The four famous prisoners and their periods of imprisonment in the Communist gulags of Vietnam are: Nguyen Chi Thien (27 years), Vo Dai Ton (12 years), Phan Nhat Nam (14 years). They are moderated and connected by Ly Tong Ba, a Brigadier General of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) (12 years). You can find their descriptions and information about connecting to Paltalk in Vietnamese on http://www.vietvungvinh.com/Portal.asp?goto=VietNam/2007/20071128_03.htm These brief histories in English are written in the hope they may be useful for the planned Paltalk event on December 1, 2007. Scholarly references used for preparation are available on request. Jean Libby, editor VietAm Review   more »

Author Nguyen Chi Thien's booksigning in San Jose on November 17, 2007, revealed that he had intervened for a young girl (age 19) who was sentenced to death for burning a harassing policeman and his family in their house in Hanoi in the 1980s by helping her write to Truong Chinh, General Secretary of Vietnam, for clemency. This had never been granted before by Truong Chinh Dang Xuan Khu (1907-1988), who was a founder of the Communist government with Ho Chi Minh. The New York Times obituary by Glenn Fowler is quoted which states Truong Chinh had personal responsibility for killing as many as 50,000 of at least 200,000 killed by the Communist government during the Land Reform of 1953-1956. The story excerpt of "The Moon and Waters of the Red River" with the character of the young woman and another prisoner who was later executed was read in his written dialogue for the author at the event. A presentation of poetry reading was made by two Vietnamese Americans who are now teachers about their translation on May 1, 1981 at UC Berkeley, when they were students. The booksigning was organized by Internet Bookselling--Multicultural Perspectives. Jean Libby, editor, VietAm Review.   more »

On Saturday November 17, final Vietnamese American Authors Book Fair. It is scheduled at ViVo, (Vietnamese Voluntary Foundation, Inc.) 2260 Quimby Road, San Jose 95122 from 1 to 5 p.m. The Internet Bookselling Collection of books by Vietnamese American authors are listed on the attached order form. They may be ordered by mail as well as at the event at ViVo on November 17. The collection is also featured online at www.atozproductions.com/Vietnamese_Titles.html . There will be a Vietnamese language literary program of readings of the work of Nguyen Chi Thien beginning at 2 p.m. This is followed by a major speech by the author Nguyen Chi Thien about Human Rights in Vietnam Today, which will begin after 3 p.m. The readings and Mr. Thien's speech are in Vietnamese language which will be briefly translated. Please join me in honoring the author with his new work published by Yale University Council on Southeast Asia Studies, the Hoa Lo/Hanoi Hilton Stories. This is English translation of the original Vietnamese Hoa Lo published by Nguyen Ngoc Bich in 2001. Mr. Bich is one of the volunteer translators. The others are journalist Saroyan Vann Phan, Tran Van Dien (the father of Assemblyman Van Tran of Garden Grove), and Nguyen Kiem Phong of Canada. Both hardback and paper editions will be available for signing by the author. Sincerely, Jean Libby Internet Bookselling proprietor Editor, VietAm Review   more »