When he fled Communist Vietnam in 1979, death was certain if caught.
Today, his hot sauce is in 1 out of 10 American homes:
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The incredible story of David Tran and Sriracha 🧵
1979: David Tran fled Vietnam with his family.
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His only possession? 100 ounces of gold hidden in cans of condensed milk to evade Communist authorities.
As a former Major in the South Vietnamese army, he knew discovery meant certain death.
That gold would change everything...
After a harrowing escape, Tran and his family spent 30 days on the Taiwanese freighter "Huey Fong."
British authorities in Hong Kong wouldn't let them dock. No country would take them. Food and water running low.