A Nightmare and a Miracle: One Family's Escape from Vietnam on a Smuggled Boat

The journey from Vietnam to a new life in a foreign land is fraught with danger, uncertainty, and tragedy. For my family, the experience began with a daring escape on a small fishing boat in 1983. During the waning days of the Vietnam War and the rise of communism, we risked everything for a chance at freedom.

Setting the Stage: The Night of Escape

On the coast of Kien Giang Province, my parents, along with an extended family of relatives including my six-month-old brother, decided to make a daring escape. With the communist police distracted by Tet celebrations, we took to the seas at night, aiming for Thailand. The family was bound for freedom, but with risks at every turn.

Chasing Freedom: Financial Preparations and Risks

Before the escape, my mother had gathered supplies, including 100 liters of water, sticky rice bread, instant noodles, sugar, milk, and a stove for our journey. But the journey started with the unspoken fear of pirates and the unknown dangers that lay ahead. Mom was optimistic, believing her cousin's account of a smooth journey to Thailand, but she had never heard of boats sinking or people dying.

First Night at Sea: The Wear and Worry

The first night at sea was a mix of optimism and weariness. The journey was planned for two days and three nights, but it turned into three days and four nights. The cramped living conditions and minimal supplies took their toll. On the second day, disaster struck when Thai pirates attacked our boat. Everyone's belongings were searched, gold and valuables were lost, and food supplies, except instant ramen, were confiscated. The loss of the hand crank for the engine was a source of despair, but clever ingenuity held us together.

Engineering a Miracle: Repurposing the Hand Crank

Despite losing the hand crank, my uncle's ingenuity saved the day. Repurposing a metal pipe and a saw blade, he created a makeshift hand crank, starting the engine and allowing us to continue toward our destination. This was only the beginning of a series of harrowing encounters and miraculous escapes that followed.

Navigating the Maze of Destiny: The Thai Captain

During our third night, the pirates forced us off the boat and onto their vessel. However, the arrival of a Thai pirate captain transformed the situation into a more hopeful one. Using hand signals and words, the captain communicated his plan to drop anchor, go fishing, and return at sunset to tow us closer to shore. True to his word, he returned with the engine, allowing us to row slowly toward land. It was here that the island turned out to be populated, but only after a long and exhausting journey of about 7–8 hours.

A New Beginning: From Desperation to Gratitude

Upon reaching the shore, we were amazed by the kindness of the villagers, who fed us a spicy fish curry and rice. They bathed our infants and provided fresh clothes, marking the end of one nightmare and the beginning of another. After a month in the holding area, we were transferred to the Songkhla refugee camp for three weeks and finally to Siekiew for two and a half years. The journey to a new life had just begun.

Building a New Life in the United States

Most of our family stayed in the United States, with some settling in California, Texas, Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota, while one family lives in Sweden. We have been in the US for 32 years and try to pay it forward for the good karma we received back then. We cherish the memory of this journey and the miracles that saved our lives.

Conclusion

This incredible story is not just a personal journey but a testament to human resilience and the enduring spirit of those who seek freedom. Our escape was a nightmare that transformed into a miraculous beginning, a story that can inspire and educate future generations.