Who is Pham Van Thong from Catfish and Mandala: A Two-wheeled Voyage Through the Landscape and Memory of Vietnam and what is their importance?

Pham Van Thong, Andrew's father, was the biggest influence on his life. Over the course of the novel, Thong faced many changes. In the end, Andrew paints a picture of his father as a man who was born into poverty, loved his young wife, worked hard, and had hopes for the future.