Guides
Saigon Sentinel · Section
Explainers and how-tos — practical guidance written for Vietnamese-American readers navigating life in the US.
- Guides
A new career in the US, part 2: the shortest route, and the contract trap few people read closely
Part 1 ordered the routes by time: how long until the first paycheck. This piece covers the fastest group, from a few weeks to about six months. This is the route for someone who needs money now.…
- Guides
A new career in the US, part 1: the map of four routes, and how to pick yours
In an earlier article we wrote that nail work accounts for about one-seventh of Vietnamese people working in the US, and that the other six-sevenths do something else.…
- Guides
Opening a Vietnamese Restaurant in the US: From Paper Idea to Successful Grand Opening
The hardest part of opening a phở shop is not in the kitchen. It is the order of the paperwork, because the law dictates what has to be finished before what. This guide follows that order, with the statute sections and f…
- Guides
Adding a second number to your iPhone: keep your US line in Vietnam, keep your Vietnamese line in the US
Summer is when people fly home. And every summer, somebody buys a second phone to hold a Vietnamese SIM, or pays international roaming for three straight weeks — without knowing the phone already in their hand does the j…
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Three Generations, One Home: The Communication Secret That Keeps Vietnamese Families Together
When school schedules change, all three generations easily get out of sync at once: grandparents worry, parents get overwhelmed, and children grow tired. These are specific techniques to make everyone feel truly heard, e…
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Which state? Texas, California, Georgia and Washington, compared in numbers
Our earlier guide to work in America carried one piece of advice: pick the state first, then the occupation. The advice was right but unfinished, because it never said which state.…
- Guides
Protecting Personal Data Online: Simple Tips Anyone Can Do
A shared password for every account, or a single scam call impersonating the IRS, can open the door for criminals to steal your identity in minutes. These are simple habits that help each person close those security gaps…
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Reading the Visa Bulletin: how to find where your petition stands in the queue
Every month the U.S. State Department publishes a set of tables called the Visa Bulletin. For many Vietnamese families it is the only document that says how much longer a sponsorship petition has to wait.…
- Guides
Applying for asylum in America: the process as it actually works, and the new fee few people know about
Since 29 May 2026, applying for asylum in the United States is no longer free. It is the largest change to this procedure in years, and it is something many people still do not know when they start looking into it.…
- Guides
What work do Vietnamese people do in America? The answer is much wider than nail salons
If you are in Vietnam thinking about moving to the United States, the first question is usually not the visa or the plane ticket. It is: once I get there, what do I do for a living? The familiar answer is nails.…
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The Path to U.S. Citizenship: Benefits, Requirements, and Application Steps to Know
A green card allows legal residence and work, but only citizenship unlocks voting rights, broader family sponsorship, and near-absolute protection from deportation. This article outlines each concrete step along that pat…
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Voter Registration: Why Vietnamese American Ballots Could Decide the Midterm Election
Only a few thousand votes can determine who wins in closely contested districts — and Vietnamese American communities in Orange County and Houston typically find themselves right in the middle of that thin margin. Here i…
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Building Good Credit in the US: A to Z Guide for Newcomers
Not having credit history in America is almost as risky as having a bad one — many Vietnamese families, accustomed to using cash, inadvertently deprive their children of the ability to borrow for a home or car later on.
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Guide to Preparing for Tropical Storms: Essential Knowledge to Protect Your Family
It is not just about high winds and heavy rain — flooding and electrical damage are usually what cause the most severe damage when storms hit. Here are the preparation steps every family should take before, during, and a…
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Extreme Heat in Southern California: How to Protect Yourself and Your Family
Elderly relatives in your home may be suffering from heat exhaustion without saying a word, fearing they will bother their children. Here's how to recognize dangerous signs before it's too late.
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Access to Federal Services When English Is Limited: What You Need to Know About Title VI
Many older Vietnamese people still think the right to a free interpreter was eliminated along with the recent federal guidance. The fact is that the original Title VI law still protects them, but how it is enforced in pr…
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When a Senator Passes Away: Who Will Replace Them, and How Does the Process Work?
An empty Senate seat does not mean voters have lost their voice—a special election can still take place just months later, and Vietnamese Americans are most likely to miss it because the timeline moves fast.
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Automatic Extension of Work Permit (EAD): What Vietnamese People Need to Know to Avoid Work Interruption
Not everyone who files an EAD renewal application automatically gets permission to continue working—conditions, the timing of filing, and the type of category all determine whether you are protected.
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What Is Medicare Part D? How to Avoid Losing Drug Coverage Due to Misunderstandings
A forgotten English-language letter buried in a pile of advertisements could cost your parents their drug insurance after just a few months of missed payments. Here is what you need to know to avoid that situation.
- Guides
Maintaining an Ancestor Altar in the Heart of America: How to Keep the Ritual From Fading Across Generations
It is not a large altar or an elaborate feast that preserves tradition, but rather how families adapt to American housing regulations and learn to tell their ancestors' stories to their children.