If you travel to Vietnam, it’s almost impossible to ignore the fact that the country was at war for over 20 years, and when you look at books set in Vietnam, it’s just as hard to escape the impact of the war. in most literary endeavors. There are many good novels written about Vietnam, but this selection attempts to present a variety of points of view, giving you a broad perspective on the country and its history before you set out on your journey.
Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes
Written in 1977, but only published in 2010 after more than thirty years of rejection, this novel is being described as an ‘epic’ and the first ‘great’ Vietnam War novel. There is no escape from the realities of war in this book, as 2nd Lieutenant Waino Mellas and his Bravo company confront their fears of combat and the harshness of the jungle highlands of southeastern Vietnam.
‘The Man from Saigon’ by Marti Leimbach
Books about the Vietnam War are often written from a male perspective, but in this one we meet Susan Gifford, who is sent to Vietnam to write human interest stories about the war for a women’s magazine. While she may be quite naive at first, Gifford soon covers up the real conflict and falls in love with Marc, a fellow journalist. But if you think this book is going to be some kind of corny romance, then you’re wrong: there are very few books I’ve read that immerse you so completely in the horror and fear of war as this one. And while there is romance, the complications of Gifford’s relationships, both with Marc and with her Vietnamese photographer Son of her, give this novel real emotional depth.
‘Novel without a name’ by Duong Thu Huong.
And the North Vietnamese soldier? In this novel we share the story of Quan, a soldier who has been at war for ten years, only to return to a much changed village in his absence. Written by a woman who has been imprisoned for her political beliefs, the novel captures Quan’s disillusionment and loss of innocence, giving us a side of the war that is rarely revealed. Here we see the ‘glory’ of the cause giving way to the displacement of civilians, the starvation of villagers, and the inevitable breakdown of families and relationships that are the result of sustained conflict.
‘Dragon House’ by John Shores
And now to modern Vietnam, where two Americans try to come to terms with their own past by establishing a center to care for Vietnamese street children. Upon arrival, the duo are confronted with the corruption and chaos of Ho Chi Minh City, and as readers, we are treated to all the sounds and smells that bring the streets to life. But it is the children who will steal your heart in this novel, taking you with them as they fight against the misery in which they live. This book is a story of love, hope and redemption that is a stark reminder of the legacy of past conflicts.
‘Daughters of the Huong River’ by Uyen Nicole Duong
Spanning four generations, this is a book that takes us into the richness of Vietnamese history, before taking us through colonization and war to the country we know today. Written by a political refugee who came to the United States when she was only sixteen, this novel tells the story of a family of Vietnamese women and in doing so reflects the struggles of a nation.
If you are about to visit Vietnam, you are visiting a country that holds a particular fascination for Westerners: It is impossible to travel through Vietnam without coming face to face with the roles that colonization and warfare have played in its history. Arm yourself with these novels and you will be able to understand a little more about the people on the roads of Vietnam today.