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Who is Anh Do?
Anh Do (born 2 June 1977) is a Vietnamese-born Australian author, actor and comedian. He has
appeared on many Australian TV shows such as Thank God You're Here and Good News Week,
and was runner-up on Dancing With The Stars in 2007. He studied a combined Business Law
degree at the University of Technology, Sydney. He is brother of film director Khoa Do and has
acted in several of Khoa's films, including Footy Legends, which he co-wrote and produced. In
2012, his TV show Anh Does Vietnam began airing.
Do and his family fled to Australia as refugees in 1980. We are going to study his 2010
autobiography, The Happiest Refugee, where Do tells of how his family fled Vietnam and
survived five days in a leaky fishing boat nine and a half metres long and two metres wide. The
Happiest Refugee has won many awards, including the 2011 Australian Book of the Year,
Biography of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, as well as the Indie Book of the Year Award
2011, Non-fiction Indie Book of the Year 2011, and it was shortlisted for the 2011 NSW Premier's
Literary Awards, Community Relations Commission Award.
Historical Context
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VIETNAM WAR FACTS
1. Vietnam is a small country in Southeast Asia.
It was ruled by the French from 1857 to
1954.The Vietnam War began in 1957 and
ended in 1975.

2. Vietnam was separated into North Vietnam
and South Vietnam. North Vietnam was
communist, and they wanted to end U.S.
support of South Vietnam. North Vietnam
wanted to combine the two parts into one
country.

3. The United States and the South
Vietnamese army tried to stop this from
happening.

4. From 1957 to 1965, the war was mainly a
struggle between the South Vietnamese army
and Communist-trained South Vietnamese
rebels known as the Viet Cong. The U.S.
provided military advisors.

5. The first U.S. troops entered Vietnam in
March 1965. Australia was a U.S. ally and sent
Australian troops to Vietnam. Until 1969, North
Vietnam and the United States did most of the
fighting. By 1969, the Vietnam War seemed
endless, and the United States slowly began to
withdraw troops. In both the U.S. and Vietnam
the war was unpopular. In Australia,
conscription was introduced.
6. In January 1973, a cease-fire was arranged.
The last U.S. ground troops left Vietnam two
months later. Despite the treaty, fighting
between North and South Vietnam resumed
soon afterward, but U.S. troops did not return.

7. The war officially ended on April 30, 1975,
when South Vietnam surrendered to North
Vietnam.
8. Vietnam released figures on April 3, 1995
that a total of one million Vietnamese
combatants and four million civilians were killed
in the war. The accuracy of these figures has
generally not been challenged. 58,226
American soldiers also died in the war or are
missing in action. Australia lost almost 500 of
the 47,000 troops they had deployed to
Vietnam and New Zealand lost 38 soldiers.
The Vietnam War and the Do family

Anhs family come from South Vietnam. During the war two of Anhs uncles had fought beside
American and Australian soldiers. When he war ended in 1975 they, like many others were imprisoned
in communist re-education camps. After three years Anhs father broke them out of the camp in an
action that can only be described as courageous. After that the family pooled their money so 40 of them
could leave Vietnam to avoid further persecution at the hands of the North Vietnamese.
The Do family were not alone. Two million people sought to escape South Vietnam after the
communist victory. Over ten years from 1976, 94,000 refugees from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam
settled in Australia. Many experienced the same traumatic journey as the Do family.

The Definition of a Refugee
International legal protection of refugees centres on a person meeting the criteria for refugee status as
laid down in the 1951 Refugee Convention. Under Article 1(A)2, the term refugee shall apply to any
person who:
...owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership
of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or,
owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a
nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is
unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.
Thus, according to this provision, refugees are defined by three basic characteristics:
they are outside their country of origin or outside the country of their former habitual residence;
they are unable or unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country owing to a
well-founded fear of being persecuted; and
the persecution feared is based on at least one of five grounds: race, religion, nationality,
membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.
It is important to stress that the term asylum seekers refers to persons, who have applied for asylum,
but whose refugee status has not yet been determined.
http://www.geneva-academy.ch/RULAC/international_refugee_law.php

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These questions are for us to consider as we read the autobiography. You should also use them for revision
prior to the exam

Prologue

1. Im flying down the Hume Highway at 130 kilometers an hour. Ive lost control a few times but
the brrrrrr of those white guide things on the side of the road keep me on track. A steering wheel
wet from tears is a very slippery object, so begins Anh Dos memoir.

a. What tense is this passage? (Past, present, or future?)
b. What is the narrative voice? (First person, second person, third person, third person
limited?)

2. How old do you think Anh is during this recollection?
3. Anh places us, his readers, in a privileged position, a god-like or omniscient position. We watch the
events and can also hear Anhs inner thoughts, like asides in a Shakespearean play. The first one is
Will he even recognise me? How does this technique make Anhs writing intriguing for his
audience?
4. What are Anhs first reactions on seeing his father?
5. What do we learn about the relationship between Anh and his father?
6. Why do you think he choose this incident to start his memoir?
7. What revelation does Anh have at the end of the Prologue? How does this make us want to read
more?

Chapter One: After the Fall

8. Anh starts Chapter One with the passage:
Downtown Saigon is a tangle of bikes, pedestrians and rickshaws. The year is 1976 and the
Vietnam War has just ended. A crowd of people wait at the end of Phu Street, where the train
tracks curve sharply around a bend.

a. What tense is this passage? (Past, present, or future?)
b. What is the narrative voice? (First person, second person, third person, third person
limited?)

9. How do Anhs mother and father meet?
10. Does this method of storytelling engage you? Explain your response.
11. Give three examples, mentioned since the beginning of the book, that highlight the desperate
situation in South Vietnam in 1976.
12. Recount Anhs Uncle Thanhs experiences. (4-5)
13. Why do you think Anhs Uncle Huy became a Jesuit priest when he eventually came to Sydney?
(5-6)
14. Explain the Vietnam custom of giving numbers to children for nicknames? (6)
15. How did Anhs father rescue his wifes brothers? What qualities did he demonstrate? (8)

Chapter Two: Escape

16. Describe the boat aboard which Anh and his family escaped. ( 9)
17. Describe two trials that the escapees overcame. (12-17)
18. Attacked by two groups of privates, outline three horrific events the escapees endured. ( 20 & 24)
19. How were they saved? (25-26)

Chapter Three: Australia

20. In Chapter Three, after the traumatic events of coming to Australia, the great humour of Anh enters
his reminiscences. Identify one humorous line in the first two pages of Chapter Three.
21. How does this change in tone keep the audience interested in his memoirs?
22. Anh mentions a phrase his parents often spoke when they arrived in Australia. What was it? (28
31)
23. What are three reasons for them to have said it?
24. How did Miss Buk (Miss Burke) profoundly help Anhs family? Was it difficult for her to help
them? What effect did her actions have on the Do family? (31)
25. What were two pieces of wisdom Anh learnt from his parents? (33)
26. What was the shocking insight Anh had into Sammys life? Why do you think Sammy bullied
others? (33-34)
27. What shocked Anhs mother about Miss Buks children? How did her family differ to the Do
family? (35)
28. Anhs Dad said, Always question fear theres almost never a good reason to be scared. What
does he mean by questioning fear? How could his relate to your life? Maybe in regard to fearing
an English exam or an end-of-year camp. Explain. (Page 39)
29. Why did Anh consider his father to be a legend?

Chapter Four: The Farm

30. What are some of the experiences that Anh has at the family farm?
31. Anhs father had a saying, Theres only two times in life, theres now and theres too late.
What does this saying mean? Do you agree with the sentiment? (53)
32. What happens to the farm? What was Australia experiencing at the time

Chapter 5: Choosing a School

33. How does the family make the decision on which high school to send Anh to? What factors do they
take into consideration? What sacrifices will need to be made?

Chapter 6: The Spiral

34. What events prompted Anhs fathers decline?
35. How does Anh feel about his father at this point? (72)

Chapter 7: High School

36. What struggles did the family face once his father was gone?
37. What sort of student was Anh?
38. Anh, youre a very talented storyteller. She had no idea how far that one line of encouragement
would take me. (78-79.) How did Mrs Borny inspire Anh?
39. How did a lack of money effect Anh and his family?
40. How does Anh try to make things easier for his mother?
41. The Kind Lions episode, is comic genius. How does Anh construct a humorous short story? How is
character established? Does he know the climax hes heading toward? Is there a twist? If so where
in the story? How does the placement of the twist make the short story effective? (86-88)
42. Anh describes his experience of getting mugged. How did he get out of the situation? At the end of
the story, what realization did he have? (91-94)
43. From pages 94 to 103, there are several stories - the Paper Run, Fin Boy, Trinity Chess Game, and
Homeless Shelter episodes. Which is your favourite? Why?
44. What experiences has Anh had with racism?

Chapter 8: University

45. Anh meets Karen and writes about their first encounter in an endearing manner. What elements of
his story are humorous? (111)
46. What epiphany does Anh outline on page 113? How is this similar to his fathers view on life from
page 48?
47. On 116 118, Anh has a near death experience. What does he discover about his own and his
mothers values?
48. Anhs mother suffers a terrible loss when her fifteen thousand dollar machines are stolen. How
does she react to this event? (121 122).
49. Give examples of how Anh is experimenting with his identity in this chapter?

Chapter 9: Career and Suzie

50. What did Anh give-up to pursue his ambition of becoming a stand-up comedian? What motivated
him? (138)
51. What was an important ingredient in Anhs success? (139)
52. When he won his first competition, what did he do with the prize money? What does this say about
his values? (141)
53. How did Anh and Suzies relationship develop? (141- 142) Is humour important in a relationship?
54. Work places, like schools, are full of competing egos. How are Anhs values challenged by
Samanthas priorities? (143 146)
55. On page 150, we are taken back to the incident that starts Anhs memoir - the confrontation with
his father after eight years of no communication between the two. What lines are repeated from the
prologue? Why does he return to this episode at this point in his memoir? What effect does this
structural choice have on you as a reader?
56. When Anh took Suzie to meet his father in Melbourne, what insight did Anh have about how
memory works? (152)
57. Also, he refers to his father as laughing, beautiful, [and] terribly flawed. How many words can
you name that describes having contradictory opinions at the same time? (152)
58. People often judge us on the way we present ourselves how we dress, our haircuts, our choice of
language. How did Anh find this out the hard way? (153) Were the shop assistants acting in a racist
manner?
59. At Suzie and Anhs engagement party, a number of kind cultural exchanges happen. Outline three
interesting occurrences? (Pages 154 158)
60. On page 157, Anhs mother makes an emotional speech. This is the first time we hear her voice
in the text. Does this change your opinion of Anhs mother? Reflecting on this, what does this
excerpt highlight about the language barrier between cultures and how we judge people by how
they speak?
61. Cultural differences may occur in both large and small issues from world views to dining
experiences. From pages 158 to 163, meals taken at Anh and Suzies family homes are humorously
regaled. What are three interesting cultural learning experiences that take place?
62. During Suzie and Anhs wedding ceremony, Suzie gave a reading in Vietnamese. Why do you
think she did this? What effect did this have on the audience? What is the link between language
and cultural acceptance?
63. Both Anh and his father have insights on page 171. Outline each.

Chapter 10: Life as a Comedian

64. What happens that outrages Suzie?
65. What does the incident on page 181 tell us about Anh? What does he gain from this experience?
66. Is there evidence I the book to suggest that Australia is a racist country?
67. What is the story of Uncle One that has haunted Anhs father his entire life? (185)
68. How does Anh feel about his father at the end of this chapter?

Chapter 11: Charity & TV

69. Do as much as you can to give back to this beautiful country that gave us a second chance?
(191) What charity work are the Dos involved in and why is it important to them?
70. What happened on Australia Day 2005?
71. What TV shows has Anh appeared in?
72. What does Anhs grandmother tell him about his grandfather and Uncle Six?


Chapter 12: Going back to Vietnam

73. What does Anh experience on his return to Vietnam? (217)
74. How is Anh just like his father? (218-220)
75. Describe when two other members of Anhs family make television appearances. How are the two
contrasted? What does this contrast tell us about life?
76. How does Anh convince Khoa to see their father?
77. The chapter finishes with Anh and his family on a boat on a river at Bobbin Head National Park.
Why has Anh done this? What is its significance?










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Bigh school expeiiences
Biffeient jobs
Financial ciicumstances
Family ciicumstances
Bis fiienus
Bealing with iacism

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Bis attituue towaius his stuuies in Law
Bis peisistence iegaiuless of his lack of enthusiasm
Neeting Kaien
uiilfiienus
Anh the businessman

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Bis maiiiage to Kaien
Bis ielationship with his mothei, Bien
The uiffeient stages of his ielationship with his fathei
Things Anh has leaint fiom his family - sayings, values, philosophy
Bis uncles
Bis gianumothei
Bis biothei

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Bis uecision to become a comeuian
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Life uecisions

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Incluue impoitant quotes.
What uifficult situations has Anh's fathei faceu in his life.
Bo you consiuei him to be a goou man.
While Anh's fathei is piesenteu as a flaweu chaiactei, his mothei is piesenteu as a saint.
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Is Anh a goou biothei. uive examples of things he uoes foi both Khoa anu Tiam.

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What aie the uiffeiences that Anh comments on about his family anu Suzie's.
Complete a chaiactei map which contains biief notes & quotes ielating to all the family
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Racism v acceptance


Resilience


Bappiness


Achieving youi goals



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In the case of the Bo family, how have the habits anu customs of vietnamese
cultuie flouiisheu in a new anu uiffeient cultuial enviionment.
What factois aie involveu in the successful pieseivation of iuentity.
Why is 'iuentity' impoitant to people.

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a) Family
b) Couiage
c) Refugees
u) Social justice


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Narrative Structure
1. Describe the narrative structure used in The Happiest Refugee.
2. Why does he begin with going to see his father?
3. Identify the change in tone that takes place at the beginning of Chapter 3.
4. p 150. What lines are repeated from the prologue? Why does he return to this
episode at this point in his memoir? What effect does this structural choice have on
you as a reader? What do you notice about the anecdotes that come after this point?
What does this tell us about Anh?
5. Throughout the memoir Do has grouped stories together and placed them in a
particular order for effect. Give an example where Do uses contrast successfully
eg a happy story against a sad story.
6. The chapter finishes with Anh and his family on a boat on a river at Bobbin Head
National Park. Why has Do done this? What is its significance?




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a) Complete the following table. uive 4 examples of when Bo effectively uses humoui.
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Complete an analytical essay of 6uu-8uu woius in iesponse to at least one of the following
questions:
Character questions
1. We admire Anh Do because he is untouched by self-importance or a sense of
entitlement.
Do you agree?
2. The Happiest Refugee is more about Anhs parents than himself.
Discuss.

Thematic questions
3. There are two times in life, there is now and too late
The Happiest Refugee is a story of courage and a deep love for ones family.
Do you agree?
4. The Happiest Refugee allows the reader to imagine what it takes to leave ones
country and what it takes to arrive and thrive in another.
Discuss.

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S. "Bow is humoui useu to engage us in Anh's stoiy anu to enueai his family to the
ieauei.
6. Bow uoes Anh's fiist peison naiiative convey his positive outlook on life.