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Vietnamese Boat People MonumentPrint Page 
The monument commemorates the remarkable journeys, strength and resilience of Vietnamese refugees, and shares the Vietnamese’s profound gratitude to Australians for embracing and assisting refugees as part of the South Australian community.
The monument captures two Vietnamese children travelling in a sculpted boat on a granite and slate ocean. The six lotus flowers, forming the Southern Cross, direct the children to the horizon and towering beacon, representing a guiding light and new beginnings. This monument was developed by the Vietnamese Boat Peoples Monument Association and funded with contributions from the State Government, Vietnamese Business Community, and a number of local government councils, and donated to the City of Adelaide.
The term "Vietnamese boat people" refers to refugees who fled Vietnam by boat and ship after the Vietnam War, especially during 1978 and 1979, but continuing until the early 1990s. The term "Vietnamese Boat People" is often used generically to refer to all the Vietnamese (about 2 million) who left their country by any means or method between 1975 and 1995.
The Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975 with the Fall of Saigon to the North Vietnamese Army and the evacuation of more than 130,000 Vietnamese closely associated with the United States or the government of South Vietnam. After the Saigon evacuation, the numbers of Vietnamese leaving their country remained relatively small until mid 1978. The cause of the growing numbers of refugees were the increasingly repressive policies of Vietnam.
Location
| Address: | Victoria Drive, Karrawirra Park 12, Adelaide, 5000 |
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| State: | SA |
| Area: | Foreign |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -34.917094 Long: 138.601545 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
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| Monument Theme: | Government |
| Sub-Theme: | Oppression |
| Artist: | Tony Rosella, Ash Badios, Judith Rolevink, Tim Thomson |
| Link: | https://www.vbpm.com.au |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Thursday 25th February, 2021 |
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VIETNAMES BOAT PEOPLE MONUMENT
Guiding Light
Vietnamese Australians are forever grateful to Australia and its people for welcoming us. We extend our gratitude to all levels of government around this nation for assisting hundreds and thousands of Vietnamese refugees to successfully resettle in Australia
[ Inscription in Vietnamese ]
Thank you to our generous supporters for their unwavering support of the Vietnamese Australian community in South Australia.
[ Inscription in Vietnamese ]
Most Venerable Thich Nhu Hue Mr & Mrs Ngo Dinh Tu (USA) Mr Cao Van Thanh The Kaurna Community Government of South Australia Mr & Mrs Cao & Hoa Le Mr & Mrs Nguyen Van Manh Ms Huynh Oanh City of Adelaide City of Port Adelaide Dr Alex Lam & Family Nguyen Van & Thanh Ly - Doan Family Luong Nnq Family City of Charles Sturt City of Salisbury
Vietnamese Boat People Monument Association
Tony Rosella - Principal Artist Ash Badios - Principal Artist
Judith Rolevink - Figurative Sculptor Tim Thompson - Bronze Casting
