“Den noi roi” is the Vietnamese version of “We are here”, published by Cat Thao Nguyen - a Vietnamese-Australian lawyer and social activist - in 2015. Born into a working-class family who immigrated from Vietnam to Australia, the author grew up in a quiet environment, where her parents struggled to make a living and her children learned to quietly adapt. It is in this context that her story becomes special: not flashy, not embellished, but a simple but powerful narrative about the journey to escape silence, to find a voice and personal identity.
The work consists of 12 chapters, each chapter is a slice of adulthood. Readers are led back to the author's childhood, when she was an Asian girl living in Western society with the feeling of "not belonging anywhere". Issues such as identity crisis, pressure to assimilate, disconnection from parents, or the feeling of loneliness between two cultures are expressed in a genuine, sometimes sharp, but always kind voice.
Cat Thao Nguyen's writing style is clear and minimalist, avoiding ostentatious images. She does not try to embellish her sentences, but lets the content speak for itself. Everyday images such as a quiet family meal, the father's evasive gaze, and the hesitation in pronouncing English are depicted just enough, but still evoke many thoughts about belonging and distance.
“Đến đâu rồi” also opens up space for readers to better understand the second generation in the overseas Vietnamese community. These are people who have not directly experienced war or migration, but always live in the “legacy of silence” left by the previous generation. They have to shoulder the expectations of their families while integrating into the local society. And of course, this has never been an easy journey. On that path, there is always the fear of being lost, doubt and disorientation.
For domestic readers, the book is a gateway to a world rarely mentioned in modern Vietnamese literature: the world of Vietnamese people living abroad, especially young people growing up in the West. These are not idealized characters, but real people, with real wounds, and real efforts to live. “Đền đâu rồi” is therefore not only to read, but also to listen, understand and dialogue.
In an age where the concept of identity is becoming increasingly complex, Cat Thao Nguyen’s work raises important questions: How can one belong to more than one place? How can one bridge the gap between generations? And is it possible to reconcile the ambiguity between two distinct identities, of where one was born and where one lives?
“There we are” does not claim that the author has the complete answer for everything. But the book shows the process of finding that answer with all the ups and downs, torments and hopes. It is these things that make a mature person in a society that is always changing and developing.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/den-noi-roi-hoi-ky-truong-thanh-cua-nguoi-con-xa-xu-704185.html
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