David Giang: From Saigon to Sydney with gratitude
David Nhi Giang’s life is a remarkable story of resilience, adaptation and gratitude.
Born in the vibrant city of Saigon, the capital of former South Vietnam (now Ho Chi Minh City), David’s journey to life in Australia is an illustration of the strength and determination of many Vietnamese refugees.
David was a schoolboy when his life changed irrevocably on 30 April 1975. The ‘Fall of Saigon’ ended the Vietnam War and marked the beginning of the new communist rule.
“Gunfire was everywhere, and it was complete turmoil until calm was restored a week later,” David recalls.
“The majority of the South Vietnamese people were like me – they felt depressed with deep sorrow.”
David’s father, Nhat Giang (pictured below with David), had been a prominent Saigon newspaper editor closely associated with the South Vietnamese government, making the family a target under the new authorities.
Persecution was inevitable, prompting his parents to plan an escape in a series of late-night meetings. In a small fishing boat bought in secrecy, David’s family and others aligned with the South Vietnam government, fled from a sea village near Vung Tau.
The perilous journey across the South China Sea tested their resilience. On twelve separate occasions they were boarded by pirates and with no escape, they endured violence and deprivation.
“They robbed, they raped, and they left us dying in the ocean,” he remembers.
Struggling to survive, their fate changed when an oil rig crew rescued them after weeks adrift.
“It was like going from hell to heaven,” he says.
Once ashore, they were taken to Pulau Bidong, a Malaysian refugee camp, before moving to Kuala Lumpur’s Sungei Besi camp.
David’s uncle, Tam Nguyen, who was studying in Perth, sponsored their resettlement in Australia. In 1979, David, then 15, arrived in Perth with his parents, brother, and sisters. The “calm, green city” was a stark contrast to the turmoil they had fled.
Settling in Subiaco, his father resumed his newspaper career, founding Chieu Duong (The Sunrise), a Vietnamese-language publication.
After completing Year 9 in Perth, David and his family moved to Cabramatta, in southwestern Sydney, where a growing Vietnamese community was taking root.
David juggled school with assisting his father in running Chieu Duong but adjusting to a new culture and language was challenging.
“I spoke French in Vietnam and had to learn English from scratch,” he explains, noting that even today, Australian slang and accents can be tricky for him.
Despite these hurdles, he adapted quickly, embracing his new Australian identity while retaining pride in his Vietnamese heritage.
Life in Australia was a stark contrast to the noisy, bustling neighbourhoods of Saigon, but David appreciated the opportunity it offered.
And he saw his neighbourhood of Cabramatta transform over time into a vibrant hub for Vietnamese cuisine and culture.
After high school David completed a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of New South Wales, which inspired him to write an economic column for Chieu Duong. His dedication to the newspaper saw him rise from editor in 1987 to managing director in 1993, a role he has held for over three decades.
Under his leadership, Chieu Duong became a vital platform for the Vietnamese community, fostering unity, sharing news, and promoting multiculturalism. Classified ads served as a community noticeboard, connecting Vietnamese Australians.
“We all had to learn how to manage our new lives in Australia together, which makes a tight community very important,” he recalls.
David’s passion for community service extended beyond journalism. In 1993, at just 27, he was appointed the youngest Ethnic Affairs Commissioner in New South Wales, serving two terms.
His work as a co-founder of the Ethnic Media Council and his advisory roles in multicultural organisations, solidified his position as a leader advocating for ethnic media and community representation.
Despite challenges in the evolving media landscape, David’s decision to keep Chieu Duong exclusively in print format ensured its survival. Today, it is the last Vietnamese print publication circulating nationwide in Australia.
The importance of ethnic media was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, when trusted community channels played a crucial role in disseminating life-saving information.
“The reality of COVID-19 was that multicultural communities trusted their own media over the mainstream when it came to life critical information.” David says.
David’s commitment to his community extends to charitable work, including his advisory role with the Phuoc Hue Temple and the Vietnamese Australian Buddhist Trust.
He treasures the annual Tet Lunar New Year celebrations in Cabramatta, where thousands of Vietnamese Australians come together to honour their culture.
“It’s a joy to celebrate with so many people.” he says.
Balancing his Australian identity with his Vietnamese heritage has been central to David’s journey. His love for Vietnamese cuisine, literature, and philosophy keeps him connected to his roots, whilst he also enjoys Australian pub food and is a staunch supporter of the Socceroos and Matildas.
Reflecting on his life, David says, “I am extremely grateful to Australia and Australians who accepted us with great compassion,”
“I always try to give back through community work.”