Hien Sun

Hien Sun was born on November 1, 1914 in Móng Cái (芒 街), Vietnam. His father was originally from Fangcheng (防 城) in Guangxi Province, China. When Hien’s father was a youngster, he left China with his parents to Móng Cái, Vietnam in search of opportunity. Hien’s father and grandfather made a living working in the countryside of Móng Cái. They eventually saved up enough money to buy plots of farmlands and rented them out to others. As the family wealth grew, Hien’s father opened a couple of general stores; and ran a transport business hauling goods and driving people from out-of-town to their destination. It was in Móng Cái that Hien was born.

In the 1940s, Hien’s life was disrupted by the First Indochina War. After the French was defeated in 1954, there was a mass migration from North Vietnam to South Vietnam to escape the Communist regime. Hien’s family had to give up their farmlands and businesses that they have built for many years to move to the South.

After 40 years helping his father and grandfather with the family business, Hien had to start over in South Vietnam and search for new opportunity during the Vietnam War. With no formal education or a college degree, he started a textile business in Saigon (西 貢). He opened a textile factory and operated a warehouse importing and selling textile products. He became very successful building his textile business despite the ongoing conflict in Vietnam.

In 1975, the South Vietnamese government lost the war to the North Vietnamese. Once again, like his father, Hien had to give up his fortunes to the Communist government. In 1978, he left everything behind and fled to Malaysia by boat. After a year as a refugee in Malaysia, he crossed the Pacific Ocean and emigrated to Seattle, Washington where he began to build a new chapter.

In 1979, he was reunited with his third youngest son, Terry, who was working for Boeing after graduating from college. As a 65 years old man, Hien worked in the Chinese restaurants washing dishes. He eventually sponsored his second son, Ben, and his family to Seattle in 1982. Eventually, he was also reunited with his oldest son, Bao, and his family in Seattle.

Hien lived independently on his own up until the age of 99. Despite his physical hindrance, his mind was sharp. He would always check on the grandchildren’s well-being when they visit him at Kin On. He wanted to make sure everyone was well-provided; and that everyone had a good job and a roof over their head.

Hien lived a long life and was able to see four generations of his family. He was born during World War I and lived through many wars. He began his life in rural Vietnam and later enjoyed modern technology such as a handheld smart device that allowed him access to the world. He will always be remembered as a vibrant and brilliant father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who never gave up and was extremely hard-working. He sacrificed so much to build a better future for his family. He carried on the Sun family’s spirit of hard work and resourcefulness that he learned from his father and forefathers. He was the patriarch of the family and will be greatly missed. He will forever be loved and cherished by everyone who knew him. He is survived by his three sons and their spouses, eighteen grandchildren and their spouses, and twenty-eight great-grandchildren.