Same River, Different Water

Despite it being almost forty years since American troops left Vietnam, the American people still regard Vietnam as a war, not a country. "Same River, Different Water" is not about your grandfather's war but about the thriving country of today. It is the true story of a two-tour, wounded combat veteran and his wife, a former Army nurse, who met in Vietnam during the war and returned to live in the city of Hue in 2005-06. The memoir connects the past with the present, amply supported by the author's photographs.History professors' bookshelves are filled with political and military tomes about the war, but few of them examine the impact of the war on Viet Nam's present culture. It is a positive look at the present, punctuated with glances into the past and filled with observations of the present-day Vietnamese culture. Its appeal is to anyone of the Vietnam War generation, whether they served, waited at home or participated in protests. This book answers the question "What happened to the people and country that caused so much angst in the 60s and 70s?" It is an antidote for curious or embittered veterans who believe the Vietnamese hate us. It is an update for those whose mental image is of an impoverished country. It is for academics who wish to have their students gain an insight into modern Southeast Asia. It is travelers looking for a different place to go."Same River, Different Water" includes the words Viet Nam and Vietnam - one when referring to the country, the other when referring to the war. The first chapter opens with the negative reaction the author received from many Vietnam vets when hearing he was going to live in Viet Nam. The new country, with its skyscrapers in Saigon, absence of poverty and energetic people is juxtapositioned with memories of flares in the night sky, noisy truck convoys and the brutal poverty seen during the war. Memories are connected to the present as the two returning veterans recall the beginning of their romance of forty years. "Same River, Different Water" goes deeper - it leaves the war behind and examines the challenges of living and working in a very different culture. The chapter "Don't They Hate Us?" includes the recounting of lunch at a student's home and discovering that her father had been a Viet Cong fighter. The book refutes the common feeling among Americans that the Vietnamese hate us and leaves the reader with a realization that today's Viet Nam is a robust and growing country. "Same River, Different Water" is a must for anyone who wants a complete view of Viet Nam.