Boat Baby

De: Vicky Nguyen

Narrado por: Vicky Nguyen

In a memoir where heroism meets humor, NBC News anchor and correspondent Vicky Nguyen tells the story of her family’s daring escape from communist Vietnam and her unlikely journey from refugee to reporter with laughter and fierce love.

Starting in 1975, Vietnam’s “boat people”—desperate families seeking freedom—fled the Communist government and violence in their country any way they could, usually by boat across the South China Sea. Vicky Nguyen and her family were among them. Attacked at sea by pirates before reaching a refugee camp in Malaysia, Vicky’s family survived on rations and waited months until they were sponsored to go to America.

But deciding to leave and start a new life in a new country is half the story…figuring out how to be American is the other. Boat Baby is Vicky’s memoir of growing up in America with unconventional Vietnamese parents who didn’t always know how to bridge the cultural gaps. It’s a childhood filled with misadventures and misunderstandings, from almost stabbing the neighborhood racist with a butter knife to getting caught stealing Cosmo in the hope of learning Do You Really Think You Know Everything About Sex?

Vicky’s parents approached life with the attitude, “Why not us?” In the face of prejudice, they taught her to be gritty and resilient, skills Vicky used as she combatted stereotyping throughout her career, fending off the question “Aren’t you Connie Chung?” to become a leading Asian American journalist on television. She delivers a uniquely transparent account of her life, revealing how she negotiated her salary in a competitive industry, the challenges of starting a family, and the struggle to be a dutiful daughter.

Funny, nostalgic, and poignant, Boat Baby is a testament to the messy glue that bonds a family. In the tradition of We Are Dreamers by Simu Liu and Dear Girls by Ali Wong, Vicky Nguyen offers an optimistic story full of heart that illuminates the promise of what America can be.

©2025 Vicky Nguyen (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

Why Not Thinking can change your life

This book is relevant and inspiring to those who’ve against all odds said Why Not! While my story is not the same as hers the pull up your boot straps and rely on yourself to go where and do what you want to be doing. YOU are the only one responsible for your happiness. Hustle and grit will always get you moving in the direction you see seek. The book was incredible and inspiring in so many ways. Excellent!

This is such a wonderful story about a brave family.

This was a truly heart warming story of an immigrant family making it to the United States, especially at a time where there is such a negative attitude about immigration. Vicky you are a amazing woman and I applaud your hard work and success.

Very interesting, hard to put down

Very interesting story of their trip to freedom to the US and her hard work to get to where she is now

Up and positive

There was nothing that I didn’t like about this book. It was well written I loved hearing about another person’s journey and life. Wanted even more….

I like that the author read her own book.

This was an excellent book! Very interesting life story and honest family dynamics. I loved this book!

This was amazing!

I loved everything about this book and the story it told! I couldn't stop listening!

Enjoyed Every Word

So inspiring and so interesting too! I can’t stop watching her on the news now with so much respect! Thanks for sharing your amazing story!

wonderful history of a successful TV personality and the gift she was given after the Vietnam war.

I slowed down the narrative to my liking, as Vicky talks very fast. Her families story is interesting and I really enjoyed her telling of it.

Vicky's tenacity

I've enjoyed Vicky on Today for years. This book has been so informative! Very inspiring

The passion of the author

I like it. I would like to have heard more about the connections made with colleagues.