Christine is the youngest of three siblings who grew up in Bien Hoa, a small town about 50 miles from Saigon in South Vietnam.  Growing up in communist-ruled Vietnam in the 1970's was tough.  This experience groomed her for her hard work of operating a restaurant six days a week, serving fresh, not frozen, Asian cusine to satisfied customers.  Christine had her own restaurant in Vietnam when she was 15.  It was located in an outdoor market.

 

Christine left Vietnam in 1990 and settled in her mother's San Antonio home at the age of 24.  She worked as a waitress at the Kim Tran Vietnamese Restaurant.

 

In June 2001, Vietnam Gardens opened for business at Blanco and Jackson Keller.

 

Christine works 12 hour days, 6 days a week and on her one day off, Sunday, she still shops for supplies and groceries.

 

She came to the United States looking for her dream and has found that dream.