RT :
Both of my maternal and paternal grandfathers came from Chaoshan.
In the 1920s, my paternal grandfather, a determined young merchant, left his wife, a son, and a daughter behind and boarded a junk boat bound for Vietnam, driven by a dream to build a successful business and send money home. Upon reaching South Vietnam, he settled in Bac Lieu province and opened a provision shop. While in Bac Lieu, he took a second wife, who was also from Chaoshan. Together, they raised five sons and two daughters, all while he faithfully continued to send money back to his first family in China. His business flourished, and he grew to become a successful and well-known figure in Bac Lieu.
Eventually, he returned to China for a few years, leaving the business in the care of his cousin. When he came back to Vietnam, he brought his first wife, along with their son and daughter from China, so that everyone could live together under one large household. Tragically, when his health took a turn for the worst, the business suffered and ultimately went bankrupt while the children were all still very young. He passed away in his forties, long before I was born. The portrait of him that hung on the wall of my grandmother's room remains the only memory I have of his face. After his passing, his second wife and her young children relocated to Cholon, District 5 in Saigon (the Chinatown of Saigon), while his first wife and her children remained in Bac Lieu. His sons remain as members of the Teochew Association in Vietnam and later in Australia until today. My dad has passed on last year.
2026-06-25 11:15:37