No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsArts and CultureFormer expat in Costa Rica launches novel about Vietnam

Former expat in Costa Rica launches novel about Vietnam

In a way, “Palawan Story” is a novel about a clerical error: When young Kim escapes Vietnam during the civil war, she arrives in the Philippines. But because she has the same name as another young woman, she is accidentally shipped off to an adoptive family in the United States, where she not only starts a new life, but actively revises her past.

For author Caroline Vu, “Palawan Story” has certain autobiographical elements. Like Kim, Vu was also born in Vietnam, she was evacuated during the war, and she lived part of her life in the United States. But unlike Kim, Vu also spent time in Costa Rica, where her husband, Mario Laguë, served as ambassador to Canada from 2004-2007. (Laguë passed away unexpectedly in 2010.) During her time in Costa Rica, Vu also wrote extensively for The Tico Times.

Vu will visit Costa Rica this week for a local book launch of “Palawan Story” at the restaurant Tin Jo in San José. Hosted by owner Maria Hon and sponsored by the Asociacion Diplomatica de Ayuda, the event is a chance to meet the author and pick up a copy of the book.

While this novel is her first published book, Vu has written for various newspapers around the world, including the Toronto Star and the Geneva Times. Today Vu is based in Montreal, Canada, and like her “Palawan” protagonist, she works as a family doctor.

Does Kim reconcile her adult life with her dramatic and uncertain childhood? There’s only one way to find out – books cost 8,000 colones ($16) a copy.

The “Palawan Story” book launch takes place Aug. 28 at Tin Jo, downtown San José. 6:30 p.m. Info: Asociacion Diplomatica de Ayuda website.

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s Piangua Mollusk Threatened by Pineapple Farm Runoff

Costa Rica’s Térraba-Sierpe National Wetland, a 33,000-hectare haven of mangroves and rivers, is under siege from an unlikely source: pineapple farms. A study by...

Costa Rica’s Film Festival Kicks Off with a New Vision

San José is lighting up for the 13th Costa Rica International Film Festival (CRFIC), running June 19–29, 2025, with filmmaker Patricia Velásquez Guzmán taking...

Costa Rica and U.S. Strengthen Border Scans and Biometric Cooperation

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem met Wednesday with Honduran President Xiomara Castro to discuss security and migration, following her offer in Costa...

Nicaraguan Exiles Demand Protection After Costa Rica Assassination

More than 70 exiled Nicaraguans demanded international protection on Friday following the shooting death in Costa Rica of retired army officer Roberto Samcam, a...

Mexican Influencer “El Arturito” Falls for Costa Rican Cuisine at Silvestre

Arturo Lemmen, a Mexican food critic known as “El Arturito” to his social media fans, used to think Costa Rican cuisine was nothing to...

Why Costa Rica Feels Like a Safe Haven for This Longtime Expat

If someone asked me to sum up why I live in Costa Rica in 5 words or less, my answer could well be: “It...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica