Saigon 75
Documentary
​Saigon 75 is an inspirational documentary. It shines a light on the often-untold stories of what happened to the people of Southern Vietnam, as they were forced to leave their country as the American military pulled out, leaving Saigon and the South, to the invading communist army of the North.
About the project
Thuy Hoang has teamed up with TV Producer/ Director Martin Johnson and Director of Photography Patrick Acum, who have a raft of credits including Netflix, National Geographic, Disney+ and BBC TV.
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Currently in production this high-end glossy documentary is a labour of love for Vietnamese Immigrant Thuy, who is no stranger to TV. She reached the quarter finals of BBC MasterChef and has her own Vietnamese food YouTube channel.
It’s fifty years ago since the Vietnam War ended and through never seen before interviews Saigon 75 will tell compelling stories of the people displaced from their home. Many were US allies including people who had served in the South Vietnamese army and navy fighting alongside the Americans.
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Some were rapidly transported from Saigon by helicopter onto the decks of the last US aircraft carriers to escape. Others were orphans who were airlifted from Saigon on cargo planes to be adopted in the US and Australia. And some became the well-known "boat people" making life-threatening journeys crammed into small boats on the high seas.
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Thuy's father was a naval officer who stayed in Saigon after its fall. He was sent to a "re-education camp" for three years before being welcomed into the UK with his family as a political refugee. For the first year of his incarceration, Thuy’s mother was left supporting two small children with little money not knowing if he was alive or dead. The family lived with hope leaving an emotional scar that exists today.
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Like many Vietnamese migrants, Thuy has become part of the diaspora communities that have been set up across the globe, but for her and many others questions of identity and her past are unanswered. In this film, she will for the first time get to sit down with her father who has promised to answer these questions.
The stories of Saigon 75 will resonate not just with Vietnamese immigrants around the world but with anyone who has been forced to leave their home, their culture, their families and belongings behind to start a new life in a foreign country.
Please support us
If your story echoes our documentary and you are keen to contribute as an interviewee or support us in other ways, please get in touch. We would love to hear from you. If you are a business too, and can support us financially or by spreading word about the project, we would be delighted to hear from you.
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