Vietnamese American Journey: Bolinao 52

K. Oanh Ha interviews Bolinao 52 filmmaker Duc Nguyen and boat survivor, Tung Trinh, the woman featured in the film. Duc Nguyen explains why he felt driven, as a boat refugee himself, to tell this story. Tung Trinh boarded the boat that became known as the Bolinao 52 in 1988, with her young five year old son, Lam, never realizing the ordeal that they would both endure. The refugees hoped to make it to the South China Sea to be picked up by passing ships. Only two days out, the engine died, and soon food and water ran out and over half of the 110 refugees perished from the hunger, thirst and exposure. Their boat drifted for thirty-seven days before the
Pilipino fisherman from the town of Bolinao rescued the refugees. Tung Trinh recounts a remarkable story of survival and the power of the human spirit.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Vietnamese
• American
• Journey
• KTEH
• Vietnam
• San
• Jose
• PBS
• Public
• Television

[Tomiurawan]

Thank you for posting your story. I'm a U.S. Air Force Vietnam Veteran and was at Tan Son Nhut in about 1966. I always wondered why the boat people didn't tell their stories? Please, more of you should speak out... I would like to see more movies made about your exodus and quest for freedom. People should know about your struggles... sad but heroic.. people should understand how important it is to live a free life. Your stories are very inspiring.

[amoringis]

Philippines welcome the Vietnamese unlike other Asian countries where their boats were pushed back to the sea. I am proud to be a Filipino.

[vickie0106]

A truly appreciation from my heart as a Vietnamese for the Filipino in Bolinao. I was born after 1975 but I heard a lot of stories about how struggle the boat people went thru. All is for "FREEDOM". Very thankful for the film maker and the witnesses who spoke out the truth and let us know a part of the boat people exodus to get rid off the communism.

[tamdo9]

Im Vietnamese , im thank you so much for all the peoples, the coutries that was help the Boat People after 1975 , thanks so much , we will nerver forget the history

[1888junkteam]

excellent work!

[teeteebui]

the film makes me cry

[goldenwest79]

I grew up in the coastal town of Bolinao. I still remember the news when you took refuge in our town. I'm glad to hear that you finally put your story into a film. May all the survivors find healing from that dark episode in their lives.

[Pripevochka77]

yeah! Vietnamese are asians like us !vietnam is our neighbor, asians are asians.

[CHNProduction]

Thank you so much for sharing this remarkable story.

[sabrasentinel]

Beautiful. Makes me proud to be a Filipino.

[fp00n]

Beautiful