• An inspiring memoir of one woman's adventure, challenges and discoveries in a foreign culture.

  • Fishermen off Tan Thanh beach with Cham Island in the background.

  • About The Book

    At 73, the author sets off alone to spend a year living in a small beach village in Vietnam near her expat son—just as, unexpectedly, the pandemic begins. Drawn by her deep curiosity about Buddhist culture and Vietnamese life, she arrives just before the borders close. What follows is a once-in-a-lifetime immersion into a world vastly different from her own.

    From navigating a foreign culture to riding out typhoons; from traveling to the Northern Highlands to enduring an unexpected hospital stay; from connecting with expats to simply finding joy in watching life unfold around her, she shares her journey with honesty, insight, and humor. At the heart of the story is the bond with her son, made more complex by his struggle with alcoholism, and her attitude of embracing whatever comes her way.

    With wisdom earned over a lifetime, she reflects on the beauty of community, resilience, and finding peace later in life. This deeply personal travel memoir reveals how stepping out of one’s comfort zone can lead to the most unexpected and meaningful experiences—even at an older age.

  • Where to buy:

    Kindle , Paperback and Hardcover copies are available on Amazon.

    Paperback copies can be ordered in your local brick-and-mortar book stores worldwide.

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  • About The Author:

    anjawoltman@yearinvietnam.com

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    Anja Woltman was born in The Hague, Holland. Her early writing experience included contributing poetry and articles to her college newspaper, where she also served as editor. After moving to the U.S. in 1971 through a Foreign Teachers Program, she published an article in a Dutch weekly opinion magazine about American football—then a little-known element of U.S. culture in Europe. She took a break from writing while adapting to the English language, but later honed her skills through professional writing.

    Anja and her husband raised two sons and built their own home in Vermont. After their divorce in 1994, she relocated to Sonoma County, California, where she still lives. In addition to teaching, Anja held leadership roles in nonprofit organizations, serving as both Program Director and Executive Director. She is currently retired and has one grandchild. This is her first book.

  • Gallery

    From the author:

    Welcome to a gallery of photos of my year in Vietnam.

    Click on a photo to see a description.

    Enjoy the beauty of Vietnam!

    First time at the beach...
    The gate to Connor's house.
    Iside the kitchen.
    Basket boats.
    Early morning.
    Fishing boat.
    Incense holder.
    Sun chairs but no tourists.
    View on Da Nang.
    Sun rise.
    Sun rise.
    A street in Tan Thanh.
    Morning walk
    Morning walk
    An altar on a street.
    Tiny fish
    Main street in Tan Thanh.
    My apartment.
    View on the town.
    My Living room.
    Full moon.
    The river.
    Flooded rice fields.
    Planting of rice.
    Rice Paddy.
    Rice fields.
    Fishing on the ocean.
    Fishing boats
    Repairing my ceiling light.
    Fish for sale
    An Bang beach
    A vendor...
    The beach at night.
    Old Town Hoi An.
    Old Town Hoi An
    The famous Japanese bridge.
    The Thu Bon River.
    Old Town houses.
    Central Market.
    Empty beaches.
    A store.
    A modern store in Hoi An.
    Kayaking on the Thu Bon River,
    Inside an island.
    A fisherman
    Large fishing boats
    A water buffalo..
    Vegetable Village.
    Vegetable village.
    Cham Island - the harbour.
    People getting water the well
    Fresh fish.
    A Buddhist Temple
    Monkeys.
    My motor bike!
    Sapa.
    Mount Fansipan
    Mountain ranges outside Sapa
    Muddy rice paddies in October.
    The mountains in Sapa.
    A rugged road,
    Cat Cat village.
    Transporting firewood
    Sapa
    A woman in indeginous clothes I met during a walk. She was kind enough to pose. Most people wore indigenous clothes.
    Grandmother and grand niece
    Trip to a the sauna
    The sleeper bus
    After the typhoon...
    Dumping sand bag.
    After the typhoon.
    Before the typhoon
    After the typhoon.
    Prayers and offerings
    Marble Mountain.
    Marble Mountain.
    Marble statues for sale.
    Sounds of Silence cafe.
    A birthday dinner.
    At the Thu Bon river.
    Tea at the river.
    TET.
    Kumquat trees.
    The Dragon Bridge in Da Nang.
    The beach is empty.
    Last time at the beach.
    Good bye Tan Thanh beach
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