Vietnam is a South East Asian country with a tropical, monsoonal
south and temperate north. Its modern history has seen its people
distabilised by war and colonialism. Religions like Mahayana Buddhism,
Theravada Buddhism, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism,
Islam, Hinduism and animism are present.
FRENCH COLONIAL RULE
French traders, missionaries, diplomats, and naval personnel started
coming in increasing numbers to Vietnam in the late 1700s to mid
1800s. 'Tu Duc' signed a treaty with France in March 1874 that recognized
France's 'full and entire sovereignty' over Cochinchina.
By 1887 France formally established the Indochinese Union, comprising
the colony of Cochinchina and the protectorates of Annam, Tonkin,
and Cambodia. Laos was added as a protectorate in 1893.
FRENCH INFLUENCE ON THE VIETNAMESE LANGUAGE
French and Portuguese missionaries developed a new Vietnamese language
that used roman letters instead of chinese characters. The new system,
called quoc ngu, was devised as a tool for their missionary activities,
including the translation of prayer books and catechisms. By the
end of the nineteenth century, it had become the common method of
writing.
WORLD WAR 2
World War 2 brought further instability to Vietnam following the
Japanese invasion. The French regained control after the war. Strong
Vietnamese desire for independence remained. In July 1954, peace
talks in Geneva resulted in Vietnam being divided in two. The French
were to retreat to the south and the Communist Viet Minh to the
north.
THE VIETNAM WAR
The Vietnam War that followed saw an entire generation of Vietnamese
living in a divided Vietnam, knowing only continuous warfare. The
United States withdrawal and the overthrow in April 1975 of the
South Vietnamese Government not only abruptly concluded the war
but also prepared the way for the official reunification of the
country the following year, when the Vietnamese people were brought
together under one independent government for the first time in
more than a century.
'TUONG LAI MOI' - BOAT PEOPLE
Refugees fled war and Vietnam by sea after 1975. Many fell victim
to pirate attacks in the seas around Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore
and Indonesia, or endured starvation and dehydration as a result
of their escape in ill equipped and undersized vessels. Those who
reached safety in neighbouring Southeast Asian countries were accorded
temporary asylum in refugee camps while awaiting permanent resettlement
in industrialized Western nations willing to accept them like Australia.
VIETNAMESE ARRIVAL IN AUSTRALIA
In 1975 there were barely 1,000 Vietnamese in Australia, over 500
of whom were orphans adopted by Australian families. The mass migration
of Vietnamese to Australia falls into two distinct phases:
refugee resettlement during 1975-85 and family reunion since. Many
of the refugees came by boat to Darwin from refugee camps in South-East
Asia.
TAM NGUYEN
Tam Nguyen was born in 1977 in Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon as it
was then known, in South Vietnam. Tam's name in Vietnamese means
'soul' or 'the heart'.
FATHER NHAN NGUYEN LEAVES VIETNAM BY BOAT
Tam's father Nhan and his uncle Van fled South Vietnam in 1979 on
a crowded boat. Tam recalls, "During this period many South
Vietnamese were leaving. My father and uncle landed in Indonesia.
They were both lucky as their boat was not attacked by the notorious
pirates that were preying on many 'boat people'. Nhan and Van were
in an Indonesian refugee camp for 2 months before being transferred
to Australia for a chance of starting a peaceful life. I was 2 years
of age when dad left."
NHAN FIRST SETTLES IN ADELAIDE
Nhan Nguyen first settled in Adelaide, staying for 3 years. In Vietnam
he had worked as a hairdresser. In Adelaide he continued hairdressing,
studied, completed a course and was awarded his hairdressing certificate.
Nhan moved to Abbotsford, Melbourne in 1983.
"As a young girl in Vietnam, I only ever heard his voice over
the phone once. I remember him saying, 'you're my daughter, my youngest
child'. At first I thought he was a strange man.
MOTHER TAY, BROTHER MINH AND TAM COME TO AUSTRALIA IN 1986
"In 1986 my mother Tay, brother Minh and I were sponsored by
my father to come to Australia. We travelled by aeroplane landing
at Tullamarine. I arrived as a nine year old, meeting my father
for what I consider to be the 'first time' dressed in a traditional
Vietnamese outfit called the Ao Dai."
EDUCATION-INTERPRETING FOR THE FIRST TIME
Tam was educated at St Johns Primary School and Vauclause Secondary
College in Richmond. "Both schools were taking Vietnamese kids
and it didn't matter that we were a Buddhist family. It was in
Year 7 that I first started to interpret between English and Vietnamese
and visa versa. I would translate for my parents, friends and even
my school teachers. From parent teacher nights to helping pay bills,
etc, there was always plenty of translating. Mrs Yao, our school
principle gave me a 'certificate for translating' as thanks for
helping out the teachers."
HAIRDRESSING SHOP, TEXTILES AND STUDYING ENGLISH
"Meanwhile, my mother studied English and Hairdressing and
worked in textiles and as a tailor. Dad opened a Hairdressing Shop
in Richmond. Mum cut the women and girls hair, dad cut the mens
and boys hair. I worked in the shop as a cashier, serving tea and
sweeping hair from the floor. My parents worked hard to put Minh
and I through school and we attended Saturday morning Vietnamese
classes at The Victorian School of Languages."
TAM AT UNIVERSITY
Tam went onto RMIT completing a Bachelor Degree in Multicultural
Studies. She became interested in interpreting and translating at
University, a skill Tam had acquired in her earlier days. Her parents
also encouraged her.
NGUYEN FAMILY MOVES TO NORTHCOTE - 1992
The Nguyen family moved to Northcote in 1992. "It was a quieter
area, different to Richmond which was busy and close to the city.
Our neighbourhood is very culturally mixed. Mum loves gardening.
While we lived in Richmond mum was always working, she had no time
to do any gardening. In Northcote life settled down a bit and on
weekends she relaxes by pottering around in the garden. She grows
vegetables and flowers as a hobby. "
TAM'S WORKING LIFE
Tam Nguyen worked part time during her studies for a Vietnamese
Travel Agency. "It was my first full time job when I finished
studies at RMIT." From 1998 until 2002 Tam worked for the Australian
Vietnamese Womens Welfare Association in Richmond as an employment
consultant helping both men and women. "As well as helping
many Vietnamese there were also Chinese, Phillipinos, Timorese,
Laotians and some Hmong people that I supported."
MARRIES IN 2000
I married in 2000. My husband Dung (in Vietnamese means brave warrior)
had left Vietnam after the war with his mum and sister. Travelling
by boat they arrived at an Indonesian refugee camp. Dung's mother
died in the refugee camp. Dung and his sister were sponsored to
Australia by the ship's Captain who took on the role of Godfather.
They arrived in 1991. "We settled in Preston after marrying".
INTERPRETING AND TRANSLATING FOR THE CITY OF DAREBIN
In December 2002, Tam started working for Darebin Council as as
Customer Service Officer. "The Multicultural Department needed
a person with Vietnamese as a second language. I look after the
Vietnamese Australians that need help with interpreting or translating
either over the phone or at Darebin Customer Service Centres."
Tam is often the first 'port of call' for many Vietnamese who call
The City of Darebin. As a Customer Service Employee, Tam had to
learn all of Council's policies from the Environment, Rates, Garbage
Collection, Animal Registration and Planning etc. Darebin's Vietnamese
appreciate having someone to explain Council services, policy and
advice in their language.
