My Vietnam, Your Vietnam - by Christina Vo & Nghia M Vo (Paperback)

About the Book

"A chronicle of the divergent journeys of a father, who fled post-war Vietnam on a small boat to find refuge in the United States, and his American-born daughter, who ventures to Vietnam as an adult, capturing the stark contrast between their perspectives as they strive to heal the longterm wounds of war" --

Book Synopsis

"Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2024" --Ms. Magazine

A chronicle of the divergent journeys of a Vietnamese father, who fled his home country in desperation, and his American-born daughter, who ventured to Vietnam as an adult, capturing the stark contrast between their perspectives as they strive to heal the long-term wounds of war refugees.

In this captivating, heartfelt dual memoir, Christina Vo and her father, Nghia M. Vo, delve into themes of their identity, heritage, and the tragic multi-generational ordeals of war, with intertwined stories that present a multifaceted portrayal of Vietnam and its profound influence on shaping both familial bonds and individual identities across time.

Nghia M. Vo left Vietnam in April 1975 with only the clothes on his back, following the US withdrawal of troops and the fall of Saigon. After a harrowing two month journey, he found himself in a refugee camp outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where he began the painful process of reconnecting with his family and rebuilding his life as a medical doctor. Christina Vo, Nghia's daughter, grew up in the US. As a restless young adult, she felt a longing to connect with her heritage and soon moved to Hanoi in the former North Vietnam--much to her father's distress--to discover a country that had changed dramatically since the war, yet retained many of the ancient traits experienced by her ancestors.

Captivating in its fluid movement and evocative depictions of place, My Vietnam, Your Vietnam offers readers a rich, multilayered exploration of Vietnam through two very distinct voices and perspectives. The memoir's exploration of healing the trauma suffered by war refugees and their families echoes far beyond the personal experience of the two authors, providing a path to discussion of reconciliation and hope.

Review Quotes

High Praise for My Vietnam, Your Vietnam

"Nghia's and Christina's Vietnams are different, but in their intertwining, an evocative story emerges about what could have been -- and might still be -- for a father and daughter caught between cultures." --Washington Independent Review of Books

"My Vietnam, Your Vietnam is a book for those who left their homeland but still hold a deep longing for the Vietnam that lives in their memory. It is also for the children born in foreign lands who yearn to understand their roots. And it is for anyone who wishes to witness a sincere dialogue between two generations--between those who have never truly left Vietnam in their hearts, and those who are trying to find their way back." --Việt Báo

"My Vietnam, Your Vietnam is not just a personal story, but a mirror reflecting history, culture, and the profound effects of war on individuals and families. Through the pages of the book, readers will feel the tension between the past and the present, between painful memories and the desire to heal." --Đường Văn, Hà Nội

"In this dual memoir, with alternating chapters between father and daughter, we get a look at one country in two very different times: Before and during war, and healing from said war. Both Nghia and Christina may be talking about Vietnam, but they are two very different Vietnams....Just as people evolve and move on from trauma (or at least try to), the places we leave behind are not frozen in time. But despite all of this change, we can still find threads that run through these places and tie us to one another." --Northwest Asian Weekly

"As both writers negotiate their divergent relationships to Vietnam, they find resonances between their stories, sparking recognition and mutual healing." --Remembering Saigon

"Most Anticipated Feminist Books" --Ms. Magazine

"An experimental sort of conversation through time between a daughter finding her way in Vietnam as a born-and-raised American, and a father trying to integrate his origins with a new life as an American physician. . . . Lovely and compelling." --Vietnam Veterans Association Books in Review II

"A remarkable dual memoir co-authored by Christina Vo and her father. Their narratives weave together, offering contrasting yet captivating perspectives on their time in a country marked by the scars of war. Through vivid storytelling, they immerse readers in their memories, painting a vibrant portrait of Vietnam's landscapes and culture." --Phoebe Nguyen, Superstition Review

"While Christina Vo and her father share a common Vietnamese heritage, their experiences of the place and its effect on them are vastly different. This extraordinary dual memoir illustrates the pain of intergenerational trauma, the power of healing and the reality that two divergent perspectives can be true at once." --Ms. Magazine

"Inherently fascinating, exceptionally thoughtful and thought-provoking, impressively well written, organized and presented, My Vietnam, Your Vietnam is an informed and informative read from start to finish and a brilliant, unreservedly recommended pick." --Midwest Review of Books

"Nghia M. Vo's masterful storytelling of both his love of Vietnamese history and what he remembers of Vietnam during the war is vivid and refreshingly honest. . . . Christina's journey to Vietnam two decades ago illuminates a significant and ongoing conversation shared by many Viet Americans and other fellow Việt Kiều's--navigating the return to a family homeland . . . With the elderly Vietnamese / SE Asian refugee population aging, this dual memoir is an opportunity to share and document these stories about the community while providing a pathway toward healing between generations." --Randy Kim, Bánh Mì Bites

"Combines the fraught tension of Ava Chin's Mott Street and the tenderness of Elliot Tiber's Taking Woodstock . . . A nuanced contribution to the literature of the Vietnamese diaspora." --Kirkus Reviews

"A stunning, prismatic memoir about Vietnam's past and present as experienced by two generations." --Foreword Reviews

"A father-daughter memoir that highlights the complex nature of memory and perspective. Recommended for readers interested in personal narratives of connection." --Library Journal

"My Vietnam, Your Vietnam crosses borders and generations to give a panoramic view of a people. With heartfelt honesty, both Christina and Nghia grapple with displacement and identity in the long aftermath of war. A more extraordinary duet has never been written." --Eric Nguyen, author, Things We Lost to the Water

"Written by a daughter and her father, My Vietnam, Your Vietnam is a search for home, belonging and reconciliation. It is an unforgettable read for anyone who has been affected by trauma and who needs to find healing for themselves and for those they love." --Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, author, Dust Child

"The pendulum of life and viewpoints between father and daughter couldn't swing farther apart in this dual memoir. How bare the threads that stitch two lives together yet weave a bond that is undeniably strong. My Vietnam, Your Vietnam is an engrossing dual memoir of two generations steeped in loss and forged in trust. Beautifully written and a triumphant homage to one's homeland." --Amy M. Le, award-winning author, Snow in Vietnam; CEO, Quill Hawk Publishing

"This book is many things: an illustration of Vietnam seen through the prism of a father-daughter duo; a history of an upheaval country; a diligent search for understanding; a contemplation of identity; a longing for belonging; a detailed, multifaceted look into the life of an immigrant family and the barriers children of immigrants face in connecting with their parents' culture, legacy, and heritage; a powerful narrative of the forces that shape how we define ourselves." --Allison Hong Merrill, author, Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops

"Nghia Vo and Christina Vo have composed a beautifully written story." --Roger Canfield, author, Hawks on the Other Side: Vietnam Peace Movement 1963-1967

[For audiobook: Audiofile Magazine Earphone Awards Winner] "With [Quyen Ngo's] warm delivery, she moves listeners and captures the story's poignant themes of loss, yearning for belonging, and searching for identity. A thought-provoking listening experience... " --Audiofile Magazine

About the Author

Christina Vo is a Santa Fe-based author whose work delves into themes such as loss, intergenerational trauma, healing, identity, and the notions of home and reconciliation. Her second book, My Vietnam, Your Vietnam, is an intergenerational memoir co-written with her father. Christina is also the author of The Veil Between Two Worlds: A Memoir of Silence, Loss, and Finding Home. With a background in international work, Christina has experience at UNICEF, the World Economic Forum, and various nonprofits. She currently works at Stanford University and holds an MSc from the London School of Economics. Additional information at christinavo.com to learn more.

Nghia M. Vo, a retired physician, is an independent researcher of Vietnamese history and culture. He has written many books on Vietnamese culture and works to document Vietnamese-American culture through conferences and publications. Recent books include The Vietnamese Boat People, Saigon: A History, and The Trung Sisters.