International Focus Magazine Vol. 3, #3 | Page 27

1. What are some of the Vietnamese’s contributions to business? • One of the first Vietnamese im- migrants to emmigrate to the United States in 1975, Mr. Trieu Phat (Frank Jao) established Little Saigon and built a supermarket, Asian Garden Mall on Bolsa Av- enue in Orange County, Califor- nia. Mr. Trieu Phat is also owner of Bridgecreek Development Corporation (construction com- pany) that has invested hundreds of millions in shopping centers and housing projects, mainly in Orange County. In 2002, Presi- dent George W. Bush appointed him as the chair of the Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF). (http://english.vietnamnet.vn/ fms/special-reports/134664/well- known-vietnamese-in-america. html) • Many Vietnamese-Americans in Silicon Valley work in computer, networking and aerospace indus- tries in management and profes- sional roles. • Other Vietnamese-Americans throughout America have opened supermarkets, restaurants, bánh mì bakeries, barber shops and auto- repair, personal services, repair and maintenance businesses, and nail and beauty salons. • Nationwide, 43 percent of nail salon technicians are Vietnamese Americans. In California, 85 per- cent of the nail technicians are Vietnamese Americans. • In the Gulf Coast region (Loui- siana, Texas, Mississippi and Ala- bama), Vietnamese Americans produce 45 to 85 percent of the region’s shrimp business. 2. What are some of the Vietnamese contributions to lifestyle in the U.S? Vietnamese parents take pride in their children’s educational achieve- ments and encourage their children to excel in school and to enter pro- fessional fields to achieve and enjoy a better life. Although there are many notable Vietnamese Americans, below are a few highlights taken from http:// english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/special- reports/134664/well-known-viet- namese-in-america.html. • Engineer Dinh Truong Han – winner of the environmental award of the White House in 2006 and selected as one of the 50 most influential leaders of America in 2006 by Public Works magazine. • Dr. Huynh Phuoc Duong – pro- fessor at the UCLA Davis Geffen School of Medicine and found- er of the Social Assistance Pro- gramme For Vietnam (SAP-VN). • Ms. Le Duy Loan – first woman and Asian elected as a Texas In- struments Senior Fell