The Journey of SouthEast Asian to Minnesota

Mr. Si, a former South Vietnamese army officer, is now 85 years old and nearing the end of his life. After fighting for democracy and against communism, he escaped Vietnam following the fall of Saigon in 1975and finally found a safe haven in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Here he settled into his new life and raised a family of five, and his family grew to 12 grandchildren. Unfortunately, he never had the opportunity to share his full journey with his children and grandchildren because he was busy working 2 jobs to feed his family, or because some stories are haunting like a nightmare in the darkest night; leaving the next generations puzzled about their own history and origins. Mr. Si’s story is not unique - there are many- thousands of untold Vietnam War narratives just like his. And many more children and grandchildren with an incomplete awareness of their legacy.

The primary purpose of the Vietnamese Community of Minnesota project is to showcase and document the daunting post-war journey of Southeast Asians to Minnesota. We aim to convey who we are, why we are here, and foster connections with similar cultures through a shared understanding of our past.

Secondly, we seek to bridge the gap between older and younger generations in their understanding of this pivotal period in our Vietnamese history. By teaching next generations about the pain, suffering, pride, and joy that preceded their new lives in America, our intent is to help them both better understand the legacy of the past and carry pride about it forward into the future.

Our third goal is to bring people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, age groups, and educational levels together with a common purpose. By embarking on this collective journey, we aim to foster new connections and broaden the scope of community ties. Our project will not only serve the 35,000Vietnamese living in Minnesota, but will include local Hmong, Laotian, and Cambodian community groups:

Hmong American Partnership

United Cambodian Association of Minnesota

Laos Center

Asian Media Access

Hmong Chamber of Commerce

Laos Culture Center

Laos Dance Troops

Vietnamese Veterans Association

Vietnamese Heritage Museum

Vietnamese Student Association of Minnesota

Coalition of Allied Afghan and Vietnam War Veterans

Vietnamese Social Services

Federation of Vietnamese American Community of USA

Minnesota National Guard

Hindu Association

In addition, we will reach out to veteran groups such as the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Disabled American Veterans of MN and administrators of the MN Veterans Home.

Minnesota’s Vietnamese are a distinct ethnic group unto themselves, but also an integral part of the overall BIPOC culture in the state. As such we welcome Koreans, Chinese, Latinos, Filipinos, Japanese, and East Africans to attend this commemoration event. Taking the lead in creating and hosting such cultural initiatives underscores VCM’s steadfast dedication to nurturing our own cohesive community while also encouraging the expression of similar ethnic groups.

In fact, hosting cultural events has been a mainstay of VCM’s overall purpose for over forty years. From seasonal festivals to modern dance for the youth to language lessons, we have an ongoing track record of celebrating our native heritage and history. Honoring both traditional and modern aspects of our culture, our organization touches the lives of all ages young and old. We include many diverse interests in our cultural mix: historians, language schools, Buddhist temples, Catholic churches, and Vietnam Veterans Affairs programs. We believe having our youth participate in cultural traditions and learn about our history through firsthand storytelling strengthens their personal identity as well as their community commitment. Of course, it is of utmost importance to also give our elders their due in honor and respect for making the difficult transition from a traditional life in Vietnam to a whole new life in Minnesota. With this pivotal SEA50 commemoration, we want to continue to have an impactful, inclusive presence in the cultural landscape of Minnesota.

Our SEA50 project focus will be threefold:

a. Exhibit of artifacts around which a two-day event will be held in July 2025

b. A stand-alone archival website and supporting social media campaign

c. Documentary video combining first-person testimonies and archival footage

The commemoration exhibit is anticipated to be held either at the Asian Media Access building in St.Paul or the Laos Center in Minneapolis. The dedicated website will serve the whole Southeast Asian community in Minnesota. The multi-day educational session topics, delegated to the local Cambodian community, are currently under development.

Our overall intent is to pass the baton of Southeast Asian cultural history and heritage on to next generations so there is continuity and completeness in the understanding of our lineage as we move forward on our collective journey of preservation, resilience, healing and success.