No room for racism in Katanning

A customer’s racist remarks have compelled Cindy Doan of Vietnamese Cafe & Pho to publicly call out the behaviour as unacceptable — a stance that has found overwhelming support among the Katanning community. “Is it so hard to speak English?” the customer reportedly commented to another patron following a misunderstanding at the cafe counter. “It’s been a few incidents here and there, but that just pushed it,” Ms Doan said. “I don’t want to be telling an older person what is right — as a 17-year-old I know what’s right, and they should as well. “I come to work to serve and be happy to the customers, not confront people.” Ms Doan, the daughter of Vietnamese Cafe & Pho owners Tina and Kiet Doan, was working at the family-operated Vietnamese cafe on Clive Street when she decided to stand up for her cousin who was serving the customer. “I asked her what she said, and she went quiet, so I repeated the question,” Ms Doan said. “We don’t want to make a big deal out of it, but with that kind of comment I get offended. “My parents aren’t from Australia, they don’t have the bigg-est language in English, and it’s hard to hear people making comments that aren’t necessary.” Ms Doan’s parents, Tina and Kiet Doan, have run the cafe in Katanning for five years. The food industry plays a special and significant role in the life of the Doan family. Prior to arriving in Katanning, Mr and Mrs Doan operated a restaurant in Perth and relatives of Ms Doan operate cafes and restaurants across the Great Southern. “I like seeing people enjoy our food,” Ms Doan said. After calling the behaviour out on social media, the Doan family have been inundated with support from regular customers and the broader Katanning community. “Thank you for supporting us,” Ms Doan said, “Thanks for showing love towards our business no matter what, and showing respect to my parents. “It feels like a whole big family that we serve — Mum is always very welcoming and it’s nice to see people talk to her just as they talk to me.”