Legends of Vietnam

“Vo presents and analyzes legends of the Vietnamese cosmos, northern legends, and southern legends. The time scale of the legends stretches from the prehistoric to after the war with the U.S.”—Reference & Research Book News; “In Legends of Vietnam, Nghia M. Vo offers more than just the retelling of Vietnamese tales and oral history. He provides a detailed account of the origins and evolution of Vietnam’s traditions and culture through the stories of its past. The value of the book is more than the legends themselves though his selections, which covers everything from Ghosts, Heroes, Martyrs, and Gods, are well thought out and insightful. Legends of Vietnam offers understanding into Vietnamese culture and history and helps to explain the differences between North, Central, and South. It not only provides an excellent sampling of the most significant of the Vietnamese tales but also makes clear why the Republic of Vietnam struggled for its independence against the Communist–led Democratic Republic of Vietnam”—Ronald B. Frankum, Millersville University of Pennsylvania.