Letter to Bishop Oscar Cantu about Viet Museum, Deacon Ho Quang Nhut, Reverend Khoa Vu

 On Fri, Apr 18, 2025 at 2:08 PM Quinn Tran <quinntran8@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Bishop Cantu,

It came to our (Immigrant Resettlement & Cultural Center/Viet Museum) attention that Our Lady of La Vang Catholic Church under the name of Reverend Giuse Vu Khoa and deacon Nhut Ho  will be hosting a Black April 50th Anniversary Commemoration event to be held on April 27th, 2025 at the Viet Museum, on the grounds of History Park in San Jose.  This is shocking and surprising to the members and the board of IRCC since it was previously explained to us by History San Jose that the event would be hosted by the Catholic Association, independently of IRCC but the public announcement stated otherwise.  

While we applaud the fact that the Vietnamese Catholic Church will be holding a solemn commemoration event, we object to the church’s claim that the Viet Museum is a co-organizer of the event.  IRCC is holding a separate event at the Santa Clara County Building on the same day. This causes confusion and anguish among the large Vietnamese community, especially for those that plan to independently visit the Viet Museum and the sacred monuments in front of the museum on April 27th.   None of the museum's displays or monuments should be used as the backdrop for the Catholic Association commemoration event as that will block public access for the citizens.

As a legally members-elected board of IRCC, we respectfully request that his Excellency clarifies and corrects the public claim that involves IRCC/Viet Museum in any organizational role with the leadership of the La Vang Catholic Church and/or Catholic Association.  Additionally we would refer to the attached letter from the founder of IRCC to the CEO of History San Jose for further clarification.  We request that the correction is made immediately as April 27th is only a week away.

We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your immediate resolution of this serious matter.

Respectfully yours,

Quinn Tran

Board member, President and Executive Director

IRCC – Immigrant Resettlement and Cultural Center

650 219 5659 

IRCCVietMuseum2025@gmail.com  or quinntran8@gmail.com

 Website:https://VietIRCC.org

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Giao Chi <giaochi12@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Apr 13, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Subject: Formal Protest Against History San José’s Complicity in the Turmoil and Seizure of the Viet Museum
To: Bill Schroh <bschroh@historysanjose.org>
Cc: <matt.mahan@sanjoseca.gov>, Reed, Jim <jim.reed@sanjoseca.gov>, Maguire, Jennifer <jennifer.maguire@sanjoseca.gov>, <leland.wilcox@sanjoseca.gov>, Rios, Angel <angel.rios@sanjoseca.gov>, Thai Ha <thaiha168@yahoo.com>, Frank Nguyen <franktnguyen@gmail.com>, Quinn Tran <quinntran8@gmail.com>, Nhu-Hanh Tonnu <nhuhanh.tn@gmail.com>, Phi Ha <khanhphi.ha@gmail.com>

From: Lộc Vũ

Founding President Emeritus
Immigrant Resettlement & Cultural Center, Inc.
(The Legal Entity Responsible for the Viet Museum)

To: Mr. Bill Schroh, Jr.

President & CEO
History San José
1650 Senter Road
San José, CA 95112

Dear Mr. Schroh,

I address you not from a position of authority, but from a profound sense of moral duty. Now residing in a nursing home and near the end of my life, I have relinquished any formal responsibilities with IRCC, Inc. and the Viet Museum; my title of Founding President Emeritus remains purely honorary. Yet the legacy I have devoted my life to—and the truth I must now proclaim—remain matters of utmost importance.

The Viet Museum is far more than a mere structure; it is a sanctuary of memory, history, and heritage for 180,000 Vietnamese Americans in Santa Clara County and for millions more both nationally and globally. It stands as a testament to the heroism of our soldiers, the enduring hope of the boat people, the resilience of re-education camp survivors, and the indomitable spirit of our community.

For 45 years, I labored to build the IRCC, and for 30 years I dedicated myself to the creation of the Viet Museum. I executed the original affiliate agreement with History San José, orchestrated campaigns, amassed invaluable artifacts, mobilized volunteers, and shared the narratives that define our collective heritage. The existence of the Museum today is the culmination of our community’s devotion and my life’s work - a legacy that no one can deny or distort.

Regrettably, this cherished institution is now being held hostage.

On December 23, 2024, you altered the locks and obstructed access to the Museum under the pretext of a governance dispute - a dispute that was amicably resolved on January 11, 2025, through a duly convened Membership meeting, wherein a new board was duly elected, my resignation accepted, and the requisite legal filings completed with the State. This transition was reaffirmed at the annual meeting of the Membership on February 26, 2025, and all pertinent documentation was furnished to you.

Yet, despite this lawful transition, you have continued to deny the Museum to its rightful leadership. While invoking the notion of “neutrality,” you have failed to compel those responsible for the sabotage—a faction lacking legal standing—to desist. In the sacred month marking the 50th anniversary of the Vietnamese exodus and the commemoration of Black April, you have allowed these very individuals, who endeavored to unlawfully seize control, to orchestrate a major public event at the Viet Museum on April 27, 2025.

 In February, you stated that this April 27 event was organized by the Catholic Association and bore no affiliation with IRCC. Yet the above flyer now circulating among our community unmistakably confirms that the event is being led by the same self-declared “board” members who were not lawfully elected/reelected, who lack registration with the appropriate authorities, and who have failed to produce any governing credentials. 

Your continued claim of neutrality is, therefore, entirely indefensible.

Moreover, your inaction has precipitated widespread chaos and outrage. On the very same day that the legitimate and duly elected leadership of IRCC is hosting the 50th anniversary commemoration at the Santa Clara County Government Center—a solemn event planned in the true spirit of remembrance and community unity—an unauthorized group is staging a parallel event at the Museum itself, masquerading under the titles “IRCC” and “Viet Museum.” Here is the flyer of the real Viet Museum organization.