[5] His family initially settled in Reading, Pennsylvania through Catholic church sponsorship.

Mike Tolson of the Houston Chronicle stated that animosity towards Hoang had built up among Vietnamese partly because he had made a trip to Vietnam, now under Communist rule, in 2010; older Vietnamese who fled after the Fall of Saigon still had negative feelings towards the Communists.

[8] Tolson also stated that perceptions that Hoang acted in a condescending manner towards the Vietnamese community and unproven accusations had also damaged his standing.

[8] The Houston Chronicle editorial department had recommended Hoang's reelection for the 2013 City Council election.

[1] In 2022, Al was reported by Vietnamese press that he bought an apartment in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam after he heard an advice from retired diplomat and former Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Thanh Sơn.