Arrived in US at age 2, and raised in Sunnyvale, California. His father ran a video store and he soon was inspired to make his own Super8 movies. Studied film at LA's Loyola Marymount University. Visited Vietnamese several times before making first short film, Yellow Lotus (1995). His 2nd film, Three Seasons (1999) was first American film shot in Vietnam, with local actors and language. Next film set in NY and Hong Kong.