Viet Book Fest 2026

Additional time info:

At the Norma Kershaw Auditorium

10:00 am - 11:30 am

Opening the Future: Unveiling Vietnamese Narratives Through Translation

ThụyVy (Moderator), Đinh Từ Bích Thuý, Tri C. Tran, PhD - UC, Irvine, Đặng Thơ Thơ

Translation has always played a vital role in introducing readers to unique and diverse stories across time and space. This panel explores how Vietnamese works have been or will be translated into English, to foster greater linguistic, cultural, and historical understanding of our diasporic Vietnamese literary tradition at the half-century mark since the Fall of Saigon. Through translation, these works aim to preserve and celebrate the complexity of our Vietnamese sensibility while allowing layered narratives to cross borders, take root, and flower in evolving landscapes. Dịch thuật luôn đóng vai trò cốt yếu trong việc giới thiệu đến độc giả những câu chuyện đặc sắc và đa diện từ khắp nơi và mọi thời đại. Buổi thảo luận này liên quan đến các tác phẩm tiếng Việt đã và sẽ được dịch sang tiếng Anh trong những năm gần đây, nhằm thúc đẩy sự hiểu biết sâu rộng hơn trong dòng chính về truyền thống văn học Việt Nam hải ngoại tại cột mốc nửa thế kỷ từ biến cố 1975. Qua lăng kính dịch thuật, các

12 noon - 1:30 pm

Fresh Off the Press: New Books & Their Authors Panel

Philip Nguyen , Jade Hidle, Cindy Anh Nguyen, Hugh Nguyen

Extra, extra—fresh off the press! From personal narratives to scholarly and community-focused writing, panelists will offer insights into a range of genres and themes straight from the authors themselves. Join us for an engaging conversation, a chance to meet the authors, and an opportunity to explore new reads that reflect the power of storytelling across communities. Moderated by Kenneth Nguyen, host of The Vietnamese podcast.

1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Preserving Roots, Spices, and Recipes: A Cookbook Panel

Huong Pham (Moderator), Andrea Nguyen, Julie Mai Trần, Tien Nguyen

Food is more than nourishment. It serves as memory, heritage, and storytelling passed down through generations. Join us through personal stories and culinary traditions as our panelists will talk about their recipes, techniques, and shared meals served as powerful connections to ancestry while evolving within diasporic communities. From home kitchens to published cookbooks, this conversation celebrates food as a living archive of roots, resilience, and community.

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

The Art of Audible Storytelling: Vietnamese Voices in Audiobooks

Jes Vu (Moderator), Elyse Dinh, VyVy Nguyen, Quyen Ngo

Take off your headphones and join us behind the scenes of many voices of your favorite Vietnamese audiobook narrators. From children’s stories to romance, come meet our narrators live in person and learn their story of how they got into narrating your favorite novels and stories.

At John M Lee Court

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Vietnamese Cultural Rhythms: Youth Dance Showcase

3âm, Vietnamese American High School Alliance

Culture is not only learned from books. It is carried through movement, music, and shared traditions. Vietnamese traditional dance has long been a powerful form of storytelling, where history, emotion, and community are expressed through rhythm and gesture. From graceful fan dances to the vibrant energy of lion dance, Vietnamese diasporic youth continue to honor their heritage while expressing cultural pride through music, motion, and performance. Through these dances, stories are remembered, reimagined, and passed on to the next generation.

11:00 am - 12 noon

Children’s Storytime : Stories of Traditions and Journeys

Jenni Trang Le , Beanie

Put on your áo dài and step into a world of storytelling as we celebrate Vietnamese traditions and journeys! This interactive session brings cherished Vietnamese stories to life through storytelling and engaging activities for families and children of all ages. The program is hosted by Jenni Trang Le and her daughter Beanie. Free children’s activities, co-presented by the Vietnamese American High School Alliance (VAHSA), will take place in the John M. Lee Court

12 noon - 1:30 pm

The Rise of Vietnamese Protagonists: Young Adult / Readers Panel

Thuy Vo Dang (Moderator), Brandon Hoàng, Van Hoang, Vanessa Le

Journey to the Vietnamese inspired land of Theumas or join a Vietnamese American granddaughter on a rescue adventure throughout Vietnam to save her grandfather, our main characters come from different worlds, time periods, and most importantly - are Vietnamese. Come join us on an adventure through the different stories and worlds of where being Vietnamese gives the main character vibes

2:30 pm

Community Collaborations - Poetry, Zine, and more