Dust Child

Nguyen Phan Que Mai

“Dust Child” by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai is a poignant and multilayered novel set in both Vietnam and the United States, exploring the lasting impact of the Vietnam War on those who lived through it and their descendants. The story follows several characters, including Phong, a mixed-race “Amerasian” child born to a Vietnamese mother and an American soldier, who is searching for his identity and trying to find his American father. Meanwhile, two Vietnamese sisters, Trang and Quỳnh, become “bar girls” to support their family during the war, finding themselves entangled in complicated relationships with American soldiers. The novel delves into the emotional and societal complexities faced by those left behind after the war, particularly the children born from relationships between American soldiers and Vietnamese women.

The novel also tells the story of Dan, a Vietnam War veteran who returns to the country decades later in search of forgiveness and reconciliation. As these characters’ paths intersect, “Dust Child” explores themes of trauma, forgiveness, and the quest for belonging. Through its portrayal of the lingering scars of war, the novel captures the human toll of conflict, the pain of abandonment, and the healing power of understanding and acceptance across cultures and generations.