Southern Vietnamese tend to clip some of their sounds, so Nguyen would be pronounced something like “Win” or “Wen.” Northern Vietnamese would keep it, giving a pronunciation more like “N’Win” or “Nuh’Win,” all done as best you can in one syllable.

Vietnamese Names

1. The name “Dang” is pronounced with the sound of “a” in the English word “far”.
2. The “normal” “D” (without the cross dash) is pronounced with a “y” sound – the D is SILENT.
3. “Binh” is pronounced with the sound of “e” in the English word “fern”.
4. Uniquely, “Sinh” and “Vinh” are pronounced as spelt.

Left behind after the removal of the US troops were one million orphans who had grown up to have families – and lose them – during the war. Included were those known as Bui Doi – the dust of life. Some 8000 of these were the offspring of American GIs and Vietnamese mothers.

These war babies – known as Amerasians — were called names like “children of the dust” and “half-breeds.” Many of them were abandoned by their mothers – dropped off at orphanages or even thrown into trash cans — amid fears they would be attacked by the Communist government.

In the spring of 1975, U.S. forces withdrew from Vietnam, leaving behind an estimated 50,000 children they’d fathered with Vietnamese women. Life has not been kind to the bui doi, or “children of the dust.” Bi Thi Loan, 39, was rejected by her own family.

Peter Polycarpou

During this operation, between 60 and 155 people, including women and children, were killed. Over the remaining day, both companies were involved in the further burning and destruction of dwellings, as well as continued mistreatment of Vietnamese detainees.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Miss Saigon, inspired by the opera Madame Butterfly, tells one very specific story of the Vietnam War. It does not attempt to convey the breadth of the Asian American experience then or since. We continue with Jackie Nguyen, both a Miss Saigon cast member and a language consultant for the show.

Later Chris returns to Saigon, but as a married man to a white American woman. When Kim discovers Chris is married, she decides to kill herself so that Chris can take their son to the States where he will live a better life.

Miss Saigon has received criticism for what some have perceived as its racist or sexist overtones, including protests regarding its portrayal of Asians and women in general.

Though Gigi initially shows disdain over the attention given to Kim, she later becomes protective of her and even takes part in celebrating Kim’s wedding, where she toasts Kim as the “real” Miss Saigon. After the Fall of Saigon, Gigi’s fate is unknown.

The revival of “Miss Saigon” has been updated a little. “They changed the lyrics in my song ‘The Movie in My Mind,’” said Bunuan. “The changes they’ve made, I connect to in a stronger way. They’ve changed the lyrics in a lot of the songs to make the message clearer.

Lea Salonga

Based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Madame Butterfly,” “Miss Saigon” is a tragic tale about Kim, a young Vietnamese woman orphaned by the Vietnam War who must work in a bar owned by a notorious man named The Engineer.

Love is indeed a crucial theme in “Miss Saigon”, from Kim and Chris’s initial falling in love, Kim’s love for her son, Ellen’s love for Chris, Thuy’s respect and love for Kim and tradition, to the lack of love and self respect among the girls at the Saigon bar at the start of the show.

With themes of war, separation, love, loss, hope and despair, Miss Saigon made us cry, laugh, and gasp in amazement at the special effects.

When Miss Saigon realizes she will never return to her soldier and he could never be the father to her son together, she commits suicide. She believed this was her son’s only chance out of poverty. The theme is a tragic romance, but more specifically, the theme is lost love.

The current official name, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, adopted in 1976 and abbreviated TP.HCM, is translated as Ho Chi Minh City, abbreviated HCMC, and in French as Hô-Chi-Minh-Ville (the circumflex is sometimes omitted), abbreviated HCMV.

Is “Miss Saigon” appropriate for all ages? Recommended for 12 + (Miss Saigon contains some scenes and language which may not be suitable for younger audience members, including scenes of a sexual nature). Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.

A lot of people might wonder why I decided to bring my kids to see Miss Saigon. Miss Saigon is a musical intended for audiences 14+ due to adult content and language. It’s also a musical with an Asian storyline with a primarily Asian cast.

While the new movie might not be appropriate for little kids, Common Sense Media notes it’s probably OK for kids 10 years old and up, so parents should still check it out. Not only does it look to be a visually stunning film, it also promises to be an interesting story.

AGES 4-9 Children are transfixed by the human-size felines that interact with the audience throughout the show. AGES 10+ Energetic choreography, imaginative costumes, the unique cat make-up and an amazing set that takes up thå entire theatre help create a visually and musically spectacular experience for all ages.

While there’s no overt violence, sexual content, or strong language, a conniving cat does tie up other cats and threatens them, characters speak suggestively at times, and the “digital fur” technology used for the film results in the actors’ human bodies appearing sensuously feline-like — especially those of the …

Cats can carry infectious diseases that can be harmful to your child. They usually pass them on by scratching or through their poo. You or your child could develop an infection if you: touch cat poo or something contaminated with cat poo.

ages 12 and older

Connor suffered from depression and anxiety at a young age but was unable to get help. He fought with his parents and sister and was constantly angry. He ends up committing suicide later on in the story.

Dear Evan Hansen is appropriate for a fourteen year old, and was made to target that age group in the first place. Every teenager can relate to the characters of the show in some way and if you have the opportunity to see it, I urge you to do so.

Evan is called to the principal’s office and is told by Connor’s parents that Connor died by suicide days before, with Evan’s letter found in his pocket, which they believe is a suicide note addressed to him.