Cam Ai Tran and Hap Tu Thai and their two children escaped Vietnam by boat in 1979. Thirteen others on the same boat died and were buried at sea. Tran and Thai are now the publishers of the “Saigon Times”, based in Rosemead, California. For ten years they worked tirelessly to build a memorial to the Boat People, including the tens of thousands who died at sea. In the Spring of 2009 the Vietnamese Boat People Monument was dedicated in Westminster Memorial Park’s Asian Garden of Peaceful Eternity.
Lam An Le’s 1000 km Hike from San Jose to Little Saigon
Honoring Vietnamese Boat People: A Journey of Legacy and Remembrance
One Thousand Steps
for the ones who left, and the ones who carry them still
One thousand steps across the sea,
each one a prayer, a breath, a plea.
A wooden boat, a sky so wide,
a mother’s hands, a child’s cry.
The stars were maps, the waves were trials,
we measured hope in endless miles.
With every step, we left behind
a home, a name, a piece of mind.
But still we walked—on salted decks,
on foreign shores, on paper checks.
We built again, with trembling grace,
one thousand steps in a stranger’s place.
Now in our voices, you might hear
the thousand steps that brought us here—in lullabies and quiet songs,
in stories short and silences long.
Một Ngàn Bước
dành cho những người đã ra đi, và những người vẫn đang mang họ theo
Một ngàn bước vượt trùng khơi,
mỗi bước là một lời khấn, một hơi thở, một nguyện lời.
Chiếc thuyền gỗ, trời mênh mông,
tay mẹ run, con thơ khóc ròng.
Sao là bản đồ, sóng là thử thách,
hy vọng đong bằng dặm dài bất tận.
Mỗi bước chân, bỏ lại sau lưng
quê hương, tên tuổi, một phần tâm hồn.
Vẫn bước tiếp — trên boong tàu mặn,
trên đất lạ, trong đơn xin đầy chữ đắn đo.
Ta dựng lại, bằng lòng can đảm run rẩy,
một ngàn bước giữa nơi chẳng hề quen.
Giờ trong giọng nói, bạn sẽ nghe
ngàn bước đã đưa chúng tôi về đây —trong lời ru và khúc ca thầm,
trong truyện ngắn và lặng câm sâu thẳm.
About the Hike
On April 30, 2025, Lam An Le will begin a 1,000 km hike from San Jose to Little Saigon in Westminster, California, to honor the Vietnamese Boat People who fled Vietnam after the fall of Saigon. The hike will serve as a tribute to those who perished at sea, celebrate the survivors, and raise awareness about the Vietnamese refugee experience in the U.S.
The Symbolism of the Journey
Each kilometer of Lam An Le’s hike represents one year of the Vietnamese Boat People’s presence in the United States, starting from 1975. The journey will begin at Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, home to one of the largest Vietnamese populations outside Vietnam, and will conclude in Little Saigon, Westminster, a central hub of the Vietnamese American community.
Support Le’s Journey
Lam An Le has been leading a community of Vietnamese hikers in Northern California since 2021. Under his leadership, the group has grown rapidly, bringing together people with a shared interest in hiking and cultural connection.
This journey is about more than just covering 1,000 kilometers—it’s about honoring a powerful history and creating space for connection, healing, and storytelling. Whether you’re able to support from afar or walk alongside me for a few steps, there are meaningful ways to be part of this mission.
- Donate: Your donation, no matter the size, will help
- Join Me: If you’re nearby, I’d love for you to join me on this hike. Let’s walk together, share our stories, and make this journey something special.
- Spread the Word: Share this with friends and family so that more people can learn about this project and the incredible stories of survival and hope.
To support the hike, visit the GoFundMe page.