Hong Trinh has been making clothes for almost as long as she can remember.

“My mom and my father when they got married, they were master tailors. My mom takes care of women clothes. My father makes suit and pants and shirts for men. So, I learned automatically. After school, I would go home and help them for living.”

Trinh was born in Vietnam in 1963. She was 12 years old when South Vietnam fell to the North.

“After 1975, the communists put my father in prison, and so after my father is released from prison, he decided to escape Vietnam.”

Trinh was married with a family of her own when that happened.

“So, my mom, my father, my husband, and me and two kids, so we escaped together. With a little boat. 41 people.”

An estimated 800,000 people fled Vietnam by sea. Many drowned or were captured, raped, and killed by pirates. It is estimated that 200,000 to 400,000 lost their lives.

Trinh’s son, Qui Huynh, translated for his grandfather, Hien Trinh, to explain why they made the choice to leave, “If we all make it, we have a better life. But, if we don’t, we are in the hands of God. And, I packed up my whole family into that small fishing boat that’s like crunched people in there. He says crunched in one place for so many days, and we made it to the refugee camp.”

Refugees from Vietnam traveled to camps in Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines. Nine years after they escaped Vietnam, Trinh and her family made it to the United States and settled in Atlanta, Georgia.

In 2002, Trinh’s life came full circle when she opened up her own tailoring business, Hong’s Custom Tailor. Then, in 2013, she received a phone call she will never forget.

“She says, ‘I’m looking for the best tailor in town. Are you the best tailor in town? Can you work this job for me tomorrow? The suit! I need a custom suit! Tomorrow!’”

The person on the phone was Costume Designer Susan Matheson, who was working in Atlanta filming Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. Matheson ended up liking Trinh’s work so much, she hired her to help with the movie.

“In my dream, I don’t think I can get that job. Because some people ask me, ‘Why? You don’t speak English very well, and you are a refugee when you come here. How can they hire you? How can you get that job?’ I tell them, ‘God gave me a miracle.’”

Trinh says she is forever grateful for the opportunities living in the United States has given her.

“When an American is born here, whoever is born here, they have everything. When they open their eyes, they have freedom already. That’s why I think we should appreciate this country. Because this country has given us a lot of chance to be successful. If you try to work very hard, you will be successful.”

Trinh’s story is part of our Lucie Series, where we shine a light on all of the good and interesting stories in our community. We are giving away one positive story every month and we are accepting nominations. If you know of a great story that deserves to be heard, fill out the form here: https://luciecontent.com/contact