The Representations of Soldiers in Modern Vietnamese Short Fiction: A Typological Study

This article explores the evolving image of the soldier in contemporary Vietnamese war short stories written after 1975. Moving beyond heroic and idealized wartime depictions, postwar literature presents multifaceted, trauma-stricken, repentant, and resilient soldier figures. Through qualitative analysis of 33 selected texts, the study highlights a shift toward humanistic portrayals that emphasize psychological depth and moral complexity. These narratives reaffirm literature’s role in confronting historical memory, fostering ethical reflection, and contributing to national reconciliation in the aftermath of war.