Joanna Nga Hoàng was born in Binh Duong, Vietnam, in 1972. In 1994, when Hoàng was twenty-two years old, she and her family left Vietnam and came to the United States. While her family settled in Los Angeles, she moved to Portland, Oregon, to be part of the congregation located here. In the past Hoàng has worked at Our Lady of Lavang Parish, but she currently works at the Archdiocese of Portland, where she has been employed for nine years.

In this interview, Hoàng starts by talking about immigrating from Vietnam to America and the loss she felt when leaving her home country. She also discusses the challenges of adjusting to a new life and culture and learning a new language, as well as the differences she noticed between California and Oregon. Hoàng then goes on to talk about her work as a nun and describes the religious organizations she has been involved with, including the Our Lady of Lavang Parish, the Archdiocese of Portland, and the Sisters Adorers of the Holy Cross of Dalat. At the end of the interview, she talks about her vocation and her commitments to God and the church.