Скачать или смотреть A Love Story- Chapter 4- The Nguyen Family in Dalat: 1958–1964 -

Chapter 4

September 1958 -The day I was born I was the tenth Child, Eleventh in Vietnamese Ranking.

It was a beautiful day in Dalat with the mild weather in the Fall. It was a busy back-to-school season for my older siblings.

Thanh Xuan, the name was given to me by my eldest sister, Thanh Tam, representing Spring - A fountain of Youth. What a beautiful name! I was told that as a newborn baby, my skin was darker; most newborn babies are born with pink skin or lighter, but my skin was glowing like a have been in the sun; contrasted with the red color of my lips, and the curly hair, I was just like an Indian doll come to life. Then, right away, my mother gave me nick nickname “Cha” (meaning Indian), she also told me later that, as a young toddler, I was quiet and observant from the start. Unlike some of my siblings, who demanded attention with loud cries or mischief, I seemed to watch and measure the world before joining it. My older sisters, Thanh Tam and Thanh Van, fascinated by the new addition, learned responsibility early—

Dalat, by this time, had become a city of contrasts: French colonial villas dotted the streets, while local markets overflowed with fresh vegetables, flowers, and spices. The Xuan Huong Lake reflected the city’s misty mornings, pine forests provided shade and adventure for children, and small cafes served local coffee to townspeople. Life was serene, but the broader national context reminded the family that peace was fragile.

President Ngô Đình Diệm was consolidating power in South Vietnam. His government pushed modernization programs—building roads, military schools, and hospitals—even as political tension simmered in the countryside. For the Nguyen family, life revolved around education, household routines, and careful observation of national developments. The children learned to navigate both joy and caution, lessons instilled through the rhythm of family life.