The Last Boat Out: Memoirs of a Triumphant Vietnamese-American Family

Glad I had the opportunity to read this one. Vivid details, great to hear the can-do philosophy of these immigrants during the Vietnam war. Starting from nothing but the clothes on their back, and managing to raise six children is certainly a commendable feat. Great read for those schools wanting an accurate account of the war through the people who were being affected each day.

Reviewed by Kelley Anderson for Reader Views (8/06) Every family has a story. For one family, their struggles through poverty, the Vietnam War and immigrating to a foreign country has only proven that a strong family bond can make any situation bearable, and any dream possible. "The Last Boat Out" is their story. This is the story of two children growing up in a united Vietnam that witness the country they love become torn apart by war. They start over in a foreign country, with an unfamiliar language and culture, while still keeping their own culture and traditions alive. It is a beautifully told story, drawing you in to the simple Vietnamese lifestyle. It makes you weep for the innocent children disfigured by war and dance with joy as they are rescued from sure death on a boat to nowhere. This book is full of descriptions of a beautiful Vietnam. It is a story written in simple language and instantly puts you in the lives of the Truong-Nhu family. You feel their struggles and desires. I especially liked reading the descriptions of the old Vietnam - how the places were an important part of everyday life. I would recommend this book to anyone who is curious about Vietnam or just wants to read a story about faith and family.

Given the intense political climate in the United States during the last years of and aftermath of the Vietnam War and the now obvious inevitability of a victory by the North Vietnamese, some facts get lost. Forgotten over all these years is the fact that there were Vietnamese who were strongly opposed to the communists and who were willing to fight them. The horrific aftermath of the massive exodus referred to as the "boat people" should tell us everything we need to know about how desperate they were. This book is a set of memoirs of the people of a family who were among the last to depart Vietnam. The family was like so many in a civil war; some family members fought on each side. The male members who ultimately fled were officers in the army of South Vietnam and would have been punished had they stayed. In their flight, the Americans treated them very well as they journeyed to the Philippines, Guam and eventually to the United States. They were welcomed by a church group and although they received charity at first, were determined to be successful. Even though he had been an officer, the male head of the household took a job as a janitor in order to support his family. The mother worked at two jobs in order for the family to have enough money so that their children could get educated. They were successful, remain appreciative of the help they received, and have maintained their Vietnamese heritage while assimilating into the American society. Immigration is once again a hot political topic in the United States. Books like this are valuable because they remind us that the overwhelming majority of immigrants work very hard, are extremely loyal Americans and are an asset rather than a liability. That message is clear from this book.

The best book that I have read this year!!!!!!! It is so refreshing to see a family, that has sacrificed so much, able to rejoice in their triumphs. I believe that each of us could take notes from the Truong family. The book lets us see the bond, the closeness, and the very meaning of "family" that is so often lost throughout America today. I agree with "Viet" in the first review...wish there were pictures to put faces with the words. Very touching and easy to read. You will not want to put this one down.

First time we had the Vietnamese American who is the housewife writing the book. The stories are very easy to understand, but at the same time, it touches to the hearts of many others who have experienced the war and the aftermath of it. Wish the book can have pictures about the authors and about Vietnam now and then...