Woven in Faith: The Complex History of Vietnamese Catholic Communities
A Dartmouth Vietnam Project Digital Exhibit by Alice Kim '27
"The Catholic Church has always been a great part of our family and our journey to where we are now." — Trey Pham
This digital exhibit explores the pivotal role of Catholicism in shaping Vietnamese experiences before, during, and after the Vietnam War. Vietnamese Catholics have often been a contested and misunderstood group, frequently reduced to simplistic labels such as culturally foreign, pro-colonial, or anti-national. However, their stories reveal a far more complex narrative: one intricately woven into both Vietnam’s turbulent history and the broader Vietnamese refugee diaspora.
Vietnamese Catholic communities have established vibrant parishes across the U.S., contributing to the cultural and religious landscape of many regions.
The exhibit is organized into six sections:
By blending historical analysis with personal narratives, this exhibit aims to illuminate the multifaceted history of Vietnamese Catholicism and its lasting impact on refugee communities and beyond.