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In the early hours of April 30, 1975, as American forces scrambled to evacuate Saigon, countless Vietnamese civilian allies fought to secure a place on U.S. planes and helicopters. Soon after, North Vietnamese Army tanks breached the gates of the Presidential Palace, signaling the conclusion of the Vietnam War. Fifty years later, nations like Vietnam and the United States, along with others affected by the conflict, continue to reckon with the war’s complex legacy. As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Saigon’s fall, I have compiled a list of historical fiction that delves into the Vietnam War and its enduring effects.
Many prominent works addressing the Vietnam War tend to focus on American viewpoints, including classics such as Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried and Kristin Hannah’s forthcoming The Women. However, a noticeable absence in many lists on this subject is literature by Vietnamese authors, offering perspectives from characters who lived through and inherited the traumas of violence and political turmoil in their homeland. These works, authored by Vietnamese writers and authors from Vietnamese communities worldwide, provide deeper explorations of the war, its conclusion, and its lasting ramifications on Vietnamese history and culture.
The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, a celebrated Vietnamese poet and novelist, is renowned for her remarkable storytelling that traverses generations, conflicts, and transformative political changes. In her debut novel, The Mountains Sing, she presents an intricate narrative of the Trần family. The matriarch, Trần Diệu Lan, finds herself compelled to flee her family farm in North Vietnam with six children due to threats of violence from the communist regime. This separation results in her children being scattered across North and South Vietnam as she faces harrowing decisions for their survival. This insightful work offers multifaceted views on Vietnam’s history and is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand its rich culture during and after the war.
Dust Child by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
It’s important to mention another remarkable novel by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, Dust Child, which similarly weaves narratives around the Vietnam War’s impact across generations, though with different timelines and perspectives shared through both Vietnamese and American characters. The story features Phong, a child left at an orphanage by a Vietnamese mother and a Black American soldier, who dreams of a better life while facing discrimination. Concurrently, American veteran Dan returns to Vietnam years later in search of the woman he loved during the war, who was left pregnant with his child. The narrative interlaces their experiences, exposing the political influences and personal traumas that have shaped their lives.
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Viet Thanh Nguyen’s The Sympathizer provides a compelling account of the chaos surrounding the Vietnam War’s conclusion and the ensuing struggles faced by both American and Vietnamese individuals. The protagonist is a captain of the South Vietnamese military who is also a secret spy for the North. The story unfolds as he escapes to California with American forces, keeping his dual allegiances and the conflicts of identity with him. This novel is a captivating blend of dark comedy, espionage, and complex human emotions, and it has been adapted into a gripping mini-series by HBO.
She Weeps Each Time You’re Born by Quan Barry
Quan Barry’s novel takes a unique approach to the Vietnam War through elements of magical realism in She Weeps Each Time You’re Born. The protagonist, Rabbit, is named after the full moon of her birth, from which she emerges from her mother’s lifeless form. Gifted with the remarkable ability to hear the voices of the deceased, Rabbit embarks on a journey through Vietnam, illuminating her country’s long history of suffering as she learns from the experiences of the dead. This stunning narrative powerfully encapsulates the ongoing legacy of grief and loss stemming from the war.
The Sorrow of War by Bảo Ninh, translated by Phan Thanh Hảo
While numerous narratives focus on American soldiers’ experiences during the Vietnam War, literature that presents the perspectives of North Vietnamese soldiers is rarer. Bảo Ninh’s The Sorrow of War, authored by a North Vietnamese veteran, provides a poignant exploration of the conflict through the eyes of Kien, who endures the brutality of war for eleven years. Following his return, he grapples with profound trauma, addiction, and a deep sense of loss for his friends and family. This novel offers a necessary counter-narrative that sheds light on another dimension of the Vietnam War experience.
Wandering Souls by Cecile Pin
Cecile Pin’s narrative in Wandering Souls highlights the experiences of survivors following the conflict’s end. It tells the story of three siblings forced to abandon their homeland in the wake of war. After escaping to Hong Kong, tragedy strikes, leaving eldest sister Anh to care for her younger brothers amidst the uncertainty of resettlement. Spanning refugee camps and foreign lands, this lyrical narrative reveals their emotional struggle as they seek a better future while navigating grief and loss.
Banyan Moon by Thao Thai
The reverberations of war extend beyond those immediately involved, influencing generations that follow. In Banyan Moon, Thao Thai chronicles the interconnected lives of three generations of women profoundly marked by the Vietnam War. From Minh’s teenage years during the conflict to her immigration to Florida in pursuit of a better life for her children, the narrative explores their complex relationship with their past and each other. This layered story spans from the tumultuous 1960s in Vietnam to present-day Florida, highlighting the challenges of healing and inheritance amidst the long shadow of war.
Butterfly Yellow by Thanhhà Lại
In Thanhhà Lại’s Butterfly Yellow, readers are taken on an emotional journey of two siblings whose lives are irrevocably altered by the Vietnam War. Twelve-year-old Hằng is determined to reunite with her younger brother Linh after he is taken on a flight meant for orphaned Vietnamese children at the war’s end. Years later, Hằng arrives in Texas, where she seeks to find Linh once more and confront the possibility that he might not remember her. Despite its youthful audience, Butterfly Yellow carries universal themes of familial bonds and the impact of conflict that resonate with readers of all ages.
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