Cover Turn the pages of history to relive a time when the nation wrote its most heroic chapter
Turn the pages of history to relive a time when the nation wrote its most heroic chapter
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Trace the contours of national memory through each page, reflecting on the heroic period of history marked by April 30th.
Across the country, flags ripple in the breeze as celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification come to life. Amid grand commemorations and spirited gatherings, there is also time for quiet reflection. Picking up a book and reading the accounts of those who lived through those defining years offers a deeper understanding of a momentous era—and the people who helped shape it. Tatler Vietnam invites you to revisit those chapters through literature that opens a gateway to the nation’s storied past.
Read more: Legacy 50: 6 museums to visit this April 30
From Ben Hai River to Independence Palace
Among the most noteworthy releases from Alpha Books for the occasion is From Ben Hai River to Independence Palace by Major General Hoang Dan. This work brings together diaries, letters and personal notes meticulously compiled from extensive family archives, offering readers a textured and compelling view of the nation’s long and trying journey.
In the foreword, former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu reflects: “Speaking of Comrade Hoang Dan—General Hoang Dan—everyone in the army knows and admires him. A man whose life and career were almost entirely devoted to military service…”
Above The unpolished, powerful pages reveal the portrait of a gifted strategist (photo: Alpha Books)
The unpolished, powerful pages reveal the portrait of a gifted strategist (photo: Alpha Books)
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The unpolished, powerful pages—like the battlefields General Hoang Dan once traversed—reveal the portrait of a gifted strategist. He was not only a commanding officer who guided his comrades through missions where lives were at stake, but also a respected teacher of military science, a devoted husband and a father who held his children to high standards.
In a letter to his wife, Nguyen Thi An Vinh, dated 10 May 1975, General Hoang Dan wrote: “You often say that I am so eager to fight that I forget about my family, and have not even reached the battlefield yet. I think that fighting the enemy well is taking care of the country and also taking care of the family. That way, our children will not have to fight anymore. If I have not finished my life, and my children have to do it, then I should feel ashamed.”
Memoirs of Nguyen Thi Binh: People, friends and country
No tribute to the country’s great minds would be complete without honouring one of Vietnam’s most esteemed diplomats, former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh. Granddaughter of the patriot Phan Chau Trinh, she was the sole woman among the four-party delegation at the 1973 Paris Peace Talks.
This April, the National Truth Political Publishing House and Omega Vietnam released, for the second time, People, Friends and Country—a memoir by Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh, first written in 2007 when she was 80 years old. Since its initial release, the book has undergone numerous revisions and additions, providing readers with a fuller perspective on her life and career.
Read more: Legacy 50: April 30 legacy through the memoirs of diplomat Nguyen Thi Binh
Above With its simple, accessible language and rich imagery, this memoir offers a rare insight into a woman whose influence on Vietnamese history is undeniable (photo: Alpha Books)
With its simple, accessible language and rich imagery, this memoir offers a rare insight into a woman whose influence on Vietnamese history is undeniable (photo: Alpha Books)
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Across 14 chapters, from childhood memories to pivotal historical decisions during the two resistance wars—against the French (1945-1954) and the Americans (1954-1975)—as well as the country’s post-war construction, readers are invited to engage with the thoughts, feelings, and reflections of a woman described as “petite, humble yet erudite, approachable but elegant” (writer Nguyen Ngoc).
In her memoirs, Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh reflects: “I like to compare our country to a boat. Through many rapids, the boat of the Fatherland has reached the ocean, ahead is a new horizon!”
With its simple, accessible language and rich imagery, this memoir offers a rare insight into a woman whose influence on Vietnamese history is undeniable.
The cards are up
On this occasion, Tre Publishing House brings the novel Van bai lat ngua back to readers in a completely new format: a six-volume set with a modern yet nostalgic cover and box design. First published in 1986, the book recounts the history of intelligence officer Nguyen Thanh Luan, a character inspired by the real-life Colonel and Hero of the People’s Armed Forces, Pham Ngoc Thao.
With a compelling and dramatic plot centred on mind games, the novel sheds light on the crucial yet often unheralded role of intelligence officers—brave men and women with sharp minds and fierce patriotism, whose contributions were vital to the national liberation struggle. It also explores the dangers inherent in the intelligence profession and the intricate political calculations involved in a tumultuous period of the country’s history.
Above Van Bai Lat Ngua in a completely new format (Photo: Tre Publishing House)
Van Bai Lat Ngua in a completely new format (Photo: Tre Publishing House)
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In addition, readers can explore cultural, geographical, and historical works such as Saigon Through Memories (Le Van Nghia), Saigon Miscellany (Vuong Hong Sen), Questions and Answers on Saigon Gia Dinh Geography (Nguyen Dinh Dau), and many more, each offering fascinating stories of the Southern land. Works like Saigon Commandos, Tank Soldiers’ Notes—Journey to the Independence Palace, and Lucky Spies provide further perspectives on the journey of the previous generation.
History and culture are rich with depth and diversity. Each book offers a new layer of understanding, enriching our knowledge and broadening our perspective. As we come to better understand the land we call home, we are reminded of our responsibility to preserve, nurture, and promote the cherished values of our homeland.
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