The California law enforcement community has demonstrated a tendency to suspect criminal involvement when none exists and to quantify suspected criminal organizations in identical terms. In addition, Vietnamese residents of California and elsewhere are the subject of much distrust. At the same time, the reality of Vietnamese criminal involvement in California is being overlooked. For example, evidence indicates that Vietnamese illegals have infiltrated segments of the parcel forwarding business and that underground currency exporters abound. The effect of the Vietnam War on the behavior of Vietnamese refugees in the United States is considered. The author suggests that special problems of refugees, including involvement in criminal activity, need to be solved rather than exploited.