To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, Vietnamese American artist Linh My Truong presents “Threads of Passage: From Vietnam to America,” an interactive exhibition that centers the voices and stories of Vietnamese refugees who fled to America after the Fall of Saigon. The exhibit runs through May 18 at the Annex Gallery in Highland Park.

Through a blend of textile, video and touch-activated technology, the exhibition encourages viewers to interact with it and learn about the experiences of those who fled Vietnam to build new lives in America. It features stories submitted by Vietnamese Americans from across the country and highlights from Truong’s own family’s journey. 

The Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975 marked the end of the Vietnam War and millions of Vietnamese became refugees. 

Truong’s goal is for people viewing the exhibit to not only witness the stories shared but also participate in their preservation. A free guide titled “How to Facilitate Conversations, “ developed by Truong and her collaborators, is available at the exhibition and online as a resource that supports intergenerational conversations between Vietnamese families and communities.

One Detroit contributor Chien-An Yuan visited the opening reception on April 26 and spoke to Truong about the exhibition and how she hopes it will preserve history for the younger generation of Vietnamese Americans living in Detroit.