The Perfume River: An Anthology of Writing from Vietnam — Cathy Cole

The Perfume River offers perspectives on Vietnam from both inside and outside the country. The diverse array of writers include renowned authors of the Vietnamese literary canon, second generation ex-pats based in Australia and America, and non-Vietnamese authors who have special ties with the country and its culture. The only book of its kind on the market, The Perfume River is a collection of short stories and poetry. It explores a multitude of rich themes including origin, the rural/urban divide in Vietnam, family, the generation gap, lost love, the effects of war, migration, a foreigner's impressions/descriptions of Vietnam, the East/West divide, ex-pats, Western attitudes to Vietnam and Asia, Vietnamese attitudes to the West, and everyday life in Vietnam. With 32 contributors - including Nam Le, Andrew Lam, Bao Ninh, Pham Thi Hoai, and Pam Brown - The Perfume River provides a unique insight into Vietnam and will be of interest to the (armchair) traveler or indeed anyone interested in understanding more about this gentle culture.