Falling for Saigon
Brixton Ink · Paperback · May 1, 2025
Fifty years ago, when the longest and most unpopular war in American history finally ended, Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, was left traumatised by the conflict and cut off from the world.
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- Who it’s for
- Connla Stokes’s essays trace Ho Chi Minh City’s changing identity, hospitality, food, and social life.
- Themes
- Saigon’s evolving identity, Vietnamese diaspora and return, Food and social life in Ho Chi Minh City
- Genres
- Travel Writing, Southeast Asia Travel
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Start with this bookAbout this book
Fifty years ago, when the longest and most unpopular war in American history finally ended, Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, was left traumatised by the conflict and cut off from the world. Boatloads of Vietnamese, fearing their future under the rule of the Communist party, took their chances on the seas, never imagining they would ever wish to return.
Continue reading
However, for the last three decades overseas Vietnamese of all ages have been flocking back to what has become one of the fastest growing cities in Southeast Asia (home to over 10 million people). They’ re not alone. Today Ho Chi Minh City, renamed in 1976 in honour of Vietnam’ s founding father, is a pulsating, multicultural hub that is welcoming the world. While the powering economy and vibrant start-up culture are undoubtedly part of the attraction for Generations X, Y and Z, you can still find oodles of ‘ old Saigon’ flavour. The city’ s age-old hospitality, glorious food offerings, fun-loving social scene, and the seductive Saigonese way of life win everyone over. The city’ s timeless charm endures and its residents’ love of life prevails. These poignant essays are a reminder that the time to go to it, and fall for it, is now.
Saigon in Transition
Connla Stokes’s essays trace Ho Chi Minh City’s changing identity, hospitality, food, and social life.
Come here for
- Essays on overseas Vietnamese returning to Ho Chi Minh City
- Old Saigon flavour alongside the city’s changing identity
Expect
- The city’s start-up culture and powering economy
- A portrait of Saigonese hospitality and everyday charm
Where it sits
| Southeast Asia Travel | 84% |
|---|---|
| Travel Writing | 60% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Personal Memoirs
- Southeast Asia Travel
- Authors
- Connla Stokes
- Publisher
- Brixton Ink
- Published
- May 1, 2025
- Format
- Paperback
- Theme
- Saigon’s evolving identity · Vietnamese diaspora and return · Food and social life in Ho Chi Minh City
- Reading lane
- Personal Memoirs