The fall of Saigon 50 years ago marked the end of the Vietnam War, and for WCCO's Pauleen Le, it marked the start of her family's immigration story to America — one that resonates with so many Minnesotan families.
Minnesota has a rich history of welcoming refugees to the state, and were among the top 10 across the country to do so following the end of the Vietnam War on April 30, 1975.
The Hmong diaspora to Minnesota started nearly 50 years ago with one man: Leng Wong. He fled his home of Laos, arriving at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, in the bitter cold, on Feb. 7, 1976.
