American Dream

At that time, I was just 12 or 13 years old, and within a year, I witnessed a dramatic change in Saigon, shifting from one reality to another. The most frightening aspect was the economy; life seemed normal until the war concluded on April 30, 1975, leaving behind a void. Some fortunate individuals managed to leave Vietnam after that date. The rest were filled with fear, and I was around 15 or 16 years old when I crossed the border. Many different ports were involved in that journey. While I was on the boat, I felt as if I were grasping at a drum, with death looming just a day away. The thought of dying on the ship was terrifying. It was as if I had been sentenced to death, knowing the exact day I would be shot. This awareness made me truly appreciate the difference between life and death. During that time, everyone was hungry; it felt like I was sick for ten days without food or water. The most alarming feeling was the uncertainty of when and how I would die. I hoped to live until I was around 60, passing away without understanding the reason for my journey. My great-grandmother truly came back to life in that moment.

Hello to all listeners of the Overseas Vietnamese Channel, a platform dedicated to the lives of overseas Vietnamese, particularly their pursuit of the American dream.

Today, I am in Washington, D.C., on a beautiful day. I am visiting a friend named Le The Tung, who has a remarkable story. He once rode a cyclo in Vietnam and, after facing numerous challenges, he has achieved the American dream as a Cyber Security engineer. He has also worked at the Ba Doc court. Join me as we explore his home and listen to his journey.

Hello, sir. Do you often get stuck in traffic?

Yes, it can get quite congested, especially in this heat. Thank you for welcoming me here.

I find your story very interesting, as you represent the success of many Vietnamese who have been in America for nearly 50 years. I am thrilled to hear your story.

Oh, thank you. I’m just an ordinary person, a refugee who came here. How many years have I managed to achieve this?

Oh, look, there’s a cat here! Hello, kitty. This house is lovely; let me take a look around. It's still a bit untidy inside. How many square feet is this place?

This house is about 2,200 square feet. In Vietnam, we had a two-story home, each floor about 1,300 square feet.

How many bedrooms are there?

This house has five bedrooms. Now let’s step outside to see the garden. I’m fortunate to have this space.

Does the house still have land and a garden?

Nowadays, many houses lack land. Yes, this one is quite spacious.

Are you the only one here?

Just me and the kitten. We enjoy our quiet time together.

How long have you lived in this house?

I’ve been here for 20 years. The land spans about 13,000 square feet. These trees are older than I am. From here, the yard looks enormous. I really appreciate green trees. They are rare in California. This magnolia tree blooms only once and then it wilts. It’s around 50 years old and has a wonderful fragrance.

Do you have any fruit on it?

It produces fragrant flowers. I’m not sure what it's called in Vietnamese, but it’s beautiful. Most of our relatives have moved away from this area. There are fewer houses with land now. The good thing about living here is that at night, you can see fireflies.

That sounds lovely! Are there deer and rabbits around?

Yes, they come out at night. Sometimes, they snack on the plants I’ve grown, but life here is peaceful. However, everything seems quite expensive. It’s frustrating when it feels like there isn’t enough space. If you look around, you’ll see that there’s plenty of land and greenery. This area used to be predominantly white American until about a decade ago when minorities began to move in. Is this the first place you lived when you arrived in America? After Tet, I worked in Bore for about five years before moving back here.

What year did you first come to the U.S.?

I arrived in 1979. Wow, that’s over 40 years ago! The highlight of that time was being picked up by Mr. Nam Loc.