The 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War's end brings poignant reflection for Vietnamese Americans, particularly for those who resettled in California. The day symbolizes both loss and rebirth, highlighted by stories such as that of Hong Pham, whose family uses traditional cooking to maintain cultural ties. Hong's father, Tung, endured hardship after being imprisoned due to his past military service, representing the struggles of many who fled their war-torn homeland. The dish miến gà , a nostalgic meal, signifies comfort and familial connection in their new life.
Every Vietnamese household needs a kitchen in their backyard or garage to do the 'smelly cooking', he joked, emphasizing that charring the aromatics is key to enhancing the flavor of miến gà .
Tung was sent to a Viet Cong re-education camp as punishment for supporting the Americans' war effort. He endured three years of starvation and hard labor.
The dish is comfort in a bowl - and special to Hong and his family, who are among the diaspora of people who fled Vietnam after the war ended a half century ago.
April 30 is a significant day for hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese who fled and resettled in California, a day of loss but also, a day of rebirth.
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