The Legacy of the American War Today: The Nation, Heroes and Enemies in Vietnamese War Literature for the Youth

This chapter seeks to explore the impact of American WarAmerican War (Vietnam WarVietnam War) literature in framing students’ opinions and standpoints regarding major topics such as nationhood, heroism and alterity in present-day Vietnam. High-school students from Ho Chi Minh City were asked to critically engage in the reading of short stories to be able to explore their perception and understanding of the war today. The main results suggest a move forward in the recognition of this large-scale humanitarian tragedy by valuing the sacrifices made by the national body and the acknowledgement of the enemy as a human being.