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.
