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Burden of Remembering: The Vietnam War and Its Aftermath
Black April Commemoration: A Conversation with Việt Thanh Nguyễn

Black April Commemoration: A Conversation with Việt Thanh Nguyễn

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Black April Commemoration: A Conversation with Viet Thanh NguyenFollowing the Fall of Saigon, nearly 2 million people fled Vietnam, creating one of the first modern refugee crises. Dr. Việt Thanh Nguyễn, author of “The Sympathizer,” himself an oceanic refugee (aka the “boat people”), will talk about the Vietnamese American experience, the Vietnamese diaspora and the effects the war has on these refugees as well as the American public.

Dr. Nguyễn is the Aerol Arnold Chair of English and Professor of English and American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California. His first novel, “The Sympathizer” won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction among other accolades.

Join the Vietnamese American Youth Alliance as we host an evening of conversation with Việt Thanh Nguyễn from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union auditorium Tuesday, April 30, 2019.

This event is free for the public. There is a suggested donation of $20.

VAYA Sponsored By California Coast Credit Union at Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair

VAYA Sponsored By California Coast Credit Union at Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair

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VAYA is proud to announce that we will be participating in the 31st Annual Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair this Saturday, April 23th! Make sure to come out and learn more about the Vietnamese culture and many more!

Special thanks to our virtuous sponsor, California Coast Credit Union, for funding VAYA’s entry in this amazing event and their continual support in helping us and other non-profit organizations make the community a better place!

Make sure to go check out the California Coast Credit website to learn more about everything they do, to not only help you with your spending and finances but also how they give back to the community!

https://www.calcoastcu.org

So come out and learn something! We hope to see YOU this Saturday!

VAYA Seeking Nominations for E-Board and Staff Positions

VAYA Seeking Nominations for E-Board and Staff Positions

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“Leadership is not about the next election, it’s about the next generation.” — Simon Sinek

Are you a young professional or student who wants to better serve your community?

The Vietnamese-American Youth Alliance is currently seeking nominations for individuals to serve on its executive board.

Nominations are open until April 19, 2016. Voting will be on May 1, 2016. A two-year term for the newly-elected board members will start in June 2016.

We are also looking for new volunteer staff to help lead the organization to new heights.

Learn more about the e-board, including current members, officers and election process as well as submit a nomination at the following links:

 

Annual Vietnamese New Year Festival Celebrates ‘Spring of Love’

Annual Vietnamese New Year Festival Celebrates ‘Spring of Love’

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[youtube width=”640″ height=”360″]https://youtu.be/dBFsDSrxs18[/youtube]

Mira Mesa – Love is in the air as the Vietnamese-American Youth Alliance presents the Spring of Love, a free city-wide Tết festival of games, prizes, food, and entertainment.

This year’s Tết festival falls on Valentine’s Day weekend, Feb. 12-14, 2016, and will emphasize the different kinds of love that we all share. For the New Year 2016, folks are celebrating the unifying love of the Vietnamese people, culture, and legacy. Following the Valentine’s theme, visitors can wish for eternal love at the spectacular wishing tree, capture photos with a romantic photo set, or purchase special roses for loved ones.

2016 preview posterFor the adventurous, there will be an authentic monkey bridge and other historical sets to take in. The Tết festival will be a host of enough interactive fun and entertainment for everybody!

“VAYA started from a group of young adults attempting to reconnect with their seemingly distant homeland. This passion grew into loving their local San Diego community and wanting to spread the rich traditions and culture that Vietnam has to offer as well as social awareness,” VAYA President Andy Nguyen said. “Since then it has become our mission to give San Diegans and Americans a culturally rich experience that expresses the love and efforts of the people. Everything we do reflects this mission and the values that make it possible.”

The festival, which attracts around 20,000 people each year, promises fun for the whole family with such activities as carnival rides and games, authentic Vietnamese food, lion dancing and firecrackers.

Free entertainment programs, such as high-quality musical acts, the Miss Vietnam of San Diego Pageant and a Cultural Village allows for direct immersion into Vietnamese culture.

Festival Dates and Hours are: Friday, Feb. 12, 2016 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

Keep Tết Free!

Keep Tết Free!

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Keep Tet Free

Can you believe that a young group of high school and college students are known to host the BEST Asian Lunar New Year’s (Tết) Festival in San Diego?!

This is our 10th anniversary, so expect it to be HUGE for San Diego! Our festival has proven to be one of the largest three-day cultural festivals in San Diego, attracting more than 25,000 people every year! This upcoming year, the 2015 San Diego Tết Festival falls on the weekend of Feb. 20-22 at Mira Mesa Community Park. Best of all, it’s free to attend.

In order to make this festival BEYOND successful, we need your help and support. We are hosting an exciting fundraising banquet to the public! This fun semi-formal event will cost $30 per person (tickets are avilable now!)

It will include:

  • Buffet-Style Dinner: Spinach Butter Salmon, Coconut Shrimp, Teriyaki Chicken, Traditional Vietnamese Springrolls, Solmen Salad, Green Salad, Chocolate dessert dipping fountain… etc.
  • Silient AND Live Auction: Variety of Services as well as Rare/Unique/Limited Items that you can not get anywhere else! There will be at least 10 services and 10 items to auction!
  • Raffles: Lots of valuable priceless items that can be yours if you are feeling lucky
  •  Entertainment: Live performances, music, and singers on our main stage to give you a night to remember

That’s just some of things we have planned for the banquet. The rest is kept secret as a surprise for you.

Remember that the San Diego Tết Festival is hosted by a group of young students who not only have school, part-time jobs, but also are overexerting themselves to give the city an amazing fun-filled festival. So please come out and support the cause!

Help Keep Tết Free for San Diego!