Kalynh Ngô
Biography
Born and raised in Saigon, Kalynh Ngo developed a deep love for Northern Vietnamese culture. A passionate journalist, writer, and storyteller, Kalynh is dedicated to uncovering the power of words. Throughout her career, she has been drawn to the stories of resilience, loss, and unyielding hope, exploring the lives of ordinary individuals caught in extraordinary circumstances.
Kalynh received the first prize in Feature Writing In-Language Print at the California Ethnic Media Awards in both 2021 and 2023. Believing that stories extend beyond wars and politics, Kalynh focuses on the emotions, dreams, and struggles of those who lived through war but were never the ones to write history. This perspective shaped her fellowship project last year, The ‘Invisible Enemy’ of Vietnamese Descent Over the Past Half-Century, which highlighted the mental health challenges facing Vietnamese Americans.
As a translator, Kalynh worked on My Vietnam, Your Vietnam, marking her second book. Her debut translation was The Lucky Few – The Fall of Saigon and the Rescue Mission of the USS Kirk by Jan Herman.
Firmly believing that storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to honor the past and illuminate the future, Kalynh expresses this passion through writing and painting—a creative refuge from the chaos of society.
Books
Ký sự về những hành trình khác nhau của cha và con. Người cha từng trốn khỏi Việt Nam sau chiến tranh trên một chiếc thuyền nhỏ để tìm chốn dung thân ở Hoa Kỳ. Con gái của ông, người sinh ra ở Mỹ, đã mạo hiểm quay về Việt Nam khi trưởng thành để tìm lại nguồn cội. Hồi ký đồng hành của cha và con ghi lại sự tương phản hoàn toàn trong quan điểm của hai người đối với quê hương Việt Nam. Nhưng cũng từ đó, họ tìm thấy sự đồng điệu và con đường đưa đến sự hàn gắn cho nhau – đó chính là tình yêu đối với Việt Nam, cho dù đó là Việt Nam Của Con hay Việt Nam của Cha.
This memoir delves into the contrasting journeys of a father and daughter. The father fled Vietnam after the war on a small boat, seeking refuge in the United States. His daughter, born in America, later took the bold step of returning to Vietnam as an adult to reconnect with her roots. This dual memoir highlights the stark contrast between their perspectives on Vietnam. However, through their individual journeys, they discover common ground and a path toward healing—united by their love for Vietnam, whether it is My Vietnam or Your Vietnam.