The 6 Best Works of Author Vu Phuong Thanh (Gao)

Once again, Gao brings us a tale of heartbreaking love, but readers will never feel the monotony or repetition in her writing. Her stories are relatable, emotionally raw, and beautifully poignant without being confined by conventions or norms. This is perhaps the key to her success.

'Lipstick Diaries' tells the story of three women from different walks of life, each with their own decisions and struggles, yet all sharing one tragic similarity: their inability to find true love. They are stubborn, clinging to the past and the memories of those who betrayed them, too afraid to live in the present or face their wounds. As a result, they remain trapped in their own heartbreak...

The novel is not a series of daily journal entries, but rather a tightly woven narrative with a clear and linear plot. It spans a period of about five months, focusing on the character 'I'—a young woman in her early twenties, beautiful, independent, sharp, and unafraid to love or take responsibility for her life. She is in a long-distance relationship with her boyfriend, who is studying abroad, but he betrays her. She struggles in the face of his family’s disapproval, while grappling with the intense love and commitment she has for him, despite the obstacles. She also faces difficulties in her personal and professional life during the difficult period of her 'twenties crisis'.

Along the way, she encounters other women from the '80s and '70s generations—each with their own love stories and perspectives on life and love—that impact her deeply. The novel ends on a melancholic note, as the protagonist reflects on all that has happened over the past months, yet it also hints at the hope and longing for a better future.

Linh Lan Flower is a story about despair and loneliness in a bustling, crowded world. The novel portrays a modern love triangle with traditional roots—intense jealousy, yet a willingness to give up. Written by Gao, this book was the result of six years of conceptualizing and writing. Each character in the story is filled with sorrow, loss, bitterness, and hopelessness, yet they don't succumb to despair. They grow stronger with each pain, learning to rise and find their own way out of life's challenges.

"I was once deeply confused by my generation. A generation of lonely individuals hiding in small bodies. A noisy world full of silent people. Oh, loneliness, it turns out, is something everyone has felt: being alone in a crowd. Linh Lan Flower was written at the start of 2008, when the struggle to find my way in this world consumed me—a young woman just entering her twenties, unsure of how to take control of my life."

Nearly six years have passed since then, and now, as a mother, I no longer find this era as unfamiliar as I did when I first stepped into adulthood. I began writing the conclusion of this story one afternoon, having grown through the years. Six years, and so much has changed. My thoughts from yesterday, now differ greatly from today.

Reading Linh Lan Flower and being patient with it, you will find within the characters’ musings: a glimpse of hope, a touch of maturity, and a hint of fragility beneath layers of resilience. It's like rediscovering yourself in the painful past, but filled with hope. It's a feeling of closing your eyes and almost reaching the lonely blue sky.

"One day, we will sit together somewhere, when each of us has found our own space, looking at each other calmly, and realizing that no matter the hardships we've faced, no matter how many times we've stumbled, no matter what happens… we will be fine."

Sometimes, love presents paradoxes that no one can explain: When someone walks away, we desperately try to pick up the shattered pieces to create a picture of happiness. But the more we try to piece them together, the more we hurt. 'We Will Be Fine' tells stories of unfinished love, of youth, naivety, and emotional maturity. It reveals the unconscious lies we tell in the name of love, the boundless sacrifices of women, the dynamics of 'old loves – new loves,' and the endless nature of affection.

Only after walking through the long journey of life, after enduring the scratches of love, can we truly understand that loving ourselves and nurturing our own dreams is the most important thing—more important than loving any man.

"We will be fine", trust that it’s true. Life isn’t just about sorrow. The sun still rises with its new rays. Birds still sing cheerfully to greet a bright, sunny day. There are countless paths to take, many joys to savor. Life is still calling with the sweet sounds of love...

Remember, live fully in the present moment, and you’ll see how beautiful life truly is. And believe that: Love is a journey, no matter where it leads, it’s a journey worth remembering. Parting is just a small event among the endless changes life brings.

The important thing is to keep moving forward, just keep moving forward: “We will be fine!”

This work consists of 13 short stories, each one touching a different corner of the reader's heart with its sadness. As you ponder each tale, you may find glimpses of yourself, hidden within the pain of each character. We often chase after the fleeting things in life, only to realize too late that we've lost so much in the pursuit of love and being loved.

"Normally, when I read a good book, I feel a sense of admiration for the author, but when reading Gao's stories, you might feel just the opposite—irritated by her sharp, biting tone… so much so that you’ll feel compelled to finish it, even though it unsettles you. And once finished, you'll find yourself craving more… only to hate it even more." - Vu Ngoc Phuong, MC of 'I’m 20!' - VTC Channel

"A bold narrative voice, a writing style that is quite free-spirited, sometimes even rebellious… Somewhere in Gao’s stories, there’s an incredibly rich imagination, at times bordering on fantasy, but upon reflection, we realize that they are far from being unrealistic." - Thuy Linh, Năm Dòng Kẻ Band

"A single reed today could turn into a vast field of reeds stretching to the mountains in the days to come. I believe Gao’s writing will be just like this, because there’s a fire within her words." - Le Cat Trong Ly, Singer & Songwriter

This story is vastly different from Gao's previous works, starting with unsettling and haunting details. In her earlier stories, the characters suffer due to internal struggles or the limitations of their small lives. But in Suicide, the forces that trap and suffocate the characters seem to stem from the overwhelming world outside them.

The story unfolds naturally, reflecting the very rhythm of life itself, demanding a grander scope. It was meant to have an open-ended conclusion, a sense of hopelessness after three chapters, but the characters were not satisfied. They wanted to know what their future held. So, Gao wrote. Thirteen chapters create a complete story.

It’s a tale of dark moments, when we slowly lose those around us, only to eventually lose ourselves. But readers, please don’t lose hope, trust in the ending—an ending unlike any Gao has written before.

Notably, the author and the 365daband group once planned to turn this into a short film. There was even an official trailer and OST, but due to internal issues, the project was ultimately shelved, leaving a deep sense of regret for both the viewers and the readers.

In love, the girls who love the most are often the ones who are the weakest. They give everything, and when they lose, they lose even more. Whether naive or wise, innocent or experienced, once they love with all their heart, they accept both the giving and the losing. If you are a girl like this, then hold in your hands the two books Love Him With All That I Am and Lose Him With All I Gave by the author Gao. Read them, and let the voices inside share with you; to love more in loss, to hope more in hopelessness, and to find your true path in a love that feels uncertain...

Both works are collections of short stories, written by a girl who is deeply in love, capturing her daily thoughts. You could call them diaries, or love letters – letters to a boy who will never show up again. The girl loves him immensely, but after the passion fades, he becomes indifferent, cold… Interspersed with these are short stories about love – brief, but sweet, like a lullaby for the reader.

Gao once shared on her personal Facebook that these two books would be a perfect Valentine’s gift for those who are single, or for those who once had love but lost it... But if you’ve read Love Him With All That I Am and Lose Him With All I Gave, you’ll know for sure: these books are an amazing gift for anyone who has, is, or will love. Inside, you’ll find countless emotions, many lessons, and more importantly, you’ll discover the path you need to follow in the foggy journey of love...