Today was the final full day of filming with Che and his best friend, fellow South Vietnamese veteran Khiem. It was our honor to follow them on this of all days — April 30, 2026.
51 years ago, they were fighting to the end to defend their nation.
You’re looking at the last captain of the last rescue mission of the Vietnam War, and the last soldier pulled from that battlefield at Xuân Lộc. The stories they could tell you…
From Nguyễn Phúc Sông Hương’s account of that moment:
“Tự nhiên Chế cảm thấy có một sức mạnh mà anh chưa từng có trong thân thể mình, anh nhảy lên, vươn hai tay chụp vội và nắm chặt càng trực thăng vừa lúc chiếc trực thăng bay là là về phía trước.”
Translation: “Suddenly Che felt a strength in his body he had never known before. He leapt up, threw out both hands, and grabbed hold of the helicopter skid just as the aircraft lifted away.”
Help us finish Che’s Last Stand. Let history and their first-person testimonials guide us forward.
/division-18
Help. I’m trying to finish a project I started more than ten years ago! Read about CHE’S LAST STAND in the post above. Donation link is in bio and I’m open to your questions and ideas for getting this documentary short film across the finish line. Stat.
Pitch deck and work samples available upon request. Let’s do this!
Great to be out of our zoom windows and seeing both familiar and new faces in person! Thank you @asiasociety@asiasocietysf@seattleartmuseum and bestie moderator @thanhtan , I had a blast talking story and sharing thoughts on the state of movie entertainment, diversity, and Asian American culture.
In this age of corporate mergers and acquiescence, it is clearer that nothing from that world is handed to us, the fight is in our hands. The cure for division is community, so if you want to see more authentic voices in film and music and pop culture, please support, patronize, and champion the humans who are forging independent creative paths!
photo credit: @alabastrophoto
Been following @tuan.andrew.nguyen ’s storytelling for some time and thoroughly appreciated his presentation @peacetreesvietnam ’s 30th anniversary luncheon in Seattle. He transforms remnants into modern art, shedding light on the fact more than 105,000 people have been injured or killed by explosives left over from the war in Vietnam. PeaceTrees has long addressed the legacy of war there by removing dangerous explosives and educating local Vietnamese about the ongoing risks they face — critical work that has been severely impacted by the current administration’s massive cuts to foreign aid.
Learn more about PeaceTree’s mission and proven record of helping civilians:
Check out Tuan’s work, too. He’s just been named one of this year’s MacArthur geniuses — joining other incredi-Viets @viet.thanh.nguyen.writer , @ocean_vuong and @anmynx . /fellows/class-of-2025/tuan-andrew-nguyen
This Veterans Day, please join me in honoring the service and sacrifice of South Vietnam’s often-forgotten soldiers and civil servants.
Earlier this year in Seattle’s Little Saigon, we organized Portraits of Resilience — a day of storytelling, community archiving, and portrait-making to recognize these living elders and share their legacies with future generations. Guided by Pulitzer Prize–winning photojournalist @yamphoto , a local photography team led by Truong Nguyen created powerful images of resilience and pride. Storytelling circles were facilitated by Dr. Tam Dinh, with the support of dedicated volunteers.
We are deeply grateful to the partners and supporters who made this gathering possible:
✨ @kc4culture — This project was supported, in part, by a 4Culture grant.
✨ @flsseattle – Co-hosted and helped us access and hold the event at Nisei Veterans Memorial Hall.
✨ City of Seattle’s SmART Ventures – Provided us with a small, meaningful grant.
✨ Tamarind Tree and veteran @dedelytran – Generously provided the food that brought us together.
These portraits and stories remind us that the fight for freedom did not end in 1975 — it continues through memory, community, and the resilience passed down across generations. With more support, we hope to hold space like this again.
📸 Color photos: Khoi Duong
📷 B&W portraits: @truongwin_ & our amazing team
✨ I’ve spent the past few months digging through MOHAI’s archives as part of my Curator’s Fellowship — and wow, what a journey. Each photo, each clipping, each face tells a story of courage, creativity and rebuilding.
I’m starting to feature some of the people I want to learn more about for an exhibit we’re developing for next year. If you recognize anyone or have connections to these stories — I’d love to hear from you.
Come see what I’ve found so far and help shape the next chapter of this community archive.
🎶 BONUS: My @seavinylsociety homie DJ @ryanfreshhh will be in the house spinning Southeast Asian beats for us all evening!
👇
@mohaiseattle How did Southeast Asian refugees rebuild their lives in Seattle after war and displacement—and what stories have yet to be told?
Join 2025 MOHAI Curator’s Fellow Thanh Tân for an evening of reflection and discovery. Drawing from rarely seen photos, newspaper clippings, and community documents from the 1970s and 1980s, Thanh shares new insights from her research into MOHAI’s archives, shedding light on the early resettlement years of Southeast Asian immigrants and refugees in the Seattle area.
Register at the link in bio or /event/curators-fellowship-reframing-seattles-southeast-asian-histories/
✨ÁCCENTED✨ Season 6 is almost here! To celebrate the upcoming premiere, we’re spotlighting the incredible team behind the podcast.
Viet Thanh Nguyen, Philip Nguyen, Annika Le, Mel Kritikopoulos, and DJ Âm Thanh cultivate spaces for powerful conversations within the Vietnamese and Southeast Asian diaspora. Together, they amplify the stories of writers, artists, cultural workers, and community members through ÁCCENTED.
📍Join us LIVE on Zoom this Wednesday, September 17 at 6pm PT for the Season 6 premiere featuring National Book Award nominee Cathy Linh Che and Chris Santiago!
🔗Register at bit.ly/ACCENTED48 or click the link in our bio!
🎶 The final days are here! 🎶
It’s your last chance to experience Kho Tàng Nhạc Vàng / South Vietnam Music Archive before everything goes back into the vault.
📍 Come find me on the top floor of the historic King Street Station:
🗓 First Thursday, Aug 7 | I’ll be on site curating until 8PM
🗓 Saturday, Aug 9 | Final day! Drop by 11–5 to explore ephemera, listen to rare tracks and say hi
This artist residency has been an absolute dream. Deep gratitude to @seaofficeofarts for believing in the power of analog and supporting this journey. And big love to @kc4culture for keeping the momentum going and my day ones @seavinylsociety for always having my back!
📸: Bruce Clayton Tom
#NhacVangArchive #KingStreetStation #VietnameseMusicHistory #SEAarts #SEAVinylSociety #FirstThursdaySeattle #AnalogForever
🎶 SPECIAL OFFICE HOURS TOMORROW 🎶
After Saturday morning sessions at #AAJA25, I’m heading to my artist residency at King Street Station (top floor gallery). Roughly 1:30-5pm. Come hang out!
I’ve been spending the summer organizing a vast collection of pre-1975 Vietnamese music and ephemera — and tomorrow, Aug. 2, you’re invited to drop in, listen to rare tracks, and explore these powerful remnants of our shared history.
The exhibit closes next Saturday, Aug. 9 — don’t miss your chance to experience our shared history… analog-style. ✨
🔊 #AAJA25 fam — join us at 4PM today for a panel that celebrates Vietnamese American stories in all their depth and beauty. We’ll play some old-school Viet bangers, screen short films, and talk about how we shape and honor our narratives. ASPEN room - follow the music. 😉 See you there!
MUSIC MATTERS: A remarkable exhibit at King Street Station in #Seattle (top floor) by artist-in residence @thanhtan Check out the priceless collection of pre-1975 records and music -pre #fallofsaigon. The exhibit runs thru Aug 9th #AAJA25 #AAJA #AAJAfun #vietnam #vietnameseamerican #vietnamese #storytelling #preservehistory #Vietvoices
Video: @suzannephantv Editing: @ryankpix
Join Thanh Tân, curator of "Kho Tàng Nhạc Vàng / South Vietnam’s Golden Music Archive," for a special listening party while she scans music and ephemera for her archive.
July 19: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Aug. 2: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Aug. 9: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
"Kho Tàng Nhạc Vàng / South Vietnam’s Golden Music Archive" celebrates South Vietnam’s songwriters whose music captured the hopes, heartbreaks, and resilience of a people navigating an uncertain future. The exhibition is on view through August 9.
Admission to ARTS at King Street Station is always free. Photo by Bruce Tom. #DowntownIsVibrant
