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Celebratory parade in front of the National Archives in Washington, DC.

 

Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon title bar

Who are Vietnamese Americans? They are doctors, teachers, salesmen, and soldiers. They are as diverse as America itself and an integral part of this nation’s identity. Yet each member of the Vietnamese community has a unique story about his or her family, about the horrors of the war in their home country, and about the migration to America.

Boat people fleeing from VietnamProduced by the Smithsonian’s Asian Pacific American Program and SITES, Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon recounts a journey more than 30 years in the making. Images of overcrowded refugee camps across the Pacific Rim provide a visual starting point, conveying the profound sense of displacement experienced by war-weary people en route to the United States. When the U.S. government opened its gates to thousands of Vietnamese in 1975, migrants faced the idea of permanent resettlement with a mixture of survivors’ guilt and overwhelming relief.

Once here, equality and acceptance were not always guaranteed, but Vietnamese Americans have adapted to life in the United States while maintaining their linguistic, cultural, and religious traditions. A celebration of cultural diversity, Exit Saigon explores civic and political issues as well as the intergenerational tensions experienced by families as they negotiate new lives in a new country.

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Exhibition Specifications

Contents 90 panels with text and photographs arranged in 12 thematic clusters, 14 life-size contour cut-outs
Supplemental

Educational and promotional resources, 2 videos (venue to provide equipment)

Participation Fee

$1,500 per 10-week booking period, plus outgoing shipping

Running Feet (Meters) 150 running feet
Crates 7, est.
Weight 2,000 pounds, est.
Category History & Culture
Security Limited
Shipping Outgoing
SITES Contacts

Ed Liskey, 202.633.3142 (Scheduling)
Jeff Thompson, 202.633.3115 (Content)

Tour Begins Winter 2007
   
 
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Tour Itinerary

Dates Host Institution Status
9/22/2007 12/2/2007 California State University, Fullerton/Viet Art Center, Garden Grove, CA Booked
12/22/2007 3/2/2008   Call for Availability
3/7/2008 6/1/2008 San Jose City College, San Jose, CA Booked
6/21/2008 8/31/2008 Houston Community College System, Houston, TX Booked
9/20/2008 11/30/2008   Call for Availability
12/20/2008 3/1/2009   Call for Availability
3/21/2009 5/31/2009 Utah Cultural Celebration Center, West Valley City Booked
6/20/2009 8/30/2009   Call for Availability
9/19/2009 11/29/2009   Call for Availability
12/19/2009 2/28/2010   Call for Availability
3/20/2010 5/30/2010   Call for Availability
6/19/2010 8/29/2010   Call for Availability
       
     
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Related Publications
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Press Release
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