An all-day event celebrating Vietnamese diasporic literature.
Sunday, April 6, 2025
10:00am - 5:00pm
Bower's Museum
2002 N Main St., Santa Ana, CA
50 Years of Storytelling: The Evolution of Vietnamese American Voices in Literature
10:30 AM - 11:40 AM
- For 50 years, Vietnamese American literature has evolved from stories of war and displacement to rich, multifaceted narratives of identity, belonging, and reinvention. Joining our panel is Viet Thanh Nguyen, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Sympathizer—a New York Times bestseller now adapted into an HBO TV series, Andrew Lam, an award-winning journalist and author of Perfume Dreams, East Eats West, and Birds of Paradise Lost, Lan Cao, a legal scholar and author of Monkey Bridge, The Lotus and the Storm, and Family in Six Tones. Discover how Vietnamese American authors have reshaped literature, capturing the complexities of history, memory, and the immigrant experience while inspiring generations of readers and writers. The panel will be moderated by UCLA Professor, Thuy Vo-Dang, and there will be a book signing/meet and greet after the panel discussion.
Storytime Adventures: Celebrating Vietnamese Tales & Imagination (Courtyard)
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Put on your áo dài and step into a world of storytelling as we celebrate Vietnamese culture and imagination! This interactive session brings cherished Vietnamese stories to life through storytelling and fun activities for families and children of all ages. Joining us for this vibrant experience are the Miss Vietnam of Southern California 2025 Royal Court and celebrity fashion designer Thai Nguyen, co-host of Netflix’s Say I Do and author of Mai’s Áo Dài. The host of the children’s storytime will be Jennifer Trần (Cô Phở) – Co-Founder of Mommy & Me Vietnamese, and there will be a book signing/meet and greet after the programming. Free Children’s activities presented by the Vietnamese American High School Alliance (VAHSA) will happen in the John Lee Court. This programming is co-presented by VROC.
The Path to Publication
1:00 PM - 2:40 PM
- The journey to publication is filled with challenges, especially for Vietnamese diaspora writers bringing their unique stories to the world. Joining our panel will be Carolyn Huynh, author of The Family Recipe and The Fortune of the Jaded Women, Chef Tu David Phu, a San Francisco Chronicle Rising Star and Top Chef alum, is the author of The Memory of Taste, and Vinh Nguyen, University of Waterloo professor and author of The Migrant Rain Falls in Reverse.Whether you're an aspiring writer or a literary enthusiast, join us for an inspiring conversation on amplifying Vietnamese voices in publishing. The panel will be moderated by Anh Do, Deputy Editor for Culture and Talent, Los Angeles Times, and there will be a book signing/meet and greet after the panel discussion.
Hướng Đi Của Văn Chương và Sách Báo Việt Hải Ngoại (Trends of Vietnamese Literature and Publishing in the Diaspora)
3:00 PM - 4:10 PM
- How has Vietnamese literature and publishing evolved in the diaspora, and what does the future hold? This panel explores the journey of Vietnamese-language books, newspapers, and literary works outside of Vietnam, examining the challenges of preservation, readership, and adaptation in new cultural landscapes. Joining this panel will be Cung Tích Biền, author of Bạch Hóa (Transparency) and Xứ Động Vật (The Country of Animals), Đặng Thơ Thơ, author of Ai and Beyond Borders- Stories from The Vietnamese Diaspora, Trịnh Y Thư, composer and author of Đường Về Thủy Phủ (Road to Thủy Phủ), and Kalynh Ngô, translator of My Vietnam, Your Vietnam – Việt Nam Của Con, Việt Nam Của Cha. Join us for an insightful conversation on the past, present, and future of Vietnamese diasporic storytelling.The panel will be moderated by VAALA Executive Director Ysa Le, and there will be a book signing/meet and greet after the panel discussion.
Book signing will follow each panel discussion.
The book festival also features an excerpt of the exhibition titled “Remembering Saigon: Journeys through and from Guam.”
Find Our Bookstores
As well as a dedicated section to purchase books with the return of our official bookseller, LibroMobile and our Vietnamese book seller, Tự Lực Bookstore.
About the Exhibit:
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War. To commemorate the sacrifices of those who fought during the war on behalf of both the United States and South Vietnam, as well as the narratives of hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese refugees who fled the war’s aftermath, the UC Irvine Southeast Asian Archive, in collaboration with the UCLA Asian American Studies Department, has put together a public history exhibit at the Orange County & Southeast Asian Archive Center entitled “Remembering Saigon: Journeys through and from Guam.” This exhibit highlights how the stories of Vietnamese refugees, CHamorus, and non-native Guamanians became intertwined during the Vietnam War period and its aftermath.
Venue Sponsor
2024 Sponsors
Community Partners
