An epic saga of love, blood, and destiny in twentieth-century Vietnam: â This superb novel could well be the War and Peace of our ageâ (San Francisco Chronicle).

Joseph Sherman first visits Saigonâ the capital of French colonial Cochin-Chinaâ as a young man on his fatherâ s hunting trip in 1925. But the exotic land lures him back again and again as a traveler, soldier, and reporter. He returns because of his fascination for the enchanting cityâ and for Lan, a mandarinâ s daughter he cannot forget.

Over five decades Josephâ s life becomes enmeshed with the political intrigues of two of Saigonâ s most influential families, the French colonist Devrauxs, and the native Trans. In this sweeping saga of tragedy and triumph, Joseph witnesses Vietnamâ s turbulent, war-torn fate. He is there when millions of coolies rise against the French, and during their bloody last stand at Dien Bien Phu. And he sees US military â advisorsâ fire their first shots in Americaâ s hopeless war against the Communist revolution.

A story of adventure, love, war, and political power, Saigon presents an enthralling and enlightening depiction of twentieth-century Vietnam.