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This is a picture of Sai Vang and his family in the Ban Vinai refugee camp in Thailand in 1991. Image is provided by PaNhia Vang's family
After the Secret War ended in Laos many families decided to flee and seek refuge in the neighboring country, Thailand. The journey to Thailand was a tough journey for many Hmong families. Those who decided to seek refuge hid in the mountains where many mothers had to drug their small children and babies with opium to keep them quiet. This was done to avoid being caught by the Pathet Lao. Those who chose to run to Thailand had to cross the Mekong River, in which many lost their lives due to being shot by the Pathet Lao or drowning. Oftentimes families were separated from each other to avoid being caught. (PBS, 2019).
When the Americans pulled out of Laos at the end of the Vietnam War, many Hmong had to compete with each other to get on an airlift that would take them to safety in Thailand. These airlifts were only intended to take high-ranking Hmong military men and their families. With the fierce competition, only about 2,500 Hmong were able to get on the airlift and evacuate the area. Those who were on the airlift were taken to a refugee camp in Ban Namphong, Thailand (Vang 2010). According to Her and Buley-Meissner (2012), the first group of refugees who fled on foot was taken by Thai border police to a refugee camp in Nong Khai, Thailand. This refugee camp had to be split between the Lao refugee and Hmong refugees. Upon arrival, they were not given much but a plastic sheet that covers them when it rains. The Hmong refugees had to build their shelter out of branches, twine, plastic sheets, and whatever materials they found. The food that they were being given was vegetable gruel and from time to time there would be small pieces of meat being added (Her & Buley-Meissner, 2012; Mote, 2004). Eventually, the main camp for Hmong refugees was set in Ban Vinai. By 1989 Ban Vinai was considered the highest living standard for refugee camps in all of South East Asia. Schools, markets, and Hmong businesses were finally set up in the camps (Her & Buley-Meissner, 2012).
After years of seeking refuge and living in refugee camps, Hmong families were slowly getting sponsored to live in the United States and resettled in the United States. According to Gerdner (2015), based on the 2010 census there are about 260,073 Hmong living in the United States. As the Hmong adapt to a new society and culture, they are slowly losing their Hmong culture and language.
This is a picture of Sai Vang and See Moua's first year in the United States in 1994. Image is provided by PaNhia Vang's family
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