(TAP) - On the evening of October 9, 2026, as part of Viet Film Fest 2026 (Vietnamese International Film Festival 2026), the Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association (VAALA) hosted the Trong Dong Awards Gala at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California. The event brought together filmmakers, artists, special guests, and a large audience in support of Vietnamese American cultural and artistic activities.
The 17th Viet Film Fest took place October 8 - 11, 2026, in person at The Frida Cinema in Santa Ana, California, followed by online screenings from October 12 - 25, 2026
In her welcoming remarks, Dr. Thao Ha, PhD in Sociology and Chair of the VAALA Board of Directors, emphasized the role of art and cinema in connecting communities, preserving stories, and creating spaces for generations of Vietnamese people to express their national cultural identity.
Dr. Thao Ha stated: “In a world facing much instability, conflict, injustice, and division, organizing an art event together might lead many to question its meaning. However, it is precisely in these difficult times that art plays an incredibly important role: not only providing entertainment or helping people temporarily forget reality, but also helping us understand the world, re-evaluate prejudices, remember history, and envision new possibilities for the future”.
The Trong Dong Awards Gala at Viet Film Fest was held on October 9, 2026, at Bowers Museum
Let Vietnamese Tell Their Own Stories
Speaking about the history of the Vietnamese community, Thao Ha noted that war, displacement, migration, resilience, and the process of rebuilding their lives have shaped the experiences of generations. For a long time, many Vietnamese stories were told from the perspectives of others or were never given the opportunity to be fully told.
The Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association (VAALA) was founded in 1991 and is run by artists and community members who volunteer their time and share a passion for its mission of connecting and strengthening the community through Vietnamese arts and culture
According to Thao Ha, pioneering filmmakers helped pave the way and create opportunities for the community to share its experiences through cinema. At Viet Film Fest, films are not limited to a single way of telling stories; instead, they can reflect the many facets of life, from personal, creative, and humorous stories to experiences that are painful and complex. She also emphasized the importance of allowing younger generations to see themselves represented on screen, not merely in supporting roles but as central characters in their own stories. She noted that everyone should have the opportunity to tell their own story and shape a narrative around the journey they have experienced themselves.
Thao Ha: From Sociological Research to Community Cultural Engagement
In addition to serving as Chair of the VAALA Board of Directors, Thao Ha is a sociology professor at MiraCosta College in California. Her research and teaching focus on issues of race, gender, immigration, and the experiences of Vietnamese Americans. The combination of her academic work and community-based cultural engagement has given Ha a distinctive perspective on the arts. “Artistic stories are not separate from everyday life; they reflect the history, identity, challenges, and changes within a community”, she said.
In addition to serving as Chair of the VAALA Board of Directors, Thao Ha is a sociology professor at MiraCosta College in California
Thao Ha shared that art is not a luxury reserved only for joyful occasions; rather, it reflects a community’s vitality, imagination, and capacity for resilience. A space like Viet Film Fest demonstrates what can be achieved when people come together and build connections through culture. In her remarks, she also recognized the contributions of filmmakers, artists, sponsors, community partners, and volunteers. For her, a film festival cannot exist without the time, effort, and dedication of people who share a belief in the value of art.
Viet Film Fest and a Space for New Voices
Viet Film Fest is a film program organized by VAALA that seeks to showcase stories of Vietnamese people and the Vietnamese community through the work of diverse filmmakers. The Trong Dong Awards Gala, held as part of the festival, recognizes contributions to the field of cinema while providing an opportunity for artists and filmmakers to connect with audiences interested in Vietnamese culture in the United States.
Thao Ha, PhD, speaks at the Trong Dong Awards Gala
Concluding her remarks, Thao Ha shared a message: “Hope does not necessarily have to be something we passively wait for. Hope can be built through friendship, art, and relationships within the very community that we all work together to create”. She also thanked those in attendance, emphasizing that what deserves to be celebrated is not only a film festival, but also a sense of belonging to a community, the preservation of Vietnamese stories, and the opportunity for new voices to emerge.
Julie Nguyen
