by Kat Georges, Co-director, Three Rooms Press

After publishing Christina and Nghia M. Vo’s critically-acclaimed dual memoir, MY VIETNAM YOUR VIETNAM, we discovered that this was exactly the type of book that many members of the Vietnamese diaspora were looking for: a multi-generational look at a country that has been through tremendous changes before and after the war. Written in English, many of the younger readers expressed the desire for a Vietnamese version that they could share with their older parents and grandparents, in hopes of being able to open channels to discussion that the trauma of war had sealed. With the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war approaching on April 30, 2025, Three Rooms Press decided to publish Việt Nam Của Con, Việt Nam Của Cha, the Vietnamese edition of MVYV, and selected Kalynh Ngô as translator. I was pleased to be able to discuss with Christina and Kalynh the details of this new edition, and their own aspirations that this title will be another step on the path to healing and reconciliation.

Kat Georges: Christina, following last year’s release of My Vietnam, Your Vietnam, you have participated in numerous events discussing and reading from the book. Tell us about some of your experiences with people who you’ve encountered since the book was released last April. What has been the reaction to it in the Vietnamese diaspora community?

Christina Vo: It’s been an absolute joy to share this book with so many people and communities nationwide. One of the most rewarding aspects has been connecting with the younger generation of Vietnamese Americans actively seeking to understand their parents’ experiences and the lingering impact of those histories on their own lives. I’ve had conversations with readers who told me the book gave them the courage to start difficult but meaningful conversations with their parents—one woman shared that she finally sat down with her father to ask about his past after reading the book. Others have mentioned that reading My Vietnam, Your Vietnam helped them develop more empathy and appreciation for the struggles their parents endured. That, for me, has been the most meaningful response—knowing that the book fosters dialogue and bridges the generational gap between Vietnamese parents and their children.

KG: Kalynh, describe your initial thoughts after your first read My Vietnam, Your Vietnam.

Kalynh Ngô: When I first read My Vietnam, Your Vietnam, I felt a profound connection, as if the authors expressed my thoughts and experiences. The nature of a memoir always evokes a sense of closeness. Why did I think this way? All the events described in the book are actual and took place in my homeland. The father’s story reflects Vietnam’s past, while the daughter’s narrative resonates with my own experiences from my youth.

KG: When did you realize that a Vietnamese translation was needed for this book? What were some of the reasons you thought it should be done?

KN: As soon as I read the title, I realized this book deserved a Vietnamese version. This year marks 50 years of The Fall of Saigon. The more I read through its chapters, the more convinced I became of my initial thought—for many reasons. First, the history and wars of Vietnam are recounted by an eyewitness—the father. His stories about his life, his family, and his comrades, who moved from Vietnam to America, vividly reflect a tragic period in the country’s past. They had everything, lost it all, and then rebuilt their lives from the ground up. The daughter is a product of that rebuilding process. Many people from the father’s generation share similar family experiences, but they either haven’t told their stories or find it difficult to express them. This is why they deserve a book that speaks for them—in their language.

CV: I believe Kalynh first mentioned that this book needed to be translated. I had already started feeling this way after hearing from readers who asked if there would be a Vietnamese version—they wanted to share the book with their parents, many of whom might not read English fluently but would deeply appreciate the stories in their native language. That realization really solidified the need for a translation. This book is, in many ways, about conversations between generations, and making it accessible to both parents and children was important to us.

KG: Christina, this book was co-written by you and your father. When you were composing this, did either of you ever imagine it would also one day be published in Vietnamese?

Honestly, I didn’t imagine that it would be published in Vietnamese. I know how difficult it can be to translate a book, and it wasn’t something I envisioned when we were writing it. But now that it’s happening, I can see how important it is. The translation allows more people—especially those in my father’s generation—to engage with the book and, hopefully, use it as a starting point for meaningful conversations with their families.

KG: Kalynh—You previously translated one book into Vietnamese — The Lucky Few, by Jan K. Herman. What led you to be interested in translation? How did the translation of My Vietnam, Your Vietnam differ from your previous experience?

KN: Among human connections, besides music and art, language is among the most powerful tools that unite us. Every language has its unique way of expressing ideas, which is shaped by the culture of its speakers. One of the most significant challenges for a writer is finding the right words to convey their thoughts accurately. I enjoy taking on that challenge. The Lucky Few is a type of memoir that draws heavily on historical context and includes specialized military terminology. When translating The Lucky Few, I had to consult a maritime dictionary to ensure that I used the appropriate naval terms. One similarity between the two books is that I could discern the tragedy of the Vietnamese people’s war experience in both.

KG: How did you two decide to work together on this translation?

CV: Eek—I actually don’t remember exactly how Kalynh and I first connected! Maybe she remembers better than I do. But I do know that once we started discussing the translation, it was clear that she had the right sensibility for this project. I just remember her saying, “Christina, this has to be translated into Vietnamese”. Without her vision for the translation, I am unsure if it would’ve happened.

KN: When I interviewed Christina to write the book review, I mentioned my idea and she loved it.

KG: Kalynh, you worked directly with Christina’s father and co-author Nghia M. Vo, who reviewed your translations. What was that process like? Also, the Vietnamese language in particular has evolved rapidly over the past 50 years. What kinds of language variations did you come across, and how did you decide what words to use when options were available? Can you give us an example?

KN: Each time I finished translating a chapter or a part of it, I would send it to Mr. Nghĩa Võ to ensure the accuracy of the military rank terms used in the South Vietnamese army. Another important reason for this was that the Vietnamese language underwent two distinct phases—before and after 1975—often referred to as the language of North Vietnam. This distinction is a sensitive issue for the Vietnamese diaspora, many of whom fled the Communist regime. I was born and raised after 1975, so I have inevitably been influenced, to some extent, by the North Vietnamese vernacular. If I wanted to honor one of the authors, who was a soldier in South Vietnam, I needed to ensure I used the correct terms relevant to his generation. I faced almost no difficulty in choosing the appropriate terms from either before or after 1975.

KG: Christina—How do you foresee that people will be using the two versions of My Vietnam, Your Vietnam?

CV: I hope that more people from my father’s generation will read the Vietnamese version and that it will spark conversations with their children. Many in my generation seek to understand their parents’ past, and this book can serve as a bridge for those discussions. I also hope that Vietnamese Americans born and raised outside of Vietnam will use the book to connect with their heritage. We are looking into creating intergenerational discussion groups, where parents and children read the book together and reflect on their own family histories.

KG: Kalynh, what was your favorite part of translating this book?

KN: I loved the whole process

KG: The 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War is on April 30, 2025. Many organizations are focusing on the theme of healing. How does My Vietnam, Your Vietnam contribute to this idea of healing?

CV: This book is about bridging divides—between generations, past and present, and between different experiences of Vietnam. So much of healing comes from understanding, and My Vietnam, Your Vietnam helps people see their parents’ struggles and sacrifices in a new light while also allowing older generations to understand the perspectives of their children. The book presents just two voices—mine and my father’s—but there are so many different perspectives on Vietnam, its meaning, and how it has shaped lives. Engaging with these stories and sharing our own creates space for healing, connection, and greater compassion across generations.

KN: My Vietnam, Your Vietnam contributes to the theme of healing by offering a deeply personal and honest reflection on the generational impact of the Vietnam War. The father’s story preserves the truth of Vietnam’s painful past, the loss, displacement, and rebuilding, while the daughter’s perspective reflects the ongoing process of understanding and reconciliation. By giving voice to both experiences, the book creates a space for empathy and understanding, not only between those who lived through the war and their descendants but also between Vietnam and the Vietnamese diaspora.

Both My Vietnam, Your Vietnam and Việt Nam Của Con, Việt Nam Của Cha are available wherever fine books are sold, as well as directly from Three Rooms Press. We are currently offering a limited edition (50 copies) box set of the two books, which also includes handwritten notes by the author (in English) and the translator (in Vietnamese), as well as a list of ideas for discussion in English and Vietnamese. The set, exclusively available from Three Rooms Press, is $40 plus shipping. To purchase your copy today visit Limited Edition Box Set here.