Piece Comment

Review of Graham Shelby in Vietnam


In this piece Graham Shelby and his wife, who are both children of Vietnam vets, take a trip to Vietnam together. Shelby, quite nicely, describes Vietnam through his and his wife’s eyes. A happy boy without an arm that he encounters on the beach becomes a metaphor for what they make of Vietnam: a land that has been traumatized by war but yet is recovering and full of life. Shelby juxtaposes the Vietnam he is witness to with the Vietnam he has seen in documentaries and war films. I would have loved to hear it further juxtaposed against the images of Vietnam his and his wife’s parents described to them as children. Shelby has a pleasant and open attitude to all he sees which gives this short piece an unexpected richness. He is a relatable tour guide; as such, this piece should fit in nicely with some travel programming.