in Hong Kong for two days before boarding a 747 to America.  To learn more facts about Hong Kong click >

I came to the United States in the summer of 1980.  It has taken me one and a half year to finally find my destination in which my parent had intended..  I am grateful to all those who has helped me including the United Nations, church organization and my sponsor to have the freedom that I have today.  More facts about America can be obtain here > and to learn more about the roles of the United Nations go here >

If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail me at win_vu@hotmail.com  

Last updated March 21, 2000 01:06 PM
Created on 02/21/00
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