Latest news with #LindaNguyen
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
PHOTO ESSAY: For the Vietnamese diaspora, Saigon's fall 50 years ago evokes mixed emotions
WESTMINSTER, Calif. (AP) — When the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese forces 50 years ago this week, it prompted a mass exodus of some 2 million people — hundreds of thousands fleeing perilously on small boats across open water to escape the communist regime. Many ultimately settled in Southern California's Orange County in an area now known as 'Little Saigon,' not far from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, where the first refugees were airlifted upon reaching the U.S. The diaspora now also has significant populations in Virginia, Texas and Washington state, as well as in countries including France and Australia. Still, the community in Southern California comprises the largest and most well-established Vietnamese population anywhere outside Vietnam. Memories of Wednesday's anniversary of the fall of Saigon — the South Vietnamese city renamed Ho Chi Minh City by the communists — has conjured up mixed feelings from grief and resentment to honor and pride in the diaspora here. For those who lived through the war, the 50th anniversary marks a time of mourning as they remember what they lost — their homeland, their past lives, even their identity. Five decades later, the pain is still raw. One man still can't bring himself to say much about the family he had to leave behind. Others were barely toddlers when they arrived in a foreign land. The day Saigon fell — April 30, 1975 — is referred to by the older generation as 'Black April' or 'National Day of Resentment.' But for their children and grandchildren, many with scant knowledge of the war, the anniversary is a time to honor the resiliency of an immigrant community and to celebrate the accomplishments of a population that started as refugees and now has become an influential part of California and U.S. society. 'I don't really think about it in a negative light,' said Linda Nguyen, a local business leader whose parents were refugees. 'For my generation, it's about honoring what happened, but also celebrating our future and our current successes.' Little Saigon in Orange County has evolved from a commercial district contained within a few city blocks in Westminster in the late 1980s to a sprawling region spanning several cities. It's also now considered the cultural capital for the Vietnamese diaspora around the world. 'We were looking for a freedom to prosper,' said Trí Trần, a University of California, Irvine professor who left Vietnam by sea on a boat in 1986. Today, thousands of restaurants, shops and offices bear Vietnamese names. Little Saigon is not only home to Asian Garden Mall, the largest Vietnamese shopping mall in the U.S., but it also hosts the world's largest international Vietnamese film festival. The population has become a powerful voting bloc in Orange County, elevating some of the first Vietnamese-Americans to elected office. For the first time last year, Orange County elected a Vietnamese-American to Congress. Derek Tran, a Democrat whose parents were refugees, triumphed in a district historically favorable to Republicans. 'We're very much a young community in this country,' Tran said. 'We're finding our place, but we're also figuring out how to consolidate our voice and our culture and our history.' 'Black April' Marking the anniversary that ultimately led to the war's end, many Little Saigon businesses and storefronts are adorned with South Vietnam flags. Even the Asian Garden Mall has a prominent 1975 sign, bearing both the U.S. and the South Vietnam flags. Hưng Vũ, a member of the South Vietnamese military who arrived in 1975, plans to reunite with old friends and share stories at a community event Wednesday about how daily life was reshaped by life in the U.S. 'This is no festive occasion,' said Vũ, who owns a uniform store that specializes in recreating the South Vietnamese military's uniforms, ribbons and medals. 'It's a day of mourning.' He recalled feeling overwhelmed in a new country where he couldn't speak the language and didn't understand social norms. He didn't even know how to get around or make a living. 'The knowledge gap was tremendous,' Vũ said in Vietnamese. 'But we were hungry, so we went out and found a way to feed ourselves.' Many, including former members of wealthy South Vietnamese families, were forced to take on low-paid jobs in their new country, such as cleaning houses and working at nail salons, to survive. Some worked multiple jobs while going to school to send money back to relatives in Vietnam. They included teenagers who arrived in the U.S. alone, said Tram Le, who studied the experience of the first generation of Vietnamese Americans after the war. 'They lost their childhood,' she said. 'Their whole lives, they're just sacrificing.' Shifting attitudes today among young Vietnamese Americans Those born and raised in the U.S. often were shielded by their parents from learning about the horrors of the war and the divisions in their homeland that erupted into civil conflict between North and South Vietnam. The younger generations no longer carry the fervor of anti-communist sentiment that was once a big part of life in Little Saigon, where a portrait of the late North Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh in 1999 prompted a 53-day protest. 'The political theme that was once significant to our parents did not carry on to us,' Linda Nguyen said. 'To us, Vietnam is Vietnam.' The focus for the younger generations is on today and what lies ahead. Young Vietnamese American entrepreneurs no longer shun Vietnam and are working directly with businesses in Vietnam with much success, said Tim Nguyễn, the head of the Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce. They are also talking about their mental health needs, a topic once taboo among Vietnamese. Traditional names, food and áo dài dresses — once considered embarrassing — are now points of pride, while artists and filmmakers are exploring ways to expand the Vietnamese-American narrative beyond the war, said Tram Le. Tâm Nguyễn, the former head of the chamber of commerce, is among a growing number of Vietnamese-Americans who are choosing to return to Little Saigon to preserve their families' business legacies. He took over his parents' cosmetology school in Little Saigon, which has trained more than 50,000 students over four decades. 'We're the cultural bridges between generations,' he said. 'We're very proud to be Vietnamese, while we're also proud that we're contributing greatly to the American society.' ___ This is a documentary photo story curated by AP photo editors. For more coverage of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War's end, visit
Hamilton Spectator
30-04-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
PHOTO ESSAY: For the Vietnamese diaspora, Saigon's fall 50 years ago evokes mixed emotions
WESTMINSTER, Calif. (AP) — When the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese forces 50 years ago this week, it prompted a mass exodus of some 2 million people — hundreds of thousands fleeing perilously on small boats across open water to escape the communist regime. Many ultimately settled in Southern California's Orange County in an area now known as 'Little Saigon,' not far from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, where the first refugees were airlifted upon reaching the U.S. The diaspora now also has significant populations in Virginia, Texas and Washington state, as well as in countries including France and Australia. Still, the community in Southern California comprises the largest and most well-established Vietnamese population anywhere outside Vietnam. Memories of Wednesday's anniversary of the fall of Saigon — the South Vietnamese city renamed Ho Chi Minh City by the communists — has conjured up mixed feelings from grief and resentment to honor and pride in the diaspora here. For those who lived through the war, the 50th anniversary marks a time of mourning as they remember what they lost — their homeland, their past lives, even their identity. Five decades later, the pain is still raw. One man still can't bring himself to say much about the family he had to leave behind. Others were barely toddlers when they arrived in a foreign land. The day Saigon fell — April 30, 1975 — is referred to by the older generation as 'Black April' or 'National Day of Resentment.' But for their children and grandchildren, many with scant knowledge of the war, the anniversary is a time to honor the resiliency of an immigrant community and to celebrate the accomplishments of a population that started as refugees and now has become an influential part of California and U.S. society. 'I don't really think about it in a negative light,' said Linda Nguyen, a local business leader whose parents were refugees. 'For my generation, it's about honoring what happened, but also celebrating our future and our current successes.' Little Saigon in Orange County has evolved from a commercial district contained within a few city blocks in Westminster in the late 1980s to a sprawling region spanning several cities. It's also now considered the cultural capital for the Vietnamese diaspora around the world. 'We were looking for a freedom to prosper,' said Trí Trần, a University of California, Irvine professor who left Vietnam by sea on a boat in 1986. Today, thousands of restaurants, shops and offices bear Vietnamese names. Little Saigon is not only home to Asian Garden Mall, the largest Vietnamese shopping mall in the U.S., but it also hosts the world's largest international Vietnamese film festival. The population has become a powerful voting bloc in Orange County, elevating some of the first Vietnamese-Americans to elected office. For the first time last year, Orange County elected a Vietnamese-American to Congress. Derek Tran, a Democrat whose parents were refugees, triumphed in a district historically favorable to Republicans. 'We're very much a young community in this country,' Tran said. 'We're finding our place, but we're also figuring out how to consolidate our voice and our culture and our history.' 'Black April' Marking the anniversary that ultimately led to the war's end, many Little Saigon businesses and storefronts are adorned with South Vietnam flags. Even the Asian Garden Mall has a prominent 1975 sign, bearing both the U.S. and the South Vietnam flags. Hưng Vũ, a member of the South Vietnamese military who arrived in 1975, plans to reunite with old friends and share stories at a community event Wednesday about how daily life was reshaped by life in the U.S. 'This is no festive occasion,' said Vũ, who owns a uniform store that specializes in recreating the South Vietnamese military's uniforms, ribbons and medals. 'It's a day of mourning.' He recalled feeling overwhelmed in a new country where he couldn't speak the language and didn't understand social norms. He didn't even know how to get around or make a living. 'The knowledge gap was tremendous,' Vũ said in Vietnamese. 'But we were hungry, so we went out and found a way to feed ourselves.' Many, including former members of wealthy South Vietnamese families, were forced to take on low-paid jobs in their new country, such as cleaning houses and working at nail salons, to survive. Some worked multiple jobs while going to school to send money back to relatives in Vietnam. They included teenagers who arrived in the U.S. alone, said Tram Le, who studied the experience of the first generation of Vietnamese Americans after the war. 'They lost their childhood,' she said. 'Their whole lives, they're just sacrificing.' Shifting attitudes today among young Vietnamese Americans Those born and raised in the U.S. often were shielded by their parents from learning about the horrors of the war and the divisions in their homeland that erupted into civil conflict between North and South Vietnam. The younger generations no longer carry the fervor of anti-communist sentiment that was once a big part of life in Little Saigon, where a portrait of the late North Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh in 1999 prompted a 53-day protest. 'The political theme that was once significant to our parents did not carry on to us,' Linda Nguyen said. 'To us, Vietnam is Vietnam.' The focus for the younger generations is on today and what lies ahead. Young Vietnamese American entrepreneurs no longer shun Vietnam and are working directly with businesses in Vietnam with much success, said Tim Nguyễn, the head of the Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce. They are also talking about their mental health needs, a topic once taboo among Vietnamese. Traditional names, food and áo dài dresses — once considered embarrassing — are now points of pride, while artists and filmmakers are exploring ways to expand the Vietnamese-American narrative beyond the war, said Tram Le. Tâm Nguyễn, the former head of the chamber of commerce, is among a growing number of Vietnamese-Americans who are choosing to return to Little Saigon to preserve their families' business legacies. He took over his parents' cosmetology school in Little Saigon, which has trained more than 50,000 students over four decades. 'We're the cultural bridges between generations,' he said. 'We're very proud to be Vietnamese, while we're also proud that we're contributing greatly to the American society.' ___ This is a documentary photo story curated by AP photo editors. For more coverage of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War's end, visit .
Associated Press
30-04-2025
- General
- Associated Press
PHOTO ESSAY: For the Vietnamese diaspora, Saigon's fall 50 years ago evokes mixed emotions
WESTMINSTER, Calif. (AP) — When the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese forces 50 years ago this week, it prompted a mass exodus of some 2 million people — hundreds of thousands fleeing perilously on small boats across open water to escape the communist regime. Many ultimately settled in Southern California's Orange County in an area now known as 'Little Saigon,' not far from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, where the first refugees were airlifted upon reaching the U.S. The diaspora now also has significant populations in Virginia, Texas and Washington state, as well as in countries including France and Australia. Still, the community in Southern California comprises the largest and most well-established Vietnamese population anywhere outside Vietnam. Memories of Wednesday's anniversary of the fall of Saigon — the South Vietnamese city renamed Ho Chi Minh City by the communists — has conjured up mixed feelings from grief and resentment to honor and pride in the diaspora here. For those who lived through the war, the 50th anniversary marks a time of mourning as they remember what they lost — their homeland, their past lives, even their identity. Five decades later, the pain is still raw. One man still can't bring himself to say much about the family he had to leave behind. Others were barely toddlers when they arrived in a foreign land. The day Saigon fell — April 30, 1975 — is referred to by the older generation as 'Black April' or 'National Day of Resentment.' But for their children and grandchildren, many with scant knowledge of the war, the anniversary is a time to honor the resiliency of an immigrant community and to celebrate the accomplishments of a population that started as refugees and now has become an influential part of California and U.S. society. 'I don't really think about it in a negative light,' said Linda Nguyen, a local business leader whose parents were refugees. 'For my generation, it's about honoring what happened, but also celebrating our future and our current successes.' Little Saigon in Orange County has evolved from a commercial district contained within a few city blocks in Westminster in the late 1980s to a sprawling region spanning several cities. It's also now considered the cultural capital for the Vietnamese diaspora around the world. 'We were looking for a freedom to prosper,' said Trí Trần, a University of California, Irvine professor who left Vietnam by sea on a boat in 1986. Today, thousands of restaurants, shops and offices bear Vietnamese names. Little Saigon is not only home to Asian Garden Mall, the largest Vietnamese shopping mall in the U.S., but it also hosts the world's largest international Vietnamese film festival. The population has become a powerful voting bloc in Orange County, elevating some of the first Vietnamese-Americans to elected office. For the first time last year, Orange County elected a Vietnamese-American to Congress. Derek Tran, a Democrat whose parents were refugees, triumphed in a district historically favorable to Republicans. 'We're very much a young community in this country,' Tran said. 'We're finding our place, but we're also figuring out how to consolidate our voice and our culture and our history.' 'Black April' Marking the anniversary that ultimately led to the war's end, many Little Saigon businesses and storefronts are adorned with South Vietnam flags. Even the Asian Garden Mall has a prominent 1975 sign, bearing both the U.S. and the South Vietnam flags. Hưng Vũ, a member of the South Vietnamese military who arrived in 1975, plans to reunite with old friends and share stories at a community event Wednesday about how daily life was reshaped by life in the U.S. 'This is no festive occasion,' said Vũ, who owns a uniform store that specializes in recreating the South Vietnamese military's uniforms, ribbons and medals. 'It's a day of mourning.' He recalled feeling overwhelmed in a new country where he couldn't speak the language and didn't understand social norms. He didn't even know how to get around or make a living. 'The knowledge gap was tremendous,' Vũ said in Vietnamese. 'But we were hungry, so we went out and found a way to feed ourselves.' Many, including former members of wealthy South Vietnamese families, were forced to take on low-paid jobs in their new country, such as cleaning houses and working at nail salons, to survive. Some worked multiple jobs while going to school to send money back to relatives in Vietnam. They included teenagers who arrived in the U.S. alone, said Tram Le, who studied the experience of the first generation of Vietnamese Americans after the war. 'They lost their childhood,' she said. 'Their whole lives, they're just sacrificing.' Shifting attitudes today among young Vietnamese Americans Those born and raised in the U.S. often were shielded by their parents from learning about the horrors of the war and the divisions in their homeland that erupted into civil conflict between North and South Vietnam. The younger generations no longer carry the fervor of anti-communist sentiment that was once a big part of life in Little Saigon, where a portrait of the late North Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh in 1999 prompted a 53-day protest. 'The political theme that was once significant to our parents did not carry on to us,' Linda Nguyen said. 'To us, Vietnam is Vietnam.' The focus for the younger generations is on today and what lies ahead. Young Vietnamese American entrepreneurs no longer shun Vietnam and are working directly with businesses in Vietnam with much success, said Tim Nguyễn, the head of the Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce. They are also talking about their mental health needs, a topic once taboo among Vietnamese. Traditional names, food and áo dài dresses — once considered embarrassing — are now points of pride, while artists and filmmakers are exploring ways to expand the Vietnamese-American narrative beyond the war, said Tram Le. Tâm Nguyễn, the former head of the chamber of commerce, is among a growing number of Vietnamese-Americans who are choosing to return to Little Saigon to preserve their families' business legacies. He took over his parents' cosmetology school in Little Saigon, which has trained more than 50,000 students over four decades. 'We're the cultural bridges between generations,' he said. 'We're very proud to be Vietnamese, while we're also proud that we're contributing greatly to the American society.' ___ This is a documentary photo story curated by AP photo editors. For more coverage of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War's end, visit
The Independent
30-04-2025
- General
- The Independent
PHOTO ESSAY: For the Vietnamese diaspora, Saigon's fall 50 years ago evokes mixed emotions
When the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese forces 50 years ago this week, it prompted a mass exodus of some 2 million people — hundreds of thousands fleeing perilously on small boats across open water to escape the communist regime. Many ultimately settled in Southern California's Orange County in an area now known as 'Little Saigon,' not far from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, where the first refugees were airlifted upon reaching the U.S. The diaspora now also has significant populations in Virginia, Texas and Washington state, as well as in countries including France and Australia. Still, the community in Southern California comprises the largest and most well-established Vietnamese population anywhere outside Vietnam. Memories of Wednesday's anniversary of the fall of Saigon — the South Vietnamese city renamed Ho Chi Minh City by the communists — has conjured up mixed feelings from grief and resentment to honor and pride in the diaspora here. For those who lived through the war, the 50th anniversary marks a time of mourning as they remember what they lost — their homeland, their past lives, even their identity. Five decades later, the pain is still raw. One man still can't bring himself to say much about the family he had to leave behind. Others were barely toddlers when they arrived in a foreign land. The day Saigon fell — April 30, 1975 — is referred to by the older generation as 'Black April' or 'National Day of Resentment.' But for their children and grandchildren, many with scant knowledge of the war, the anniversary is a time to honor the resiliency of an immigrant community and to celebrate the accomplishments of a population that started as refugees and now has become an influential part of California and U.S. society. 'I don't really think about it in a negative light,' said Linda Nguyen, a local business leader whose parents were refugees. 'For my generation, it's about honoring what happened, but also celebrating our future and our current successes.' Little Saigon in Orange County has evolved from a commercial district contained within a few city blocks in Westminster in the late 1980s to a sprawling region spanning several cities. It's also now considered the cultural capital for the Vietnamese diaspora around the world. 'We were looking for a freedom to prosper,' said Trí Trần, a University of California, Irvine professor who left Vietnam by sea on a boat in 1986. Today, thousands of restaurants, shops and offices bear Vietnamese names. Little Saigon is not only home to Asian Garden Mall, the largest Vietnamese shopping mall in the U.S., but it also hosts the world's largest international Vietnamese film festival. The population has become a powerful voting bloc in Orange County, elevating some of the first Vietnamese-Americans to elected office. For the first time last year, Orange County elected a Vietnamese-American to Congress. Derek Tran, a Democrat whose parents were refugees, triumphed in a district historically favorable to Republicans. 'We're very much a young community in this country,' Tran said. 'We're finding our place, but we're also figuring out how to consolidate our voice and our culture and our history.' 'Black April' Marking the anniversary that ultimately led to the war's end, many Little Saigon businesses and storefronts are adorned with South Vietnam flags. Even the Asian Garden Mall has a prominent 1975 sign, bearing both the U.S. and the South Vietnam flags. Hưng Vũ, a member of the South Vietnamese military who arrived in 1975, plans to reunite with old friends and share stories at a community event Wednesday about how daily life was reshaped by life in the U.S. 'This is no festive occasion,' said Vũ, who owns a uniform store that specializes in recreating the South Vietnamese military's uniforms, ribbons and medals. 'It's a day of mourning.' He recalled feeling overwhelmed in a new country where he couldn't speak the language and didn't understand social norms. He didn't even know how to get around or make a living. 'The knowledge gap was tremendous,' Vũ said in Vietnamese. 'But we were hungry, so we went out and found a way to feed ourselves.' Many, including former members of wealthy South Vietnamese families, were forced to take on low-paid jobs in their new country, such as cleaning houses and working at nail salons, to survive. Some worked multiple jobs while going to school to send money back to relatives in Vietnam. They included teenagers who arrived in the U.S. alone, said Tram Le, who studied the experience of the first generation of Vietnamese Americans after the war. 'They lost their childhood,' she said. 'Their whole lives, they're just sacrificing.' Shifting attitudes today among young Vietnamese Americans Those born and raised in the U.S. often were shielded by their parents from learning about the horrors of the war and the divisions in their homeland that erupted into civil conflict between North and South Vietnam. The younger generations no longer carry the fervor of anti-communist sentiment that was once a big part of life in Little Saigon, where a portrait of the late North Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh in 1999 prompted a 53-day protest. 'The political theme that was once significant to our parents did not carry on to us,' Linda Nguyen said. 'To us, Vietnam is Vietnam.' The focus for the younger generations is on today and what lies ahead. Young Vietnamese American entrepreneurs no longer shun Vietnam and are working directly with businesses in Vietnam with much success, said Tim Nguyễn, the head of the Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce. They are also talking about their mental health needs, a topic once taboo among Vietnamese. Traditional names, food and áo dài dresses — once considered embarrassing — are now points of pride, while artists and filmmakers are exploring ways to expand the Vietnamese-American narrative beyond the war, said Tram Le. Tâm Nguyễn, the former head of the chamber of commerce, is among a growing number of Vietnamese-Americans who are choosing to return to Little Saigon to preserve their families' business legacies. He took over his parents' cosmetology school in Little Saigon, which has trained more than 50,000 students over four decades. 'We're the cultural bridges between generations,' he said. 'We're very proud to be Vietnamese, while we're also proud that we're contributing greatly to the American society.' ___ This is a documentary photo story curated by AP photo editors. For more coverage of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War's end, visit
Associated Press
02-03-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Dr. Linda Nguyen Joins Babylon Dental Care, Expanding Exceptional Patient Care
BABYLON, NY, UNITED STATES, March 2, 2025 / / -- Babylon Dental Care proudly welcomes Dr. Linda Nguyen to its team of dedicated dental professionals. Dr. Nguyen officially joined the practice on January 7, 2025, bringing a wealth of experience, advanced expertise, and a passion for patient-centered care. Dr. Nguyen earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Maryland after completing her undergraduate studies in Biochemistry at the University of Maryland, College Park. She further honed her skills through a one-year residency at the University of Maryland, where she gained experience in a range of dental procedures, from general and cosmetic dentistry to root canal therapy and extractions. Her philosophy of care centers on precision, patient education, and a minimally invasive approach. Dr. Nguyen specializes in general and cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign, root canal therapy, extractions, and All-on-X overdentures. She believes in fostering strong patient relationships and ensuring a comfortable, stress-free experience for everyone she treats. Dr. Nguyen is thrilled to join the talented team at Babylon Dental Care and become a trusted resource for the community's dental needs. 'I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to provide comprehensive, compassionate care that meets each patient's unique needs' says Dr. Nguyen. Jenn Brown, COO of Babylon Dental Care, expressed excitement about Dr. Nguyen's addition to the team: 'Dr. Nguyen's expertise, dedication, and warm approach to patient care make her a perfect fit for our practice. We are confident that our patients will appreciate her personalized and gentle approach to dentistry.' About Babylon Dental Care: Babylon Dental Care has proudly served Babylon and surrounding communities since 1983. With a focus on treating every patient like family, our team is dedicated to providing personalized, comprehensive dental care that enhances health, confidence, and smiles. or call (631) 587-7373. Babylon Dental Care +1 516-680-1133
