Where The Sea Takes Us
by Kim Huynh
Book Description
In the 1970s and 1980s, hundreds of thousands of
Vietnamese families set out on perilous journeys
in rickety boats to escape communist rule and
seek out a better life. Kim Huynh's family was
one of them. In this unique memoir, Kim traces
his parents' precarious lives, from their poor
villages in central and south Vietnam, through
relative affluence in Saigon, to their harrowing
experiences after the American withdrawal and
the fall of Saigon in 1975. As Kim explores his
parents' stories, he unveils the tragedy,
oppression and inner strength of ordinary people
struggling to survive in a country beset by
colonisation and ravaged by war.
This gripping story is not only an invaluable
piece of political history, but a moving tribute
from a son to his parents.
Winner, Varuna Awards for Manuscript Development
All royalties from sales of this book are
donated to Medecins Sans Frontieres Australia
Kim Huynh
Biography
Kim Huynh was born in Vietnam in 1977 and
arrived in Australia with his family as a
refugee in 1979. He grew up in Canberra working
in the family bakery, largely detached from his
Vietnamese relatives and heritage. In 1999 Kim
set out to find out where he came from. He
learnt to read Vietnamese, spent many hours
interviewing his parents and traveled back to
Vietnam on several occasions to speak to family
and friends. His findings became the basis for a
first-class honours degree and then a doctorate
in international relations. Where The Sea Takes
Us represents the culmination of Kim’s journey
and serves as a symbol of his dedication to his
family.
Kim won the Varuna Award for Manuscript
Development in 2004. He lectures courses in
refugee politics and political deception at the
Australian National University.
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