Oral History of Hao Nhien Vu

An oral history with Mr. Hao Nhien Vu, born in 1964 in Saigon, Vietnam. He grew up in Saigon before and during the Vietnam War. Both of his parents were researchers and microbiologists and tried to use their work connections to escape Vietnam after the war, but without success. However, his two brothers were able to escape Saigon in 1975. When the war ended, he was just finishing elementary school and continued onto middle school, but he had to transfer to multiple schools because the new government was shutting down these schools post-1975. He eventually went to Marie Curie High School in Saigon, which was previously an all-girl’s school before 1975. He flew with his parents out of Vietnam with the aid of a sponsor to Bangkok, then to Hong Kong, Japan, Seattle, and finally settling in West Lafayette, Indiana. Mr. Vu attended Purdue University where he graduated with a Masters in Mathematics and eventually obtained a job as an actuary at an insurance company in Indianapolis. He then moved to Los Angeles, California where he worked as an actuary at Allied Insurance. Afterwards, he decided to pursue a law degree at UCLA School of Law. He then became a journalist for Nguoi Viet Daily News and started teaching at various community colleges. He currently teaches math full-time at Coastline Community College and lives with his wife in Fountain Valley, California.Recorded Digitall