Romancing Vietnam: Inside The Boat Country

When the Vietnam War finally ended in April 1975 with the communist capture of Saigon, Vietnam itself became a closed country, out of bounds to Western travelers and journalists. By 1989, however, such was Vietnam's economic plight that the government decided the time had come to open its doors again, albeit most gingerly. Justin Wintle became the first Western writer allowed to travel around Vietnam, from Pac Bo on the Chinese border in the north to Ca Mau in the south, below the Mekong Delta, with official approval. He met many prominent figures from Vietnam's recent history, including General Vo Nguyen Giap and Le Duc Tho. This book is a vivid account of his experiences during three months in post-war Vietnam, capturing both its pain and hope, its landscapes, and its people.