Dear Friends and Supporters,
Since April 1975, the South of Vietnam has been controlled by the brutal Communist regime. Many South Vietnamese citizens left behind have suffered unspeakable challenges and hardship because they were stripped of basic freedom and human rights.
Not only did thousands of former military personnel and civil servants of the Republic of South Vietnam endure years of torture, interrogation, starvation, disease, exile and imprisonment in the so-called “re-education” camps, many also perished in anguish and obscurity in prisons during those years.
Due to these harsh situations, millions of people found ways to escape Vietnam on foot or by boat, despite their fears of death and imprisonment. During these treacherous journeys, nearly one million refugees failed to survive the passage, as they faced dangers from turbulent seas, starvation, disease, or pirate attacks. Among these people were children and women who were tortured, raped and abused until death or got kidnapped and disappeared without a trace.
For the past 45 years, the former refugees have put aside their agony which none of them can forget, as they tried to assimilate into their adopted countries.
Even though the Vietnamese diaspora communities have become larger and stronger, there still does not exist an actual museum that contains all the testimonies and artifacts that tell the stories of the Vietnamese refugees after the painful event of their homeland on April 30th, 1975.
As time goes on, we are gradually losing witnesses and historical relics that are very important and valuable to our nation, especially to our younger generations.
In order to preserve these precious witnesses’ testimonies and historical relics, members of the Vietnamese Heritage Museum (VHM) decided to form a non-profit organization 501(c)(3) since June, 2018 with the following missions:
Our Mission
To search, collect, preserve, and share the testimonies and artifacts of the Vietnamese immigrants since the 1975 event.
Our Vision
The Vietnamese Heritage Museum is to preserve living evidence of our country and nation during a gloomy period in history. This will inspire various Vietnamese generations to stand up and demand liberty and autonomy for their future survival as Vietnamese Americans.
In order to achieve the above aim, we earnestly call upon our country people to please share your own audacious experience while fleeing Vietnam, while overcoming difficulties and challenges during the process of settlement in foreign countries. We would be grateful for any contributions of valuable artifacts, which may have been carried with you throughout your journey. These are historical proofs of our immigrant voyages that should be known and proud of, not only by current witnesses but also by future generations, for their sacrifice and courage. In addition, The Museum would like to present to the native residents our origin and how we have risen in the new lands and prospered in our new homes.
The Vietnamese Heritage Museum operates as a non-profit organization that finds inspirations from the mainstream museums in the United States of America. We appeal to all Vietnamese people from around the world who have the same ideal of unity and collaboration as we expand our efforts of making the Vietnamese Heritage Museum a reality. We would like to fulfill the ultimate goal of preserving Vietnamese history accurately, transparently, and truthfully.
This year marks the 45th Anniversary of the Fall of Saigon. We only observe this painful event once a year. However, with the existence of The Vietnamese Heritage Museum, generations of Vietnamese will be reminded every day of their origin, of their former generations’ courageous fights for freedom and human rights, so that they shall be determined to continue rebuilding Vietnam with justice and freedom.
Please contact us if you would like additional information or have any inquiries, ideas, or contributions.
We are looking forward to your collaboration.
Respectfully yours,
Chau Thuy and VHM Team.
