An was born in Việt Nam where water buffaloes plodded through rice paddies and the aroma of phở lingered in the Sài Gòn morning air. In 1975, she fled with her family and landed in the American Midwest, land of big open skies, where golden wheat fields, and buffalo—of a different kind—sizzled on backyard grills. She speaks Vietnamese and English with equal heart, and earned her degrees from Wichita State and Marquette University.

She has shared her refugee journey with students, international organizations, and local communities, hoping to turn walls into windows and judgment into compassion.

Her words have found homes in Leatherneck, Tomorrow There Will Be Sun, the other side of hope, Kill Your Darlings, Good Reading Magazine, The Manly Daily, diaCRITICS, and The VVA Veteran. She was shortlisted for The Hope Prize, a global literary award. Through her writing, she hopes to evoke emotion and compel readers to reflect on their own lives, sparking conversations and promoting positive change in the world.

One of An’s essays was selected for the 2025 Western Australia Year 12 ATAR English exam—an assessment that helps determine students’ university entrance rankings—an honour that deeply moved her, knowing her words would be read, analysed, and possibly remembered by thousands of young minds.

When she’s not writing, An steps in front of the camera—appearing in films, TV shows, commercials, and campaigns across Australia.

She lives in Sydney with her beloved crew—her family and Jack, the dog who thinks he’s human.