Bonus Episode: Suzanne Thi Hien Hook

The Vietnamese Boat People

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Suzanne Thi Hien Hook was a baby found on the street and placed in an orphanage during the Vietnam War. She’s Amerasian; with a Vietnamese mother and an African-American soldier father. She was adopted into a white English family and moved to the UK when she was just three years old. Unfortunately it was not the beginning of a happy childhood that many would expect. Despite an abusive upbringing she became a trained chef, gained a business degree and started a successful company. In 2006 she visited Vietnam for the first time to connect with her roots. That experience changed the trajectory of her life. There she met other children in orphanages which had a profound effect on her. When she returned to the UK, she realized money didn’t buy happiness, and sold all of her possessions to start Allambie orphanage in Vietnam. She wanted every child, orphaned, adopted, fostered, or living in the streets to be cared for, and most importantly wanted to give them a sense of belonging.

This episode contains topics on abuse.

Episode Credits:
Seven Million Bikes Podcast Host & Producer: Niall Mackay
Seven Million Bikes theme music composed by Lewis Wright
VBP Host & Executive Producer: Tracey Nguyen Mang
VBP theme music: Clarity, Paulina Vo