Vietnamerica: A Family's Journey

Dzung Chung resumes her narrative by detailing her life in Vietnam in 1975. At that time, Vung Tau was spared the violence from the war that the rest of the country experienced. Tri Huu had a successful career as an artist and teacher, Dzung Chung was promoted at the bank, and Vinh was on leave and visited during the Tet holiday. The children prospered at school, and Dzung Chung felt secure and happy with their lives.

Tri Huu’s American friend, Leonard, offered to help the family migrate to the US, but Tri Huu felt equally as happy as Dzung Chung in Vung Tau. When Leonard told him the Americans would lose the war, Tri Huu considered his offer seriously but doubted that Dzung Chung would ever agree to leave her parents. Leonard offered to help the entire family leave the country. The section ends with the individual panels shaped in letters that spell “FINISHED.” Within each letter is a portrait of Tri Huu, Dzung Chung and the children, Do, Vinh, Leonard, Thi Mot, and Le Nhi. Their faces reveal a mixture of shock, despair, and trepidation. The final portrait is of a young Huu Nghiep, rejoicing with other Northern Vietnamese people at their impending victory.