Asian American / Asian Research Institute
The City University of New York
CUNY FORUM Volume 12:1 commemorates five decades since the Fall of Sài Gòn and the Vietnamese refugee diaspora—one of the largest forced migration movements of the 20th century. This issue brings together leading scholars, artists, and community voices to explore the lasting impacts of the Việt Nam War, refugee resettlement, and Vietnamese American community formation.
In Khanh Ho’s poignant personal short story, a lost pacifier plunges into the ocean during a refugee journey, marking a moment of irreversible loss and adaptation.
Army veteran Michael Wong reflects on America’s persistent war path—from Iraq and Ukraine to threats against China—urging a pivot to peace and cooperation instead of endless empire-building.
A retrospective of Vietnamese American artist Long Nguyễn’s work, featuring paintings and the monumental spirit boat sculpture ‘Our Boat,’ commemorates 50 years since the Fall of Sài Gòn, exploring exile, transformation, and becoming through ‘Tales of Yellow Skin’ series.
Đức Nguyễn traces the evolution of his documentary Forever Spring, blending grassroots archival discovery of the Trường Xuân refugee ship with stories of intergenerational trauma and mental health healing in Vietnamese American communities.
Yến Lê Espiritu reflects on her evacuation as a Vietnamese refugee, U.S. militarized refuge policies, and the need for solidarity amid ongoing global displacements.