Nearly two years have passed since Hurricane Katrina devastated swathes of the U.S. Gulf Coast, including the vibrant city of New Orleans. Since then, some who fled the region have returned, while others have chosen to start anew elsewhere. Among those who elected not to go back is a tight-knit Vietnamese-American family that had been a fixture of the New Orleans restaurant scene. Malcolm Brown reports on the Cao family's attempts to rebuild a business, far from the city they know.

Anh-Thu Vu Cao

That easy life came to an end when Hurricane Katrina wrecked the city and other Gulf Coast areas.

The Caos fled the advancing storm and ended up with relatives in the historic city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania -- almost 2,000 kilometers away.

The scenes, captured on a family video, when the Caos were allowed back into New Orleans in October 2005, dashed any hopes of a rapid recovery.

Vy Banh

Safer, yes, but not without considerable financial risk. Family members pooled their savings and bought a site, in a city they barely knew. With money tight, they did all the renovation work themselves.

Staff members who managed their own restaurants in New Orleans now wait tables, often working seven days a week. Banh says,  "It's been pretty rough. I mean, just getting used to living differently from what we were accustomed to."

For the older generation this is the second time they have started from scratch. Anh-Thu Vu Cao and her husband Chau fled their native Vietnam in 1975, just before the fall of Saigon. The family left behind a chain of restaurants started by her father.

The lifetime of experience is paying off again in their new location.

Dan Tran

That verdict seems to be shared by the many repeat customers and obviously bodes well for the restaurant's future. There's even talk of a modest expansion. That said, they estimate that Katrina set their business back five years.