My father is the most important person in my life and we share everything together. However, the experiences he would never share with me come from the time he was a Vietnamese boat person, trapped in a Malaysian refugee camp for nearly two years. Thank you so much Carina for giving me some insight into what it must have been like for him. It makes me all the more grateful that he survived through it and I am so incredibly proud to call him my father.

I love the Vietnamese here in the USA. My father in law was an officer for the police in Saigon. He went to reeducation camp for 6 years. They only let him out because he almost died. My wife and her mom had to go visit her dad to bring medicines and such. His reeducation Camp was by a mountain kinda by Cambodia.

one of the ted talks that made me tear up

Your story is inspiring and powerful. I am a boat people as well. I am very proud of you. Thank you for sharing

Thank you for sharing these powerful stories, Carina. I am a former refugee mtself. My tears just keep flowing out of my eyes as I'm listening to your speech. I posted this video Om my Facebook page. May God always bless you.

I am reading through the comments for this video and I cannot understand for the life of me why people are trying to find the differences between the Vietnamese boat people and the current refugee crisis. Seeing this kind of discrimination, especially from former refugees is very disheartening. Regardless of the political, historical, social situations, these are still human beings searching for the lives that we all take for granted. Let's give them the respect that we would want.

makes me tear up every time i hear stories of boat people. it is rough and tough. many people perished

All the blessings and love for these Vietnamese immigrants. Their stories resonate with us, Americans, whose ancestors had to flee their homelands leaving their homes and lands behind to escape from religious and political persecution. I welcome these Vietnamese boat people just like I would for my great grandparents from France and Scotland when they had to flee their homelands for religious and political freedom.

Thankyou for sharing. Your story moved me. I was a refugee too. I hope I can make a difference in the world too as you have done and continue to do. Thankyou so much.

My family was one of them the man who save us and tell them who never forget him

Thank you for speaking to the world

First of all, I am truly sorry for what you and what many lives went through. Thank you so much for sharing and you did an amazing job on stage with such a multitude of people. Regardless, I strongly feel that at the end, you it came out from a bad storm to see that beautiful rainbow. You're resilient character shines brightly and I'm very proud of you! ^^ I am very touched by your story of that treacherous journey and in a way, although I can't imagine what you went through ma'am, I can feel the pain of not ever setting foot back home ever. I got to the states in 2001 and yes, 15 years and still counting of not seeing home and hurts each day beyond the word homesick can describe. In addition, being a single mother of 3 God-given children living in a place I still can't wholeheartedly 100% call home isn't easy. Your story made me got lumps in my throat the moment you use the term "boat people" and that's when it really hits home. Why? Currently, my boyfriend is one of the refugees from last year's huge wave of refugees that fled home from the Middle East because of war and persecution. Thank God the Lord allow him to made it to Finland from September and this Saturday, June 2, 2016, he will get the answer whether he gets Finnish Citizenship or not. If he gets rejected and gets sent back, he will be killed.*heart-wrenching but it's 100% the truth* He not only had shared stories of ,excruciating, tormented walks in the jungle due to lack of food,water, proper sleep and hygiene in Turkey but also up to being one of the " boat people " crossing the Mediterranean Sea to get to Greece. He also sent me raw VDO clip of him and his group running away from the explosions thrown by the Serbian officials as they tried to enter Hungary. Children, both women and men ran aimlessly for their lives uncertain where to run to in this huge field of nowhere surrounded by mountains. He also shared moments he had thought of just jumping into the Mediterranean Sea because he had seen so many lives were lost right in front with his own eyes. Throughout his painful journey, each calls from him hearing his voice, knowing that he is still alive and him updating his Exodus, makes me feel "like or as if" I had taken this journey with him too. I've been praying about my boyfriend's upcoming day and just like that, I was lead to your clip. Please keep him and many other struggling refugees out there who have a pure heart of wanting a safer and better lives in your prayers. There’s absolutely nothing wrong to fight for that dream in the best possible way there is to, even if that means to be called a "boat people" or refugees. Thank you for listening to my story and thank you for what you're doing today in helping the refugees.

Hello Survivor, a Hero you are. My apology to call you that but truly after listening to you story immediately it resonates to my own life. A refugee in the myself. You are a strong woman to narrate such a painful story of your life. Your resilience is out of this world. Keep on doing a good job and hopefully one day I will meet you in person and give you a big hug. God bless you and your family.

Thanks for sharing. Your story will be a of million stories that I will use to educate my kids " Vietnamese American ". One more time , thank you Ma'am.

Carina, you are my hero!

Be Inquisitive - Imagine... What excellent advice. I am humbled by these people and ashamed of my government. Thank you for coming to Australia.

I lost it..... I watched to the end and it just hit me all at once and I lost it.........

My father was a sergeant in the ARVN. After the Fall of Saigon, he was sent to the re-education camp. While my mom family were sent to the new economic zone in Binh Duong. In 1979, my father got released and left VN on the boat to Palau Tengah, Malaysia. My mom left VN to Hong Kong in 1980. Life were harsh in VN back in the days with the communist. I found your story is very inspirational and will make me appreciate what I have rn.

Best TED Talk Ever

Carina you are an inspiration! I love you.

Just same my family case my mom had 10 kids die right after as soon she on call "economic, new zone " the last of her kids 2 years old so sad when she die she was 4 months pregnant 😥💔 thx for sharing THANKSSSSSSSS to CANADA

You make me cry, Carina. I am so proud of You. Thank You. Thank You for sharing this video clip. Keep up good work. Receive my respects eventhough you are at the age of my daughter. [NLG73]

I never forget. I also was one of the many. RIP who perished on the way. AMEN. THANK USA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, THE FREE WORLD. THANK YOU.

I wouldn’t exist today if my father hadn’t come to the US by boat. My father was only 12 years old at the time.

I heard the story too, but it's the version of what happened back at "home", the 30 long years after 75'.

Did I miss where she explained what the name Lyma means? Why the pilot asked her baby to be named that?

it's a tragedy story in Vietnam history.

Thank you so much for sharing all this information …………… The Ways So Us We’re Was As Same ……… Thank You Again ……………

❤❤❤

15:06 when the refugee is sus

gibs me dat

Bludger

It’s a choice for many.. We had refugees from Syria and Afghanistan flooding my country with the thousands…but yet so many millions also stayed in their motherland… that means the ones that went away, CHOSE to be refugees. Nobody FORCED them to go, they decided they want to flee.. Also why the heck are refugees always being sent to the west? Why don’t they just go to the closest country near them? Why go all the way across the world? Is almost like they do it on purpose…cus they know where the wealth and peace is.. but once they come they start demanding things and complaining! When instead they should be just grateful they’re not in a war zone anymore.. and that the country accepted them at all!

I respect the contents and the story that she shared; however, I PERSONALLY do not really like some parts of it. Yes, of course, at some periods in life we have to do something that we are kind of forced to do, but please don't say that you did not have another options. You did. Please just say that this option could make your life better (regardless of other people's lives and the "root" of you); that's why you are willing to leave your country. Just admit that we are human and we are selfish because sometimes we need to do so. Anyway, it's the past (maybe I have never experienced something like that, so I cannot feel it the way you feel) and just let it past. Vietnam has now become different and many Vietnamese people now have a very good life, not all but many (as in any other developing countries). I come from Vietnam and I am proud of that, knowing that there are still a lot of things that are not good in Vietnam. If Vietnam was the US, than there would be no story to tell and nothing to discuss. It's the diversity of life and it's YOUR choice to steer your ship of life. Best wishes!

Let’s people in this country(USA) who wants to turn USA to be socialism listen to this story...

Any man or woman not willing to fight for their country and freedom is worthy of neither their life, freedom or our donations. Coward.

Viva Socialist Republic of Vietnam!

You can escape as a refugee or hold your ground and fight to the last. You always have a choice.

LIAR!

You said that, but today all of us know that.: Being a refugee is your choice! Have a look Vietnam goverment now, so peaceful and wealthy.

So sad to hear your specch. But it is not about your story. It because your family behaviour. Your Father served nation' enemy then your mother did not want to let her children to save country when other enemy attacked and killed our people. Do you know thousand of vietnamese mother in everywhere of Vietnam sent thier children to fight and grant independence. Shame of you.

This women is not a genuine refugee. Her family were just expected to defend their own country. The suffering they experienced was due to their abandonment of their own country. If the USA came under attack, would she just run away, as she ran away from her own country?