Like every origin story, there’s always a sad, traumatic moment at the start. The origin of Boat People Sauce is no different, so… let’s start with the bad part.
At the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, Saigon fell to the People’s Army of Vietnam. This led to a period of mistrust, and any family associated with the former government or the USA was persecuted and given an ultimatum – leave or be sent to a re-education camp where they would be subject to torture, violence and starvation while forced to carry out hard labour. Then, in 1979, China invaded Vietnam, and those who were of mixed Vietnamese and Chinese blood were all of a sudden seen as a threat to national security. What followed was one of the biggest evacuations and resettling periods in history. These Boat People fled on boats to distant lands, looking for a new start. A new home.

On 14 February 1980, my grandparents arrived on one such boat, welcomed by the United Kingdom. Before they landed, they’d endured severe weather at sea, internment camps in Hong Kong and pirates. All while they tried to keep their three young daughters – my mum and two aunts – safe.
When they arrived, the whole family was processed. They didn’t understand what was going on, barely understood the language, and definitely didn’t understand the culture. Despite that, they wanted to fit in, so everyone picked an English name to start their new life with.
Their first stop was the Sopley Refugee Centre.
It was worlds apart from their time in the Hong Kong camps. They were given food, shelter, and blankets. Everyone was exhausted and didn’t really understand what was going on, but essentially, they were waiting to be sorted and given a home.
Their next stop was Horfield in Bristol.
My grandparents loved their little house, even if they did find some of its features peculiar! The driveway with the little swing gate, the gooseberry bush and apple tree, a string washing line – even the countryside sound was new to them. It didn’t take them long to adjust; thankfully, they had wonderful neighbours to help them.


They did, however, miss the familiar foods of Vietnam. Nothing reminds you of home quite like the food and smells you’re familiar with. This started them on a quest to find familiar flavours in their local area. The food shop was quite something, a convenience store or supermarket that sold it all. This wasn’t quite the same in Vietnam; there, you’d have a street for each specialist item, like Silk Street and Fish Street. You’d personally know the vendors. They would be family friends. It was simple. Big brands weren’t a thing, nor were pre-packaged and convenient food. My grandparents never knew beans came in a can!
Unfortunately, few job opportunities existed in Bristol for minorities, which forced them to move once more to London. There, they found a community again and have been here ever since.
From Bristol to Boat People Sauce
Fast-forward a few decades to the summer of 2018, and I was at a family gathering at my grandparents’ house. In my family, these sorts of events are really common. So there we were, enjoying a fantastic Vietnamese BBQ (fun fact: these are traditionally done indoors!) and deep in conversation.
I remember my aunt and uncle joking about starting a restaurant and putting my grandparents to work! They retorted that the only people who would buy anything they made would be their immediate family!
Something clicked in my mind like a lightbulb. I would prove them wrong because their recipe for dipping sauce was incredible, and I would steal the idea myself!

Then COVID hit, and this silly little idea I had came floating back into my mind. I remembered their stories of their time in Bristol, struggling to find products they were familiar with. The idea became stronger: what if I brought a little piece of Vietnam to their new home? My home. What if I introduced something so familiar to me and my family to everyone?
At first, I didn’t tell anyone my plan. I was terrified it would fail, scared they’d think I was silly. I didn’t know where to begin. So, I turned to books and YouTube. I used my legal background to register the name—Boat People Sauce. It seemed perfect. My logo is a cartoon version of my grandparents in traditional clothes using a powerful accent colour in Vietnam.
Our first product, our delicious dipping sauce, was launched in 2021. The rest, as they say, is history—or history yet to be made!