Anh Do left Vietnam because his family were refugees fleeing the aftermath of the Vietnam War. They were on the losing side and feared persecution by the new communist government. In 1980, when Anh was about 3 years old, his family fled Vietnam on a small, overcrowded wooden fishing boat. Their journey was perilous, involving attacks by pirates and dangerous conditions at sea. After several days, they were rescued by a German cargo ship and spent time in a Malaysian refugee camp before finally settling in Australia. Anh Do's story is one of hardship, survival, and ultimate success despite these challenges.