A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain includes two narratives, Dao, who is an older man who is near death, has been meeting with Ho Chi Minh. He mentions how he knew Ho before he was Ho. Ho Chi Minh’s name was originally Nguyen Ai Quoc. They go way back to when they use to shovel snow together. Dao and Ho also worked at the Carlton Museum together in 1917. Ho visits Dao 3 nights in which the story takes place.
Dao has a great memory of his time with Ho and Ho still visits him with sugar on his hands. Dao also tells Ho about his personal life in which he is very concerned about his son in law. I believe this is when the true idea behind this story begins. Dao’s son represents how Vietnam is changing compared to Dao’s time. The change that is occurring is between the population and the government of Vietnam. Many feel the government is against the population of Vietnam. Dao also mentions how he feels that Ho isn’t aware of the person that Vietnam thinks he is. He will always be the Ho that he originally was to everyone not the Ho he wants people to see him as.
Dao and Ho’s relationship has always been strong and they will always think of themselves as the baker they once were. Dao, even though he is unhappy with his family,believes he should try to treat them well and enjoy them in the time that he has left.
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