Dan was born in Saigon in the late 1970s. He was only twelve months old when he left Vietnam on a boat with his family. They were picked up by a British ship and after a brief stay at a refugee camp, Dan and his family were sent to Britain.
Dan was born in Saigon in the late 1970s. He has three brothers and one sister and his family lived in Saigon until the end of the Vietnam War.
As the communists grew in strength Dan’s parents became more and more concerned for their safety. When his uncle, who worked for the US Embassy, was airlifted out of Saigon, his parents made the decision to leave Vietnam.
‘That…had quite a big impact on my parents and …really opened their eyes…to the fact that things weren’t going well…’
His parents made plans in secret and after one aborted attempt, the family finally left Vietnam by boat with other refugees. Dan’s elder brother and aunt were separated from the family and had to leave Vietnam on a different boat.
After drifting into international waters between Vietnam and Malaysia, Dan’s family were picked up by a British ship. They stayed at a refugee camp in Singapore before being sent to Britain. Dan and his family arrived in Britain in late 1979.
They stayed temporarily at an RAF base and then they were offered the chance to settle in Bracknell. After a few years Dan’s father was offered a place to study computing at Greenwich Polytechnic and his parents moved to London.
Although Dan left Vietnam at a very young age, he was aware of his Vietnamese roots while he was growing up.
‘…I was aware of Vietnam because …you celebrate the traditions, that’s always a good reminder of things and also…my parents have got themselves into a social support network…’
Dan’s parents were keen that he should have a professional job. His sister was studying medicine and Dan chose to do the same. He is now a specialist registrar at an eye hospital and is aiming to become a consultant.
When Dan was a fourth year medical student, he decided to go to Vietnam for his elective. He spent several weeks working at a paediatric hospital in Saigon. This was the first of several visits to Vietnam.
‘You look in the mirror and you know you are Vietnamese but you feel British.’
While in Vietnam, Dan feels very aware of his British identity.
‘…You look in the mirror and you know you are Vietnamese but you feel British and in Vietnam…the term for you is “Viet Kieu” which is “Vietnamese from abroad”…’
When Dan becomes a consultant he hopes to do volunteer work and his first priority is to work in Vietnam.
‘…I do feel an affiliation to it [Vietnam] and I recognise the fact that this is where my family originated from… I do think it is beneficial to yourself to actually go out to another country…to help how you can…’
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