Reading and Discussion with author Andrew Lam.
Response by Long Bui and Diu-Huong Nguyen.
Andrew Lam is a Vietnamese American author and journalist based in San Francisco. The son of General Lâm Quang Thi of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, he lived a privileged life in Đà Lạt, attending Lycée Yersin, until his family fled during the fall of Saigon in 1975 when he was 11. They resettled in California, where Lam initially pursued biochemistry at UC Berkeley but switched to creative writing at San Francisco State University, abandoning plans for medical school.
Lam’s writing focuses on the Vietnamese diaspora, exploring themes of identity, exile, cultural hybridity, love and loss, and the American Dream.
His notable works include: Perfume Dreams: Reflections on the Vietnamese Diaspora (2005), a collection of essays that won the 2006 PEN Open Book Award, delving into his personal struggles as a Viet Kieu (Vietnamese living abroad) and the war’s lasting impact. East Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres (2010), essays examining cultural intersections and globalization, named a Top 10 Indie by Shelf Unbound Magazine. Birds of Paradise Lost (2013), a short story collection about Vietnamese immigrants in the San Francisco Bay Area, which was a finalist for the California Book Award and won the Josephine Miles Award for fiction. Stories from the Edge of the Sea (2025), his latest collection of short stories exploring longing, immigration, and generational memory, praised for its poignant and universal narratives.
Links to praises: https://redhen.org/book/stories-from-the-edge-of-the-sea/
As a journalist, Lam began writing for Pacific News Service while in school, earning the 1993 Outstanding Young Journalist Award from the Society of Professional Journalists. He co-founded New America Media, served as its web editor until 2017, and was a commentator on NPR’s All Things Considered for eight years. He has also contributed to Huffington Post and lectured at over 40 universities and institutions like the Asia Society and Smithsonian. His essays and fiction and articles have been widely published an anthologized. .
Lam’s work is celebrated for its poetic yet honest style, blending memoir, fiction, and cultural critique. His stories and essays bridge East and West, offering insights into the Vietnamese American experience while addressing universal themes of loss, belonging, and resilience. He has spoken about how his writing, often in English, has helped second-generation Vietnamese Americans connect with their parents’ refugee experiences, fostering intergenerational dialogue. "
Co-sponsors: OC&SEAA (Orange County and Southeast Asian Archives) and Departments of European Languages and Studies, History, Comparative Literature, International Studies, English, and Asian American Studies
Parking at UCI
Lot 7
- The closest parking is available in Lot 7 (see map).
- Parking fee: $20.00 / all day*
- Permits must be purchased online through the following ParkbyPlate webage.
- https://apps.parking.uci.edu/parkbyplate/s/purchase.cfm?code=7L222
- Space is limited.
Mesa Parking Structure
- Additional parking can be found in the Mesa Parking Structure (see map).
- Parking fee range: $15 - $20 / all day*
- Permits can be purchased onsite through the Parking Permit Dispenser or online through ParkbyPlate.
Where
Humanities Gateway 1030
University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, United States