Hidden Histories: The South Vietnamese Side of the Vietnam War

Clark County Historical Museum and Humanities Washington, as part of the 2023 CCHM Speaker Series, are excited to have Julie Pham bring her impactful presentation “Hidden Histories: The South Vietnamese Side of the Vietnam War” to Southwest Washington. The event will occur on Thursday, April 6, 2023 in person at the Clark County Historical Museum (1511 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660). Doors open at 5 p.m. and the event begins at 7 p.m.

The Vietnam War is seen by much of the Western world as being fought between the Americans and North Vietnamese Communists, with the South Vietnamese largely absent. Yet many Vietnamese refugees who came to America after the war served in the South Vietnamese military, and there is little recognition and understanding of their contributions and role in the war. In fact, in American and Vietnamese Communist histories, the South Vietnamese are painted as corrupt, apathetic sidekicks to the Americans. How did the South Vietnamese military really experience the Vietnam War? Historian Julie Pham draws from interviews she conducted with 40 South Vietnamese military veterans in the United States, and illuminates how people can remember historical events differently.

Julie Pham (she/her) is the CEO of CuriosityBased, a consulting practice focused on fostering curiosity in the workplace. Her family owns Northwest Vietnamese News. She published Their War: The Perspectives of the South Vietnamese Military in the Words of Veteran-Emigres in 2019. She earned her PhD in history from the University of Cambridge as a Gates Cambridge Scholar.

Pham lives in Seattle.

The CCHM Speaker Series is sponsored by the Humanities Washington, Clark County Historic Preservation Commission, and the League of Women Voters of Clark County. Thanks to support from Humanities Washington this event is free to the public.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early, as seating is limited.

For more information, contact the museum at 360-993-5679 or outreach@cchmuseum.org.

About Humanities Washington
Humanities Washington is a nonprofit organization dedicated to opening minds and bridging divides by creating spaces to explore different perspectives. For more about Humanities Washington, visit www.humanities.org.

About the Speakers Bureau Program
In communities throughout Washington State, Speakers Bureau presenters give free public presentations on history, politics, music, philosophy, spiritual traditions, and everything in between.

Their roster of over 30 Speakers Bureau presenters is made up of professors, artists, activists, historians, performers, journalists, and others—all chosen not only for their expertise, but also for their ability to inspire discussion with people of all ages and backgrounds. Hundreds of Speakers Bureau events take place each year. Find a Speakers Bureau event near you.

To reach as many Washingtonians as possible, Humanities Washington partners with a wide range of organizations, including libraries, schools, museums, historical societies, community centers, and civic organizations. Qualifying nonprofit organizations are encouraged to host a speaker.

The Speakers Bureau program is made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the State of Washington via the Office of the Secretary of State, the Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service at Washington State University, and generous contributions from other businesses, foundations, and individuals.