Diêm Nguyen

Interview date: 03 December 2012
Time: 3:00 pm
Place: Residence in Adelaide, QLD
Name: Nguyen Thi Diem
DOB: 01 May 1957
Place of birth: Quang Nam, Vietnam

Prior to leaving Vietnam, Nguyen worked at a local garment factory.

Nguyen and her husband left VN in June 1982. There were 13 people on the boat, the journey took 3 days 2 nights and was uneventful.

As they were approaching HK her boat met with a Chinese fishing boat. The fishermen gave them food and guided them to the dockyard.

After arrival, they spent three days at the dockyard for quarantine. At night, they went back to their boat to sleep.

After quarantine, they were taken to Jubilee refugee camp. After they settled down, Nguyen and husband found works at various factories. They learnt a few words in Chinese from friends to help them find works and to navigate themselves around by buses.

Several months later, Nguyen was pregnant with their first child so she stopped working.

Nguyen received regular maternity checkups and delivery at a local clinic. She described her childbirth experience in HK was normal.

Two years later, Nguyen, her husband and their new baby left HK to resettle in Australia.

Overall, Nguyen said that her experience in HK as a refugee was nice and she appreciates the HK Government and the people for their kind hospitality.