Following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, communist government policies, economic sanctions, destruction left by the war, and conflicts with neighboring countries led to a humanitarian crisis and displacement of people in Vietnam. Desperate to leave, thousands sought passage on boats to other Southeast Asian countries.  Some of these “boat people” were eventually settled in the United States. Since fishing was a common occupation in Vietnam, many Vietnamese refugees found work in the fishing industry upon arriving in the United States.