Born in Saigon, Phong fled Vietnam in 1981 and spent a year living in refugee camps in Malaysia and the Philippines before coming to southern California. She earned a BA from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, in 1992, being named as "Outstanding Graduate of the Year" by the art department. In 1995 she received her MFA from California State University, Fullerton. Her work has been exhibited in more than 40 solo and group shows throughout California and in Japan. She currently teaches art at California State University, Fullerton, and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.