Phone Borneo

If you are traveling to Vietnam, then it is fairly a lot impossible to ignore the truth that the country was at war for more than 20 years, and when looking at books set in Vietnam, it is just as tough to escape the impact of the war on most literary endeavors. There are quite a few fine novels written about Vietnam, but this choice attempts to present a range of views, giving you a wide perspective on the country and its history just before you make your journey.

'Matterhorn' by Karl Marlantes

Written in 1977, but only published in 2010 soon after alot more than thirty years of rejections, this novel is being described as an 'epic' and the first 'great' novel of the Vietnam War. There is no acquiring away from the realities of the war in this book, as Second Lieutenant Waino Mellas and his Bravo Provider face their fears of combat and the harshness of the jungle highlands of South-East Vietnam.

'The Man from Saigon' by Marti Leimbach

Books about the Vietnam War are frequently written from a male perspective, but with this one we meet Susan Gifford who is sent to Vietnam to write human interest stories about the war for a women's magazine. Although she might possibly be rather naive to start with, Gifford is soon covering the actual conflict, and finds herself in enjoy with Marc, a fellow journalist. But if you think this books is going to be some type of soppy romance, then you are wrong -- there are pretty couple of books I have read that so completely immerse you in the horror and fear of war as this one. And even though there is romance - the complications of Gifford's relationships, both with Marc, and her Vietnamese photographer, Son, give this novel actual emotional depth.

'Novel with out a Name' by Duong Thu Huong.

And what of 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 village significantly altered 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 which is seldom revealed. Here we see the 'glory' of the cause giving way to displacement of civilians, the hunger of villagers and the inevitable breakdown of families and relationships that are a result of sustained conflict.

'Dragon House' by John Shors

And now to modern day Vietnam, where two Americans try to deal with their own past by setting up a center to appear soon after Vietnamese street young children. On 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 battle the squalor in which they live. This book is a story of really like, hope and redemption which is a stark reminder of the legacy of conflicts past.

'Daughters of the River Huong' by Uyen Nicole Duong

Spanning 4 generations, this is a book which takes us far back into the richness of Vietnamese history, before leading us by way of colonization and war to the country we know now. Written by a political refugee who arrived in the United States when she was just sixteen, this novel tells the story of 1 loved ones of Vietnamese women, and in carrying out so reflects the struggles of a nation.

If you are about to visit Vietnam, you are visiting a country which has a distinct fascination for those of us from the West - it is impossible to travel by means of Vietnam without becoming confronted by the roles colonization and war have played in its history. Arm your self with these novels and you will be able to fully grasp just that little bit far more about the many people who walk the roads of Vietnam right now.