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As the post-baby boomer generation, better known as Gen X, comes into its own, we bring you the voices and faces behind the labels and stereotypes, and show you how some unique individuals are sloughing off their generation’s angst-ridden slacker image. Though they’re all grown up now, Gen Xers are still questioning the status quo, taking chances, taking on responsibilities, and redefining themselves. Look out. Generation X has arrived.

Vietnamese American Gen Xers share a common history of immigration, displacement and duality, marked by the pivotal event of the Vieät Nam War, which brought them to North American shores (and elsewhere), and forced them to navigate between cultures and identities. In our cover story on actor Damien Nguyen, who in many ways emblematizes the shared experiences of Vietnamese American Gen Xers born in Viet Nam and raised in the U.S., you’ll hear how taking a chance on an unconventional career has led Damien to rediscover his roots and given him a new awareness of his evolving identity. With his quiet strength and introspective gaze, this “Rebel without a Cause” of our generation is also featured in the Style editorial for this issue.

You’ll meet three VAs of the Gen X persuasion in our Gen Xer profiles. Discover what it was like for them growing up in the ‘80s and find out where they are now. In our story on “Modern Viet Kieu” who have ventured back to the motherland to live and work, we talk to 10 Vietnamese Diasporans from all over the globe to find out what it’s like being back “home.” Hear how these transnationals are navigating the waters in a changing Viet Nam vastly different from the one their parents left behind. Looking toward the future, as Gen X makes room for Gen Y (and Z...), we ask the proverbial question foisted upon us by our parents’ generation: “Are Vietnamese Americans Losing Their Roots?” Two Gen Y researchers talk to hundreds of young Vietnamese Americans to find out what they have to say. The results may surprise you.

With our focus on Gen X, we want to shed light on this often misunderstood and misrepresented
demographic. We hope that with more thoughtful and reflective stories by and about Gen Xers, and younger generations of Vietnamese Diasporans, we at NHA will help to bridge the generational, cultural, and political differences within our community, between our adopted countries and our homeland, and engage Vietnamese everywhere in the issues that concern us all. That is NHA’s mission. We hope it will be part of your New Year’s resolutions too.

Welcome to the Year of the Dog and Happy New Year from all of us at NHA! We wish you health, happiness and peace.
Enjoy the issue!

Kathy Nguyen
Editor
2004-2006