The Theme of Immigration
In the entire memoir The Happiest Refugee, Anh Do narrates his life history reflecting on how his family run-away from Vietnam when the war came to an end. The immigration to Australia comprised of the entire extended family, Anh's father, mother, siblings, aunts, and uncles. Life in Vietnam is very difficult and there is no peace. Their only hope is to get an escape route and travel to Australia using a boat to search for a better life. During this time, Anh and his brother are still young boys.
The family is lucky in its journey because it arrives safely in Australia despite meeting many obstacles on the sea. Anh's sister is born in Australia. Anh provides a detailed explanation of what the family goes through as they arrive in Australia where they are referred to as refugees. In Australia, the extended family members move to various locations to start the new life. Anh goes to the law school where he meets Suzie and they fall in love. They later get married and blessed with three sons. Therefore, the entire memoir is an account of how Anh and his family migrated from Vietnam to Australia where they settle as refugees.
The Theme of Poverty and Hardship
Anh tells how his family has struggled with poverty while in Vietnam and when they arrive in Australia as refugees. Back in Vietnam, Anh's father and mother have no formal jobs to feed the family. They rely on manual jobs and daily earnings to raise the family. Additionally, Vietnam is a war zone country implying that there is no peace. When they migrate to Australia after the Vietnam War, they become refugees and life is full of challenges. After some struggle in Australia, the family starts to reestablish itself using the family sewing business which is run by Anh's parents. The family again plunges into financial difficulties when Anh's father leaves the family and goes to start own life elsewhere. Anh's mother remains alone and she has to struggle to raise school fees for her three children who she single-handedly raises in the absence of their father. Anh recounts how he worked very hard to triumph over poverty to live a better life afterward.
The theme of Bravery and Persistence
Anh expresses a story about how his family takes the risk of escaping from Vietnam to Australia using a boat in a dangerous sea. The courage of the family is unmeasurable in this scenario because it is only being hopeful that it will sail to Australia safely. Anh narrates how he overcomes the challenges of being a refugee and hardships in Australia. Anh's parents teach their children the value of being courageous and persevering. Anh uses his parent's encouragement to push on despite the many challenges he goes through in life. He remembers how he used his courage to approach Suzie in the law school. She was a beautiful and bright lady from a well-off family. He was brave enough to approach and express his love. At first, Suzie was hard to convince by Anh did not give. He persevered until he won her love and late, they got married. In general, Anh argues that everything he has achieved in his love is as a result of being brave and persevering.
