First-Gen Resources

Being "first-generation" can mean many things! Most commonly, this phrase is used in the US refer to anyone who is the first in their family to go to and graduate from college. This can include you and/or your siblings! 

On top of that, you may also be a first-generation citizen in a new country if you, your parents, and/or grandparents are refugees or immigrants. The phrase also encompasses the first of a generation to be born in a new country!

This page is designed to connect young Vietnamese American students to the overall Vietnamese language and culture at-large, which may be difficult to be immersed in or access in many places across the USA. 

Provided here are public resources and national/international efforts by organizations we admire:

Want to learn about common Viet customs & ceremonies?

It can be difficult to navigate dual identities as a first-generation, Vietnamese American. Most of us don't have formal resources to learn about traditional Vietnamese customs and rites of passage. We aren't able to learn directly from our parents due to language and cultural barriers. Our team has gathered relevant info on a separate page to share everything we're learning along the way!

Want to learn Vietnamese?

VieTalk offers virtual beginner and intermediate Vietnamese language courses. The nonprofit project was founded by Tien Truong, undergraduate at UC Berkeley, and aims to offer free Vietnamese classes to the community. Tien is not a member of An Bang Village, but has taught more than 300 students to date from all speaking proficiency backgrounds. We highly recommend this amazing resource for learning Vietnamese. 

Want to connect with other Viet & English speakers?

The Vietnamese-English Exchange Discord Server is a place for connecting with others interested in exchanging Vietnamese and English language and culture. Learning a language is hard and looking for someone to practice this language with is almost impossible without the internet. Luckily, this is a place where people love Vietnam and its language.

Want to learn about the Vietnamese Diaspora?

The Vietnamese Boat People podcast is stories of hope, survival and resilience. Between 1975 to 1992, almost two million Vietnamese risked their lives to flee oppression and hardship after the Vietnam War, in one of the largest mass exoduses in modern history. Escaping by boat, many found freedom in foreign land, many were captured and brutally punished, and many did not survive the journey. This population of people are known as the ‘Vietnamese Boat People‘ and these are their stories. Visit www.vietnameseboatpeople.org for more details. Get involved with their organization as an Ambassador. 

Want to to ask questions about your own family's diaspora history?

The Vietnamese Boat People organization created the VBP Conversation Kit in hopes to empower those interested in capturing and preserving the stories of the Vietnamese community. The kit is designed to be a fun activity for two people, a small group or an entire family. It includes a set of questions in four categories to help spark the conversation, a list of major historical events to provide context and the basics on how to record the conversations to preserve it. Download the kit on their website.

Want to learn about successful Vietnamese in society?

The Vietnamese Podcast is hosted by Kenneth Nguyen where he spotlights notable Vietnamese professionals in sectors around the world. Each episode explores the creative process of individuals shaping the diversity of what it means to be Vietnamese--as a local, born and raised, or as a third culture kid, and even the divisions that separate us politically and culturally. This show can take multiple directions, but what it will do is show Vietnamese from a transpacific lens, in all its facets and complexities.

Additional learning resources