Boat Baby Audiobook By Vicky Nguyen cover art

Boat Baby

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Boat Baby

By: Vicky Nguyen
Narrated by: Vicky Nguyen
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About this listen

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
Women Funny Witty Heartfelt

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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.

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A different kind of memoir...

...in that Nguyen writes about pretty heavy subjects but with such a sense of humor those who don't like memoirs because they are so often depressing will enjoy this one.

I had never heard of Nguyen and only picked this up because much of it takes place in the greater Bay Area (where I lived the first 34 years of my life), so don't let the fact that you don't know who she is stop you.

While at first I wanted a little more depth (e.g., the stuff that makes us sad when we read it!), I decided to take it for what it was and ended up enjoying it!

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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!

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Wow! Great and thoughtful story!

Incredible and thoroughly enjoyable. Vicky Nguyen is a masterful storyteller. Thank you so much for sharing your story!

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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

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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!

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This was amazing!

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

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