The Best We Could Do

by

Thi Bui

Việt Minh Term Analysis

An abbreviated name for the “League for the Independence of Việt Nam,” a revolutionary socialist party and army founded and led by Hồ Chí Minh. The Việt Minh fought for Việt Nam’s independence from France and Japan and secured this independence in 1954, after which it took control of the government of North Việt Nam. Bố lives through this independence war, and his father joins the Việt Minh.

Việt Minh Quotes in The Best We Could Do

The The Best We Could Do quotes below are all either spoken by Việt Minh or refer to Việt Minh. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Family, Inheritance, and Parenthood Theme Icon
).
Chapter 5 Quotes

“But the month I spent in the Communist North had a very different effect on me.”
“It was true that the Việt Minh had won independence by winning the WAR.”
“But the new society I dreamed of didn’t EXIST.”
“Here there was no freedom of thought, no allowance for individuality.”
“I was fourteen. Sài Gòn represented a whole new world of possibility to me.”
“Who would choose a world that had become so narrow, so poor and gray?”

Related Characters: Bố (speaker), Bố’s Father, Bố’s Grandfather
Page Number: 168
Explanation and Analysis:
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Việt Minh Term Timeline in The Best We Could Do

The timeline below shows where the term Việt Minh appears in The Best We Could Do. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Preface
Intergenerational Trauma Theme Icon
Assimilation, Belonging, and Cultural Identity Theme Icon
Repression and Freedom Theme Icon
...led to Việt Nam’s partition into two countries. The Communist North was run by the Việt Minh , the anti-French and anti-Japanese independence movement led byHồ Chí Minh, and the capitalist South... (full context)
Chapter 4: Blood and Rice
Family, Inheritance, and Parenthood Theme Icon
Intergenerational Trauma Theme Icon
Memory and Perspective Theme Icon
...piled up in doorways” around the city. Eventually, Bố’s father runs off to join the Việt Minh , and Bố’s grandfather brings Bố back to the village in an attempt to manipulate... (full context)
Family, Inheritance, and Parenthood Theme Icon
Intergenerational Trauma Theme Icon
Repression and Freedom Theme Icon
Memory and Perspective Theme Icon
...peaceful, democratic union—but the French decide to reinvade and, unsure who is and is not Việt Minh , starts slaughtering villagers indiscriminately. Bố’s village is one of their targets, and Bố’s family... (full context)
Chapter 5: Either, Or
Family, Inheritance, and Parenthood Theme Icon
Assimilation, Belonging, and Cultural Identity Theme Icon
Repression and Freedom Theme Icon
Memory and Perspective Theme Icon
...a school for him to attend. But his father, now a powerful figure in the Việt Minh , calls to see him in Hà Nội. Bố is surprised to see everyone (“even... (full context)