Summary

Chapter Six explores the Vietnamese industry of memory, noting how is it different from the American industry. Nguyen opens by arguing that strong countries rely on killing, while weak ones draw their power from dying. The North Vietnamese were ultimately victorious because they were able to tolerate a much higher casualty rate than the American public, particularly when supported by international opposition to the war. Though the United States operated a powerful war machine, it was stopped by the sheer number of bodies in Vietnam itself. This relationship is also seen in the mnemonic battles following the war. Unlike the United States, Vietnam and its neighbors do not have a industry of memory capable of exporting their memories internationally. Instead, small countries rely on international visitors coming to their territory, where they have an advantage, much as North Vietnamese forces did during the war...