The USC U.S.-China Institute was delighted to host its second Freeman Awards Book Talk of the year on October 8, 2025. Centered on Trinity Nguyen’s acclaimed novel A Bánh Mì for Two, the event offered educators an enriching exploration of Vietnam (its history, people, and culture) through the intertwined lenses of literature and food. Led by Nancy Hope, Executive Director of the Freeman Book Awards, the session encouraged teachers to view Vietnam not merely as a nation shaped by conflict, but as a dynamic society with deep-rooted traditions, evolving identities, and powerful intergenerational stories.
Learning Beyond the War Narrative
Teachers were reminded that Vietnam’s story extends far beyond the war often emphasized in Western classrooms. They explored how Vietnam’s history, from ancient kingdoms and Chinese influence to French colonization and postwar recovery, shaped its modern identity. Understanding these layers helps educators guide students toward more nuanced discussions about resilience, cultural exchange, and national development.
Food as a Cultural Bridge
One of the most memorable insights came from examining the symbolism of food. As the talk highlighted, food is a vessel for memory, identity, and connection. Through the bánh mì, a culinary product of French-Vietnamese fusion, teachers learned how cuisine reveals the intertwined histories of colonization and adaptation, and how shared meals can serve as a bridge between cultures. This perspective encouraged educators to incorporate food studies as an accessible entry point for global understanding in the classroom.
Exploring Identity and Relationships
Teachers also reflected on “A Bánh Mì for Two” as a coming-of-age story that uses relationshipsfamilial, platonic, and romantic—to shape identity. Nguyen’s storytelling prompted discussions about how Vietnamese and Vietnamese American youths navigate belonging, cultural expectations, and intergenerational understanding. Many educators noted that these universal themes can foster empathy and inclusivity among students from diverse backgrounds.
Cultural and Historical Contexts for Teaching
The presentation deepened teachers’ understanding of Vietnam’s demographic diversity, religious practices, and Confucian values that continue to influence family and educational structures today. Learning about traditions such as Tet and ancestor worship provided meaningful context for exploring Vietnamese culture beyond textbooks. Teachers left with strategies to connect literature with historical and cultural inquiry, helping students see Vietnam as a living, evolving culture.
Continuing the Conversation
Through this book talk, educators gained a deeper appreciation for how stories like A Bánh Mì for Two open meaningful dialogues about identity, memory, and human connection. The USC US-China Institute looks forward to hosting more book talks in the future that explore culturally important and relevant materials for K-12 education, helping teachers inspire and inform the next generation of global thinkers.
Selected Online Teaching Resources for A Bánh Mì For Two
- The Historical Relationship between Vietnam and China [Asia for Educators] is a video with Professor Kathlene Baldanza with links to the presentation images, document based questions, timelines, vocabulary list, central themes, etc.
- Vietnam: A Historical Introduction [Asia Society] provides a good overview for educators with links to further information including religion in Vietnam.
- Vibrant Vietnam: A Mosaic of People, Culture and Biodiversity [Google Arts & Culture] highlights differences between the northern and southern areas.
- Voyage to Vietnam [Children’s Discovery Museum San Jose] explores traditional foods and clothing, ancestor altars, musical instruments, and festivals.
- Silk Roads into Vietnamese History [Education about Asia] article by Charles Weeler details connections between Vietnam and other areas of Asia before 1500.
- The War in Vietnam: A Story in Photographs [National Archives] has images with associated teaching activities and image analysis worksheets.
- Viet Nam in the Twenty-First Century: The Unbreakable Bamboo [Education about Asia] article by Shelton Woods examines accomplishments and challenges for the state.
- Vietnamese American Experiences Model Curriculum [University of California, Davis] has lesson plans, primary source documents, teaching strategies and more.
Making Sense of Vietnamese Cuisine [Education about Asia] article by Nir Avieli focuses both on the traditional and the modern Vietnamese foodways.