Tippi Hedren & The First 20

In April 1975, a fortuitous encounter with 20 of the first Vietnamese refugee women, and The Birds actress Tippi Hedren, sparked the Asian nail salon as we know it. Learn more about this harrowing exodus from five of the “First 20,” and how Tippi helped establish them as working manicurists who sparked a multi-billion dollar industry.

“In Camp Pendleton, we were just refugees blowing in the wind,” Truong said. “At Weimar, it was like a family.”

— Kim D. Truong

Known as the Vietnamese boat people (Thuyền nhân Việt Nam,) more than two million Vietnamese refugees fled Vietnam between 1975-1995. Link to the NSXR Hub

Known as the Vietnamese boat people (Thuyền nhân Việt Nam,) more than two million Vietnamese refugees fled Vietnam between 1975-1995. Link to the NSXR Hub

Five of the "First 20" Vietnamese manicurists, in conversation with Tippi Hedren recount their harrowing escapes from Vietnam, as the US military chaotically pulled out of a devastating 15 year war. The women who birthed the Vietnamese nail industry

Five of the "First 20" Vietnamese manicurists, in conversation with Tippi Hedren recount their harrowing escapes from Vietnam, as the US military chaotically pulled out of a devastating 15 year war. The women who birthed the Vietnamese nail industry were the "lucky" ones, escaping on US military planes and ships, mostly due to their husbands' rank in the South Vietnamese military, collaborating with United States Armed Forces. Click to watch video

Facing death from pirates, over-crowded boats, starvation and ocean storms, it’s estimated that between 200,000 and 400,000 refugees died at sea trying to reach foreign soil. View photo gallery of the Fall of Saigon from Manhhai.

Facing death from pirates, over-crowded boats, starvation and ocean storms, it’s estimated that between 200,000 and 400,000 refugees died at sea trying to reach foreign soil. View photo gallery of the Fall of Saigon from Manhhai.

Between 200,000 and 400,000 Vietnamese boat people died at sea trying to reach foreign soil. Those who survived struggled to find work in the US.

Between 200,000 and 400,000 Vietnamese boat people died at sea trying to reach foreign soil. Those who survived struggled to find work in the US.

Most Vietnamese were admitted as refugees, and later through family reunification. Nail salons played a pivotal role in sponsoring Vietnamese relatives to western countries—through today.

Most Vietnamese were admitted as refugees, and later through family reunification. Nail salons played a pivotal role in sponsoring Vietnamese relatives to western countries—through today.