

Anh recounts how he worked very hard to triumph over poverty to live a better life afterward. Anh's mother remains alone and she has to struggle to raise school fees for her three children who she single-handedly raises in the absence of their father. The family again plunges into financial difficulties when Anh's father leaves the family and goes to start own life elsewhere. After some struggle in Australia, the family starts to reestablish itself using the family sewing business which is run by Anh's parents. When they migrate to Australia after the Vietnam War, they become refugees and life is full of challenges. Additionally, Vietnam is a war zone country implying that there is no peace. They rely on manual jobs and daily earnings to raise the family. Back in Vietnam, Anh's father and mother have no formal jobs to feed the family. The Theme of Poverty and HardshipĪnh tells how his family has struggled with poverty while in Vietnam and when they arrive in Australia as refugees. Therefore, the entire memoir is an account of how Anh and his family migrated from Vietnam to Australia where they settle as refugees.


They later get married and blessed with three sons. Anh goes to the law school where he meets Suzie and they fall in love. In Australia, the extended family members move to various locations to start the new life. Anh provides a detailed explanation of what the family goes through as they arrive in Australia where they are referred to as refugees. The family is lucky in its journey because it arrives safely in Australia despite meeting many obstacles on the sea. During this time, Anh and his brother are still young boys. Their only hope is to get an escape route and travel to Australia using a boat to search for a better life. Life in Vietnam is very difficult and there is no peace. The immigration to Australia comprised of the entire extended family, Anh's father, mother, siblings, aunts, and uncles. In the entire memoir The Happiest Refugee, Anh Do narrates his life history reflecting on how his family run-away from Vietnam when the war came to an end. Written by people who wish to remain anonymous We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.
