Alice Swann

My Journey from Saigon to Ottawa Alice Swann

I always had felt the deep desire to write about my unusual journey from Saigon to Ottawa, which occurred during the first thirty-four years of my existence.

My story is a story of faith as I converted to the Roman Catholic faith in 1962 in Belgium.

As a witness of Vietnam historythanks to my family whose many members and friends had been part of that historyI had served also the Republic of Vietnam, but my diplomatic position was cut short by the political and military tragic events happening in Saigon in 1975.

My odyssey had unexpected crossroads, honors, sorrows, and love stories. I was also the first Vietnamese girl who had represented her country at a magnificent mass celebrated by Pope Paul VI in the Basilica St. Peter on December 8, 1966.

I narrated how my journey had begun and what had happened, which made it feel like an incredible tale.