If you’re traveling to Vietnam, it’s almost impossible to ignore the fact that the country has been at war for over 20 years, and when looking at books set in Vietnam, it’s just as hard to escape the impact of war. in most literary efforts. There are many good novels written about Vietnam, but this selection attempts to present a variety of viewpoints, 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 rejections, this novel is being described as an ‘epic’ and the first ‘great’ novel of the Vietnam War. In this book there is no escaping the realities of war as Second Lieutenant Waino Mellas and his Bravo company face their fears of combat and the harshness of the jungle highlands of southeast 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 can be quite naive at first, Gifford soon covers up the actual conflict and falls for Marc, a fellow journalist. But if you think this book is going to be some kind of maudlin romance, then you’re wrong: there are very few books I’ve read that immerse you as 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 her Vietnamese photographer Son Hers, give this novel real emotional depth.

‘Nameless Novel’ 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 greatly changed town 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.

‘House of the Dragon’ by John Shores

And now to modern Vietnam, where two Americans try to deal with their own past by setting up a center to care for Vietnamese street children. Upon arrival, the duo confronts the corruption and chaos of Ho Chi Minh City, and as readers, we are delighted with 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 just sixteen, this novel tells the story of a family of Vietnamese women and, in doing so, reflects on the struggles of a nation.

If you’re about to visit Vietnam, you’re visiting a country that holds a particular fascination for Westerners: it’s impossible to travel through Vietnam without coming face to face with the roles that colonization and war have played in its history. Arm yourself with these novels and you will be able to understand a little more about the people who travel the roads of Vietnam today.