In the Shadow of Green Bamboos is a series of snapshots in the lives of a cross-section of people, Vietnamese and American, whose worlds were torn asunder by the Vietnam War:
A fortuitous encounter at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; a father-and-son outing that echoes a childhood trauma; a harrowing haunting finally laid to rest; two young brothers at their innocent play; the recovery of a lost family keepsake; Grandma sharing a fairy tale with her granddaughter.
These captured moments, ordinary though they may seem, reveal the blessings of love and hope in the course of everyday life. The stories they tell also stand as testaments to the resilience and courage of survivors struggling to rebuild from the ashes of war.

Winner (Short Story), 2020 Best Indie Book Awards
Finalist (Short Story Collection), 2021 IAN Book of the Year Awards
Former Amazon #1 New Release in Vietnam War History

Reviews for “In the Shadow of Green Bamboos”

“. . . Deftly crafted, thought-provoking, and inherently engaging, In the Shadow of Green Bamboos is a compelling literary experience that will be especially appreciated and recommended for community, college, and university library Asian American Literature & Fiction, Cultural Heritage Fiction, and War Fiction collections.”
―Midwest Book Review

“Beautifully written, (this collection of stories) reaches out and touches the soul, lingering with the reader long after the pages of the book are closed!”
―Melanie Newton, InD’tale Magazine

 “. . . For those directly affected by armed conflict, be it a soldier or an innocent civilian, finding peace proves to be much difficult. That search for harmony or, at the least, a semblance of inner peace, is at the heart of C. L. Hoang’s books. Whether it’s his first novel, his travel memoir, or his most recent collection of short stories, In the Shadow of Green Bamboos, the writer seems to specialize in what it means to search for catharsis among the trauma of conflict. . . .”
―Seth Combs, San Diego Union Tribune

“Few writers have the graceful and poetic sensitivity to ponder the past and allow it to bubble to the surface with the serendipity that C. L. Hoang continues to gift us in his writings. His life experiences, of being born in Vietnam and witnessing the war there, then moving to the United States to live, enable him to reflect the impact of time, cultures, and memories in this striking collection of stories, In the Shadow of Green Bamboos. Revolving around the family and the bonding that grows out of dark times into moments of light, these stories journey back and forth between war-torn Vietnam and the U.S., and between the now and the then—a veritable Pandora’s Box of gems that invite introspection and healing.”
―Grady Harp, MD
Author of War Songs: Metaphors in Clay and Poetry from the Vietnam Experience, Amazon Hall-of-Fame reviewer, Goodreads Top-50 reviewer

“C. L. Hoang is a superb storyteller who weaves deeply emotional tales enhanced by rich memories of his childhood in Vietnam. He has a gift for describing a setting in such a way that one can almost taste the mung bean cookies, breathe the heavy, damp air of the monsoon season, or feel the vibration through the ground of bomb chains striking near Saigon. Yet the families and villages strive to carry on, with themes of love and family underpinning each story in this memorable collection, In the Shadow of Green Bamboos. For one who grew up in America during the 1960’s, these stories, set in both Vietnam and the U.S., resonated powerfully. Be sure to have plenty of tissues on hand.”
―Lynne M. Spreen
Award-winning author of Dakota Blues

“C. L. Hoang sensitively traces the effects of the Vietnam War on a handful of characters-former soldiers, refugees, and their children. Each story is a complete and haunting tale of loss, grief, and resilience, but some of the stories also pick up characters from his published novel Once upon a Mulberry Field, giving us a glimpse into their future. His understanding of the inner lives of children is particularly keen.”
―Margaret Diehl
author of The Boy on the Green Bicycle

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Have you ever wondered what Vietnam is like some forty years after the war has ended? Then come along with the author as he returns to visit his ancestral homeland for the first time after a decades-long absence.
Retrace his steps with him around his former hometown of Saigon in the south, and then follow him along on an itinerary of discovery to other unique destinations throughout the country: Hoi-An, the best-preserved medieval seaport in Southeast Asia; Hue, the ancient capital of imperial Vietnam, on the central coast; Halong Bay, a world-renowned natural wonder; and Hanoi, the country’s thousand-year-old capital, in the north.
Filled with historical and cultural tidbits and personal reminiscences, and illustrated with over forty photographs, Rain Falling on Tamarind Trees offers the reader an insightful and fascinating glimpse of this tropical land.

Finalist (Travel Category), 2019 San Diego Book Awards
Former Amazon #1 New Release in Vietnam Travel Guides

Reviews for “Rain Falling on Tamarind Trees”

Impressively informative, exceptionally well written, and an inherently fascinating read, Rain Falling on Tamarind Trees is an especially recommended addition to both community and academic library Contemporary Travel & Travelogue collections.
―Midwest Book Review

Whether you have been to Vietnam in the past or are thinking of going in the future, you’ll wish you had C.L. Hoàng as your traveling companion. His delicate, keenly crafted prose, his sharp eye for detail, his tender humanity and humility, make this travelogue a must-read for anyone interested in Vietnam, travel, or ancestry. He gives us tantalizing clues about his departure from Vietnam in the 1970s, his childhood, his parents’ younger years, and the emotions that rise to the surface during his trip back to what was once his home. The next best thing to traveling to Vietnam with C.L. Hoàng is reading his wonder-filled book, and seeing the country through his eyes.
―Judith Fein
Award-winning author of Life Is A Trip: The Transformative Magic of Travel
and The Spoon From Minkowitz: A Bittersweet Roots Journey to Ancestral Lands

Aimed at first-time travelers to Việt Nam, C. L. Hoàng’s Rain Falling on Tamarind Trees is a fascinating and highly readable account of one man’s return to his ancestral homeland. Hoàng’s narrative keeps the reader fully engaged as he describes the highlights of a 10-day visit to this intriguing country, with its must-see destinations and warm, friendly people. Packed with essential cultural background and illustrated with over 40 color photographs, Rain Falling on Tamarind Trees is the perfect introduction for prospective visitors.
―Tim Doling
Author and Việt Nam Culture and Tourism Consultant

The travelogue, Rain Falling on Tamarind Trees, is a wonderful, informative, and heartwarming read! C. L. Hoàng achieves a perfect blend of narrating the sights, describing the tour experience, and relating family reminiscences while sharing moving personal impressions after such a long absence from his homeland. Whether or not you’re Vietnamese, you’ll find great appeal and inspiration in this illustrated love letter to Việt-Nam.
―Lynette M. Smith
Author, How to Write Heartfelt Letters to Treasure: For Special Occasions and Occasions Made Special

As a world traveler, I’ve had the pleasure to visit Vietnam in the past. However, reading about C.L. Hoang’s recent visit there offers a unique perspective of Vietnam as can only be discovered through the eyes of someone returning to his homeland after many years. If you are interested in Vietnam, have visited Vietnam, or are thinking of Vietnam, I highly recommend putting Rain Falling on Tamarind Trees on your reading list.
—Gary Arndt
Purveyor of the travel website everything-everywhere.com
2013 & 2015 Travel Photographer of the Year, North American Travel Journalists Association
2014 Travel Photographer of the Year, Society of American Travel Writers

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As Roger Connors, a widower with no children, ponders whether to pursue aggressive treatment for his cancer, a cryptic note arrives from a long-lost USAF buddy announcing the visit of an acquaintance from Vietnam. The startling news resurrects ghosts of fallen comrades and haunting memories of the great love he once knew.
Shocking revelations from his visitor uncover a missing part of Roger’s life he never dreamed possible. Peeling back one layer at a time, he delves into a decades-old secret in search of answers and traces of a passion unfulfilled.
From the jungles of Vietnam through the minefields of the heart, Once upon a Mulberry Field follows one man’s journey to self-discovery, fraught with disillusionment and despair but ultimately redeemed by the power of love.

Finalist (First Novel), 2021 IAN Book of the Year Awards
Grand Prize Winner (Fiction), 2014 LuckyCinda Book Contest
Gold Medal Winner (Historical Fiction), 2014 Global Ebook Awards
Bronze Medal (Cultural Fiction), 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Award
Honorable Mention (General Fiction), 2015 Eric Hoffer Literary Award
Honorable Mention, Writer’s Digest 22nd Annual Book Awards (2014)
Finalist (Historical Fiction), 2104 National Indie Excellence Book Awards

 

 

 

 

 

Reviews for “Once upon a Mulberry Field”

Honorable Mention (Genre Fiction), 2014 Writer’s Digest Book Awards
Once upon a Mulberry Field by C.L. Hoang is a heartfelt story that takes the reader deep into the Vietnam War through characters that ring with authenticity and make us think about the human condition. Those who want to know more about the war in Vietnam would do well to read this wonderful novel. The reader will have no doubt as to why this touching novel took the author six years to complete.
The cover is graced with one of the most lovely pictures I have seen in a long time. I love the colors. The lush landscape and brilliant orange and yellow sunset come to life despite being what could be called “marred” by the presence of the helicopter. I wonder what the young woman is thinking as she looks upon the scene. Very emotional and moving cover. Kudos to the artist.
Immediately I was drawn into the book and wanted to find out what happened. The author chose a point of view that not every author can handle with skill — first person — but the author does a fine job with this perspective. This wasn’t an era I knew much about, but what I especially like about the story is that it goes beyond the events and makes the thoughtful reader contemplate the larger issues of life and death we all must face. With deep inner and outer conflict, romance, characters we can all care about, and a superb plot, ONCE UPON A MULBERRY FIELD is a book well worth the reader’s time. I hope it won’t take C.L. Hoang six more years to write another novel!
—Judges’ commentary

Grand Prize Winner (Fiction), 2014 LuckyCinda Book Contest
Beautifully written . . . As much a historical account as an epic heartfelt journey of the human spirit . . . Brilliant!
—Judges’ comments

Finalist, 2012 San Diego Book Awards (Unpublished Novel)
Compelling story . . . written with much thought and preparation . . . The content is so rich and wonderful . . . (This book) is different from anything I’ve ever read or judged before.
—Judge’s comment

Once upon a Mulberry Field is a poignant, heartrending story of American and South Vietnamese friendship, respect, and love, set at the height of the Vietnam War. Through a unique insider’s view, this intriguing novel gives the reader a close-up look at personal aspects of the war. C. L. Hoang has masterfully captured that turbulent chapter in the United States and South Vietnam history. Readers will be moved by this historically important, unforgettable book. I could not recommend it more highly.
―Dave Carey, Captain, USN retired, former POW in the Hanoi Hilton,
Author of The Ways We Choose: Lessons for Life from a POW’s Experience

C. L. Hoang’s novel, Once upon a Mulberry Field, brings gripping authenticity and new perspective to the Vietnam War. Through an array of American and Vietnamese characters, we experience the charm and beauty of this lush, war-torn country—interludes of love stolen between unspeakable loss. Set at Bien-Hoa military base near Saigon in 1967, the height of the war and the Tet Offensive, as well as decades afterward in California, this book will move you to tears. Yet it ends with a redemption impossible to foresee.
―Kathryn Jordan,
Author of the novels Hot Water, Gladys and Capone, and In the Time of Apricots

Once upon a Mulberry Field is a captivating story that rings true and will bring back countless memories for those who served in Vietnam. For others, it provides insight into the ironies and tragedies that were part of the Vietnam experience.
―Peter Caldwell, M.D.
Author of Bac-si: A Doctor Remembers Vietnam

This book moved me on two levels. One, I felt myself falling backwards through time . . . riveted by the account of a young American landing in Vietnam and finding his way amid bombings and bloodshed, but also, friendship . . . On another level, this is the story of a love affair, and I cried my eyes out toward the end. What a skillful portrayal of the human condition. We’re all just fighting to create a good life for ourselves and our loved ones. How wonderful if it all works out, and how bittersweet, if not . . . This is a beautifully-wrought story . . . C.L. Hoang has written a first class debut novel. I hope there will be many more.
―Lynne Spreen,
Author of Dakota Blues, and Middle-Age Crazy: Short Stories of Midlife and Beyond

To describe the writing in this book as eloquent is an understatement. C.L. Hoang transports the reader through time back to war-torn Vietnam.  His description of what it was like to be a soldier during this time in history is poignant.  The characters that we grow to love throughout this amazing novel are multidimensional and familiar to the reader . . .  making this novel a hard book to put down. Despite my lost sleep, I found Once upon A Mulberry Field to be one of the best stories I have read in a long time . . . There is something for everyone in this novel.  It touches upon the brotherhood of soldiers and the pain of a challenging love story. My only moment of disappointment with this book was when I came to the end, I felt like I was saying goodbye to old friends and I wanted more.  Hopefully C.L. Hoang will treat us to another wonderful novel.
―Judith A. Habert,
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of San Diego Woman Magazine

The author fully inhabits the American doctor he created as his main character. He also is pitch-perfect with details, both about military life and about life in America . . .
―David Willson,
Books in Review II, Vietnam Veterans of  America

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