The Kids' Corner, Revisited
- Benjamin Hoàng
- Apr 15
- 10 min read
Updated: Apr 15
Growing up, my parents would regularly take my siblings and I to our local library in the Fruitvale area. I remember running to the back, straight to the kids' corner, where I’d obsess over books like Harry Potter or Charlie Bone. I would dream endlessly about those magical worlds, secretly hoping my own abilities might one day manifest. But as school introduced heavier material, I drifted toward video games as my escape, and those worlds quietly faded into the background.
Today, I find myself missing the spaciousness that came with reading — the childlike imagination that mystery, supernatural, and mystical fiction unlocked in me.
Recently, a friend challenged me to get on Goodreads, and we each set personal reading goals for the year. Mine: at least one book a month. I'll admit I have a slightly unusual taste. I swing between psychology and human behavior theory and fantasy novels where the characters somehow always make it through impossible odds. But getting back into reading felt like coming home. The words blurred at the edges, and I started dreaming once again about the worlds these characters lived in, and in turn, about the world I inhabit today.
Still, I struggled with something. I had a hard time finding stories that reflected my own experience, that centered Vietnamese characters or customs as more than a footnote.
That longing is part of what drew me to my work at the nonprofit Vietnamese Boat People, where I developed the Bookshelf Program, an initiative that uplifts Vietnamese authors and stories while supporting local bookstores through Bookshop.org. It's become a pocket of reclamation for me, a place to discover memoirs and fiction that I (and so many others) had been missing. Connecting with authors and sharing their work with our community has been one of the most exciting things I've gotten to do.
So when the opportunity came to connect with Alan Trinh, Program Manager of Viet Book Fest, I jumped at it. Viet Book Fest is a full-day celebration of Vietnamese diasporic literature, featuring author talks, youth showcases, storytelling, community arts, and the chance to buy books directly from the authors you love. The event brings together writers, readers, families, and creatives to honor Vietnamese voices, histories, and futures. And Alan is one of the people making it all happen.
Here's what he had to say:
A Conversation with Alan Trinh, Viet Book Fest Program Manager
What inspired the creation of Viet Book Fest, and what needs were you hoping it would fill within the Vietnamese community?
The creation of Viet Book Fest started with the VAALA Board wondering how they could fulfill the "Letters" portion of the Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association as part of the title of the organization in 2019. The first Viet Book Fest occurred in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, featuring children's stories to help maintain children's literacy during the pandemic with 4 pre-recorded children's book readings featuring: Tran Thi Minh Phuoc, Minh Lê, Bao Phi, and Viet Thanh Nguyen & Ellison Nguyen. The hope was to showcase the generational transfer of storytelling in the Vietnamese American community. With more authors and books available, the timing was really appropriate to highlight these stories written by Vietnamese Americans. Having the event virtually during the pandemic drew audience members from around the world, helping folks living in areas without a large Vietnamese diaspora community. As we reach our 5th edition, we have definitely grown to show how storytelling has evolved across generations through various written media, including children's stories, cookbooks, poetry, fiction, memoirs, and more.
How did you personally come into this work, and what has kept you committed to it?
I came into this work through community service. It's something I grew up with. My family and I were always volunteering, whether at our temple or with local organizations, so giving back was simply part of life. Over time, I found my focus through the arts, healthcare, and youth engagement.
My connection to arts and literature started early. In elementary school, I volunteered at my school library from 4th to 6th grade during lunch, while also playing violin, then viola, and singing in choir. I continued with instrumental music through high school, eventually learning mallet percussion and French horn/mellophone. While my instrumental journey came to an end, I transitioned into traditional dance — choreographing for the Miss Vietnam of Southern California pageant for three years, led a workshop at the UC Students of Color Conference, and contributed choreography to several Vietnamese Culture Nights before leaving for pharmacy school.
After returning home to Little Saigon in Orange County, California, I became involved with the Vietnamese American High School Alliance (VAHSA), advising a network of about 20 high school chapters and supporting an executive board of 12 student leaders. As things began to open back up, I started volunteering with Viet Film Fest in 2022. From there, one opportunity led to another, and now I serve as a volunteer staff managing operations and volunteers, and running the film festival internship program for VAALA, especially for Viet Book Fest and Viet Film Fest.
What keeps me committed to my community is the impact. Growing up, books and films were how my family connected — weekend trips to the video store for the latest Paris By Night or action film, checking out books from the library, or finding used books at the local community college swap meet. It was a simple, affordable way for us to spend time together. Now, I get to help create those same kinds of spaces for others, while also providing opportunities for youth and young professionals.
I see that impact when I pause and look beyond the stress of planning and executing events. It shows up in moments when attendees feel seen and welcomed, and when students I've mentored grow from interns into confident leaders. This work goes beyond organizing events. It's about creating spaces where people can connect, find belonging, and see themselves reflected and valued in Vietnamese culture and storytelling.
For those of us in the diaspora who didn't grow up with access to Vietnamese literature, how do you see Viet Book Fest shifting that experience?
Viet Book Fest helps shift that experience by making Vietnamese literature more visible, accessible, and community-centered. In the past, many works were only available in Vietnamese, or authors didn't have the platform to share their stories widely or the time and resources to translate their works into English or their new homeland's native tongue. Their voices were often limited to small, local, or niche spaces.
Today, Viet Book Fest helps change that by bringing these voices into one accessible, welcoming space while showcasing them worldwide through social media. It highlights both established and emerging authors and creates opportunities for those who may not have had a platform before. The festival also recognizes the important role of translators, who help bridge languages and make stories available across generations.
For example, My Vietnam, Your Vietnam: A Father Flees. A Daughter Returns by Christina Vo and Nghia M. Vo was later translated into Vietnamese by Kalynh Ngô, allowing more readers across the diaspora to access the story. When stories become more accessible, they can spark meaningful conversations within families about identity, migration, and shared experiences.
By creating a space where these stories are visible and celebrated, Viet Book Fest turns what was once limited into something shared and communal. It invites people to explore their identity, reconnect with their culture, and feel a stronger sense of belonging.
Are there any books or authors from the festival that have stayed with you? Why?
For me, Viet Book Fest 2024 was especially impactful because of the authors and the sense of community they created. It was also the first year we brought everything into one space at the Bowers Museum, instead of hosting panels across multiple venues. Having a single location made the festival feel more connected — everyone could experience the energy, conversations, and programming together.
Several authors from Viet Book Fest have stayed with me, especially Thien Pham and Viet Thanh Nguyen. Thien Pham, graphic novelist of Family Style, spoke about earning his parents' pride. After being featured in Saigon Broadcasting Network and even being invited to sit in the seat usually reserved for his doctor brother at the dinner table, it really resonated with me. It reflects a shared experience for many in the Vietnamese community, where recognition and validation can carry deep meaning within families.
Viet Thanh Nguyen also left a lasting impression. Seeing the overwhelming turnout for his meet-and-greet, with lines stretching across the venue, was a powerful reminder of how impactful Vietnamese stories can be and how deeply they connect with our community.
I also remember meeting Christina Vo, author of My Vietnam, Your Vietnam. I apparently greeted her by calling her "sister author," which she found really endearing — though honestly, I don't remember exactly what I said since there was so much going on. Since then, whenever I see her at VAALA events, I still call her "sister author."
Viet Book Fest has continued to grow, expanding its programming to reflect the diversity of stories and audiences it serves. What stayed with me most is the lasting sense of gratitude, connection, and community that lingers even after the festival ends.
What role do you see Viet Book Fest playing in building community, especially for younger Vietnamese and Vietnamese American audiences?
Viet Book Fest builds community by creating a shared space where Vietnamese audiences across generations can connect through stories. By bringing together 1st, 1.5, 2nd, and now 3rd generation voices, the festival fosters dialogue, strengthens cultural identity, and bridges gaps between authors, readers, and families.
By creating opportunities for readers and authors to engage with one another, we help foster a love for storytelling and highlight the diversity within our community. This also makes Vietnamese diaspora authors more accessible, strengthening connections between writers and the communities they represent.
For younger Vietnamese and Vietnamese American audiences, it offers a welcoming environment to explore identity, hear diverse perspectives, and recognize shared experiences across the diaspora. In doing so, Viet Book Fest not only promotes literacy, but also deepens a sense of belonging and connection within the community.
For those of us who are only now discovering Vietnamese literature later in life, what would you want us to know — or what would you say to our younger selves?
For those discovering Vietnamese literature later in life or beginning to explore your Vietnamese identity: there is a story out there for you.
If you're reconnecting through food, pick up a cookbook from your local bookstore or library and try recreating a family recipe. You might even discover your own twist — like maybe a splash of beer or carbonated water to make your bánh xèo extra crispy.
If you love graphic novels, stories like Green Lantern: Legacy by Minh Lê bring a Vietnamese narrative to life through illustrations in the DC Comic Universe. For romance fans, Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham offers a heartfelt, K-drama–inspired story with a Vietnamese female protagonist.
If poetry speaks to you, collections like Watermark: Vietnamese American Poetry and Prose showcase voices reflecting on identity, memory, and experience.
To our brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ+ community, there are powerful stories that explore identity, grief, and acceptance, including A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen, The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen, and When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao.
At the end of the day, Vietnamese literature offers something for everyone, across genres, styles, and voices. And if you don't see your story yet — you have the power to tell it and help preserve our community's narratives, both in your community and across the diaspora.
To our younger selves: don't let your ability to read and speak Vietnamese, or uncertainty about your identity, stop you from exploring Vietnamese stories or the works of our many Vietnamese diasporic authors. Start where you feel comfortable — with the stories you want to read, whether that's in English, through comics, or through food and family traditions. Give yourself time to grow and explore. Our community spaces may seem small and limited when we are younger, but they will grow when we find the people who share our experiences. While we may want to fit in with our current community at first, we eventually break away from that mold and grow into the individuals we are today — discovering the stories that help define us.
you know that Thien Pham and Gene Luen Yang were teachers at the high school my sisters and I all attended? There's something about that detail that feels like proof of what Viet Book Fest is really doing, shrinking the distance between our stories and the people telling them. That same spirit lives in Growing Up Nguyen, our sibling podcast born from a desire to document our father's story. Like Viet Book Fest, it's grown into something bigger — a space where conversation, connection, and discovering our own voices keeps unfolding.
A huge thank you to Alan for pulling back the curtain and sharing the heart behind Viet Book Fest. I'm in awe of the spaces that VAALA continues to create to uplift Vietnamese American arts, something I missed so deeply growing up, and something I'm now passionate about helping build. Those library trips with my family, and my own winding journey of discovering who I am, feel like they have a chance to live on through Viet Book Fest in something uniquely collective and real.
Alan's words about breaking away from the mold and finding belonging really land for me. As I carve out my own pockets within the Vietnamese American community, I feel a growing hunger to add more perspectives to our collective narrative. I'm not writing books yet — but blogs, creative writing, and songwriting are spaces I keep coming back to. And I hope that for anyone reading this, from any walk of life, there's a story waiting for you too.
About VAALA: VAALA was founded in 1991 by a group of Vietnamese American journalists, artists, and friends to fill a void in the community and provide a space for newly resettled immigrant artists to express themselves. VAALA’s mission is to connect and enrich communities through Vietnamese art and culture. Historically run entirely by volunteers, VAALA is a community-based nonprofit organization. Over the years, VAALA has collaborated with diverse community partners to organize numerous cultural and artistic events. VAALA’s four core programs include the annual Viet Film Fest, Viet Book Fest, multi-art exhibitions, and Gallery Beyond Walls, featuring free art workshops for youth and community members. Learn more about VAALA here: vaala.org
Viet Book Fest 2026 offered a full day of programming focused on Vietnamese literature, storytelling, and culture. Attendees participated in five panel discussions, enjoyed interactive activities for children, and experienced youth performances that showcased Vietnamese traditions and creativity. The festival also provided a space for community collaborations, where participants created their own art and engaged in hands-on projects. Learn more about Viet Book Fest 2026 here: vaala.org/viet-book-fest-2026
Get your books on LibroMobile to be signed at Viet Book Fest, or browse the Growing Up Nguyen Bookshop!
Growing Up Nguyễn is a sibling-led podcast about navigating identity, grief, food, and tradition as Vietnamese Americans, while honoring our parents’ dreams and writing our own.
📺 Watch full video episodes and moments on YouTube.
📲 Follow along on Instagram & Facebook: @growing.up.nguyen
✨ Individual journeys, shared roots:@huong.kong | @karinflair | @heddahustle | @its_benguinooo
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