Top 6 Best Books by Author Nguyễn Việt Hà

'God's Opportunity' is a work that explores various dimensions, blending storytelling with themes of love, friendship, complex relationships, religion, and the secular world. Set in the late 1980s when Hanoi was transitioning into a market economy, the novel captures the lives of multiple generations living through this transformation.

The main characters represent a generation of Hanoi's youth who have experienced love and life with intense longing but also a sense of resignation. Nguyễn Việt Hà beautifully articulates the psychological state of a 'lost' generation, a theme common in many literary traditions, but here, it carries the emotion of a rapidly changing Hanoi, a transformation that will never return.

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Nguyễn Việt Hà has a unique ability to view things from unexpected, ironic perspectives, whether it's women competing for control by drinking alcohol or choosing their own love, or men struggling to assert their masculinity in a city where individual personalities are being blurred. With his sharp and humorous style, moving from Đồng Xuân to Chợ Hôm and Chợ Đuổi – famous commercial areas of Hanoi – 'Women Who Drink Wine' also delves into the sophisticated world of educated individuals who value knowledge and tradition. Nguyễn Việt Hà's view of a Hanoi that has lost its former order is one filled with a bittersweet nostalgia and a sense of irony. It can be seen as sharp-tongued, but also as a reflection of contemporary life, laden with a sense of urgency and deep thought. Even when touching on seemingly distant topics, like the music of Trịnh Công Sơn through Khánh Ly’s voice, the author evokes emotions with a mix of wit and endearing humor, without falling into excessive romanticism.

True to the 62 essays corresponding to the years of his birth, this collection, 'Women Who Drink Wine,' from the 'old cowboy of Hanoi,' creates a vivid portrait of the times, with a laughter that rings loudly but leaves a profound aftertaste. It captivates readers of all ages, leaving them eager to read from start to finish. This new edition of Nguyễn Việt Hà's collection includes fresh essays, making it a must-read alongside his other popular works.

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'The Late Apocalypse,' the second novel by Nguyễn Việt Hà, is an ambitious work in terms of structure, narrative art, and its central character as a story within a story. The book begins with the tale of a female character, the narrator, a former beauty queen who serves as the inspiration for the character Cẩm My in the unfinished novel of the author. The first chapter delves into the complex relationships within the modeling world, all told from Cẩm My’s perspective, revealing details of her love affair with Vũ. On the surface, the novel seems to merely recreate the glamorous lifestyle of beautiful, talented, and influential people, but Nguyễn Việt Hà subtly explores the creative work of a writer through the interaction between the creator and their muse.

The plot of Cẩm My and the author's search for his character intertwines, creating a story within a story, and a fiction within a fiction. Additionally, the narrative point of view constantly shifts, alternating between first and third-person perspectives. Alongside the glamorous world of models, the author leads the reader into the complex realm of writers and the challenging art of creation, balancing between genuine talent and hollow ambition: 'A writer must write, whether famous or not. But with a little fame, it becomes far more difficult to write. It’s not that you’ve run out of life experiences or knowledge. There are many trivial reasons. Often, throughout a writer's life, they are smeared. Some apply a little lipstick, others apply some mud.'

In fact, the character of the writer and the creative process in 'The Late Apocalypse' can be traced back to 'God's Opportunity' and earlier short stories by Nguyễn Việt Hà. Through the character Bạch, Nguyễn Việt Hà offers his views on the writer’s calling. This theme is complex, demanding deeper thought from the reader, and promises a more adventurous exploration into the writer’s inner world.

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'The Old Quarter Girl,' the latest essay collection by Nguyễn Việt Hà, serves as his personal social network, featuring a mix of characters – from the men, the naive and the strategists, to their muses, and the love stories that are laced with ironic humor. Love in Hanoi, with its old-quarter men who, as the author writes, 'eat leisurely, dress with finesse, and live slowly. It's because of them that Hanoi has its fine pho shops and intimate coffee spots. They refuse to be defined, live as half-hearted artists, and repay Hanoi by clinging fiercely to the city’s age-old habits.'

This self-portrait of Nguyễn Việt Hà captures the essence of Hanoi at the turn of the century and remains relevant today as the media frequently discuss the vanishing soul of the city. It's a blend of nostalgia and critique, calling out the transformation of Hanoi while celebrating its unique identity.

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"Ultimately, essays are a form of survival writing, a genre that feels 'pitiful' when compared to novels or short stories." – Nguyễn Việt Hà

Even in Nguyễn Việt Hà's novels and short stories, readers can immediately detect the unique 'tone' of his writing. The essay genre, with its free-flowing nature, offers even greater freedom for this voice to be expressed without being confined by the constraints of other literary forms. Nguyễn Việt Hà's essay collections—such as 'The Novelist's Circle,' 'The Faces of Men,' 'Women Drinking Wine,' and 'The Old Quarter Boy'—have already firmly established his reputation.

With 'The Voice of the Streets,' this identity has been fully solidified in the hearts of readers. The collection still consists of 62 essays covering a wide range of topics, set in the same familiar streets and featuring the same characters... but these seemingly trivial stories have matured into something akin to an aged wine—full of depth yet smooth. Reading Nguyễn Việt Hà's essays, you encounter a vast array of topics, from East to West, charmingly blending the old and the new. But there is another way to read them: through the 'voice'—the voice of the streets.

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Following 'God's Chance,' 'Late Apocalypse,' and 'The Trinity of Man,' Nguyễn Việt Hà released 'Urban Novelists.'

"A novel is a small narrative voice,"

'Urban Novelists' is Nguyễn Việt Hà's fourth novel. Once again, the familiar setting of streets and alleys makes its return. However, Nguyễn Việt Hà does not just explore the contemporary urban landscape; he traces its entire historical path, uncovering the very soul of the city.

Through this, he aims to undertake the monumental task of documenting the history of the city.

A signature literary voice—alongside the author of: 'God's Chance,' 'Late Apocalypse,' and 'The Trinity of Man.'

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