Event Pulls In $63,500 for Vietnam Flood Relief

More than 1,000 people on Saturday attended the largest local fund-raiser yet to benefit victims of the flooding in Vietnam, raising about $63,500 for the Red Cross Relief Fund.

Proceeds from the event will be used to purchase food and clothing and help with other relief efforts in the central portion of Vietnam, where the worst flooding in more than 30 years killed 500 and destroyed thousands of homes. In one province, Thua Thien-Hue, more than 300 have died.

For some of those who attended Saturday’s fund-raiser in Little Saigon, the disaster was a disturbing reminder of an even greater flood that hit Vietnam in 1964.

“This brings back so many memories,” said Garden Grove resident Hao Trung, who was in his 20s when the 1964 flood destroyed his home. “It was so horrible. I saw homes disappear and people die.”

Ivan Le, 27, of Lawndale left Vietnam when he was 7 years old, but he can clearly remember his life in Central Vietnam. He finds it hard to speak about the disaster because he still has family there, and their future is uncertain.

“Right now, I can’t even get my words out,” Le said. “Why is this happening? I feel so much sorrow for the country. I returned to Vietnam in 1994 to visit where I grew up, and now it’s gone. It’s like taking a part of my life away. I’m speechless.”

What began as an idea from a group of young Vietnamese professionals for a small charity event grew by word of mouth and through the help of the Vietnamese entertainment industry.

More than 40 Vietnamese artists, writers and entertainers donated items to be sold, including CDs, calendars and videotapes. Many also made appearances at the event to autograph the items.

“Money is the best way to boost the economy of the area affected most by the disaster,” said Rebecca Long of the American Red Cross.

“Our goal is to raise as much money as possible and send it straight over to Vietnam for the food and clothes,” event coordinator Michelle Tran said. “This is not a political or commercial event. It’s simply charity.”

Four popular female singers in the Vietnamese community, Thanh Truc, Luu Bich, Ky Duyen and Y Lan, went door to door in the Asian Garden Mall to ask for permission to use the parking lot for the fund-raiser.

“This is different from giving money on TV,” said Luu Bich, who canceled a flight to Arizona to help with the event. “Instead of just writing a check, I go out and be active. It makes life more meaningful and I appreciate it more.”

The organizers, who are mostly younger Vietnamese Americans, hope the fund-raiser shows older generations that young people care about what happens in their homeland.

“The older generations will see that young people are not self-centered,” Thanh Truc said. “We have a heart. We just want to be role models for the even younger generations.”