Hoang Chi Truong's Blog

Have you ever felt the profound injustices and rage that fueled and spurred you into action? Many have. I am not alone. I’m talking about age invisibility, inherent safety risks, and their impact on the graying population.

I travel regularly, and this week, a man at the airport who was selling Clear, an alternative to Pre Check TSA, stepped within two feet in front of me. I was mid-stride; he wouldn’t back up and expected me to yield. 

In these awkward few seconds, I stood and waited. This salesma...

Today is Black April, the day Saigon fell to communism on April 30, 1975. My husband asked how I was doing, and I didn’t have the right words. My throat tightened, and I felt tears welling up. I said, "I'm sad. It's sad."

It’s strange, but I mostly feel sad today because I miss my parents. They passed away within a year of each other a few years ago, and I have continued to feel a more significant loss each day. They were my refuge, connections, and foundation to Vietnam. In that sense, I miss Vi...

Our grandsons came into our lives and swept me clean off my feet. They unwittingly provided me with the mirror I needed to re-examine myself, and I learned some valuable lessons which I’ll humbly share with you. I am a young-ish grandmother who could rock them to sleep before they were old enough to self-soothe and fall asleep independently. They are my grandchildren but bear our collective ancestors’ DNA, and I get glimpses of a long lineage full of wisdom and kindness in their eyes.

How could I...

Note to readers: I wrote my memoir and published it in 2017 in which my father was an important and critical figure who I discussed at length and in great detail. I also continued working with him for my second full-length book, a historical fiction, inspired and based mainly on his life, until he passed away in August 2019. I had initially planned to publish this book in May 2020, but I have since suffered the losses of both my parents and that projected date will be at a later...

About the Post Photo: This was taken in 1990 of my mom and my daughter.

If you read TigerFish, my memoir, or knew my mom, you would know that she was a skilled knitter and embroiderer. She knitted sweaters, gloves, socks, hats, and also embroidered pillow cases for all of her grandkids.

Even in her old age before Parkinson's ravaged her fine motor skills, her stitches were still detailed and beautifully textured. I remember getting carbon copy paper for her so she can trace the designs on to...

I’m writing this post to wish you a healthy and prosperous 2019 and updating you what I’ve been working on lately.

TigerFish Book 2 - Expected Date of Publish May 2020.

Be on the look out for the new title and book cover reveals this year. I’m making progress on the next full-length book, a continuation of my memoir into adulthood, marriage, childrearing, and career while comparing and contrasting my interracial relationship in 20th Century America to that of my parents' Post Fre...

My hope in writing about this topic is to raise awareness and broaden our understanding (including my own) of the affected communities and not meant as an indictment or any kind.

What are some examples of racial microaggressions and why I want my white brothers and sisters to know about them? In this series, I'd like to explore this topic and what makes these seemingly innocent gestures or words so damaging to people or color. I will further explore microaggressions in many other communities w...

Thank you for stopping by this weekend for the Navigating Indieworld Summer Blog-a-Day, hosted by our generous and lovely Kay McCleod on her blog, as well as on the Navigating Indieworld Facebook Group.

Reading is both a luxury and a necessity for me ever since I was a child growing up in Vietnam. It was my expedition and journey to the world beyond my war-torn country. I invite you to read an excerpt of my memoir TigerFish and my writing on my blog as well as on Mediu...

Someone once said to me, “Memoirs are for famous people. Who are you to write one? You are Vietnamese, and nobody’s going to read it.”

Indeed this comment shocked me and hurt my feelings, but I quickly recovered and steered clear of this negativity and today, I became one of Amazon Best Seller Authors in my category of Asian American Studies books.

You see, memoirs aren’t just for famous people. Yes, there is a category in biographies for celebrities and politicians, but there are also rooms fo...

Something is gnawing at me. I admit that I’m not smooth at handling and resolving conflicts. I chose avoidance and hoped that they will go away, so I don’t have to address these awkward moments with people.  I convinced myself that I didn’t need their negativity and toxicity because it was easier than addressing conflicts or creating confrontations. But the problem is my avoidance is causing slow deaths to many relationships, and I’m running out of people to cut out of my life.

A few weekends...