About

In 2012, I created this blog to allow anyone to comment or review my books, and, if necessary, to allow me to respond and provide additional insight into their historical background, or simply to explain why I wrote what I wrote.

In 2012 I self-published my first book, Village Teacher on Amazon. Since early 2018, I began working on a second book, The Siege of An Lộc. It is now completed and is available on Amazon.

My name is Nguyễn Trọng Hiền in Vietnamese. Living in the United States, I am known as Hien Nguyen, or Hien T. Nguyen. neihtn is the name of my email account on Yahoo mail. It is my Vietnamese first name (Hien)  and initials, spelled backward. Why backward? One reason is to indicate that I now live on the opposite side of the world from where I was born and spent over two decades of my life.

Do I write for a living? No, writing is something that I have wanted to do for almost all my life, but I used to have a “regular” job. It took me almost four years to write Village Teacher at night and on weekends. I am now retired and intend to spend much of my time writing.

I am also an amateur photographer. I like to take pictures of birds, wildlife, flowers and landscapes. I now blog and post photos at least once a week. I hope you will enjoy my photos.

105 thoughts on “About”

  1. I’m glad I came across your blog, sir. I spent some time in the An Loc area when I was stationed in Vietnam with 1st Infantry Division. Your book is on my list. Thanks for writing it.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Nice blog

    Liked by 3 people

  3. Hello Hien ,I used your photographs for doing hyperrealistic pencil drawing. Want your email address so that I can send you the images of my drawings.Waiting for the reply.

    Thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Hi Hien, I’ve been seeing your comments at posts we mutually follow. I’m so glad I finally took the time to see what you were up to and I’m glad I did! Seems as though we have similar likes or hobbies! I’m off to scroll through some more of your photos if I don’t get interrupted. 😀

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Hien, your photos are incredible, you have a lot of sensitivity to nature, I congratulate you for such beautiful captures, your Blog is captivating.
    Greetings Marcela, from Colombia 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  6. kliekens said:

    Dear Hien,
    you are a wonderful colleague to work with, and I now know that you are a very talented writer too!
    I just read your book and I enjoyed reading every single page of it!
    I usually don’t read historical books, but “The Village Teacher” has such a fine combination of history and romance, and I truly loved it.
    I already look forward to reading your second book!
    Warm regards, Katleen

    Liked by 2 people

    • Katleen, I am happy you enjoyed reading Village Teacher and came away with a very encouraging appreciation of the story and its historical background. Thank you for taking the time to stop by here and commenting!

      Like

  7. Geena Watkins said:

    Dear Hien,
    I LOVE YOU ! You are so amazing!!!!!!
    I wish I can do just only half of what you do.👍🏻
    (Now USA from Bangkok, Thailand)

    Liked by 2 people

  8. I always appreciate your kind comments on my photos, even though I don’t publish comments, thanks!

    Liked by 2 people

  9. Thanks for visiting my site Hien – I’m so glad to have found you and yours 😃

    Liked by 2 people

  10. Hello – I love your photographs! I am compiling my essays on Buddhism into a book that I am self-publishing through Amazon (I have a Master’s in Buddhist Doctrine and am nearly finished with my Master’s in Divinity focusing on Buddhist Studies) and would love to use one of your white lotus with bee pictures (July 13, 2015 titled White Lotus with bee) for the cover. I will properly credit your picture, of course. The photo really touched me since my mother loved bees and collected bee pins and things, so it would be a nice touch to include the bee with the lotus. Thank you for considering my request! Cheryl (Tam Bi Khai)

    Liked by 2 people

  11. revengestar said:

    Very inspirational, thanks for sharing

    Liked by 2 people

  12. Hello, I just found your blog. I look forward to reading your posts and enjoying the photographs.

    Liked by 2 people

  13. I love what you share, and your photographs inspire me to write poetry with their radiant spirit! One day I might write a poem to one of your pictures if you permit! You are awesome my brother…the beauty, and peace alive in your spirit shines through radiantly in all you share! It is always a delight to visit you!

    Liked by 2 people

  14. the picture clicked by you are amazing! loved them…

    Liked by 2 people

  15. Hi Hien – your blog looks very interesting. Tempting to scroll and scroll, because all the pictures look great. In which state do you live now (I assume in US)?
    – Ruta

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Hello, Hien–it is so very wonderful to meet you! I have seen your photo before, as we follow many of the same blogs. I feel like I am meeting an old friend.

    Liked by 2 people

  17. Hi, thanks for dropping by and liking my blog, The Whimsical Trekker. You have some great pictures here and I especially like the canyon photos, really magnificent works of nature!

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Hello Hien, I dropped by to thank you for the like on my post on the Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum. It was great to get the feedback, regards GG

    Liked by 2 people

  19. I’m glad I found this interesting blog. I hope I’ll find your book in Poland as it includes both history and geography, things that make time spent on reading really precious.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Hi Hien,
    Thanks a lot for liking my posts and following my blog too!! I hope I ll be able to keep post things good enough that you ll like in the future too 🙂
    Kaustav

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Hello Hein- Thank you for following my photography blog, Jane’s Lens. I hope you are inspired. I am enjoying reading your blog and congratulations on the publication of your book.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Thank you for visiting my blog. It will allow me to discover and explore yours !

    Liked by 1 person

  23. I just nominated you for The One Lovely Blog award:

    One Lovely Blog Award

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Great photos. I am so impressed that I decided to follow. Looking forward to seeing more.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Thank you so much for the visit and follow – I look forward to reading more of yours!

    Liked by 1 person

  26. What a splendid blog you have 🙂 We love your photography and what you have to share!
    Look forward to more and keen to read your book too!!

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Hi Hien!

    You know I love your blog and your book! 🙂 I am starting a feature about the best travel moment a person encountered or experienced while traveling. I will feature you and your blog on a post. Here’s a sample of a post that I made for this feature. http://travelmoments.net/2014/04/09/the-gift-of-myanmar/

    If you would like to join, please send a picture together with a short paragraph explaining where the photo was taken and why this was your best travel moment to angeibarra@travelmoments.net Kindly send your name and blog link site too.

    Cheers to happy and memorable travels!
    Angie

    Liked by 1 person

  28. Hi Mr. Hien,
    Thank you for visiting my blog and liking my posts.

    Just a small question, you might not answer it if you don’t like. Do you speak Vietnamese, as you liked one of my posts written in Vietnamese : )

    Best,
    Nguyen-Kan

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Hello Hien, Great to find your blog here. Superb images .

    Loved the variety in your posts and enjoyed browsing through.

    Have a great time 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  30. Hien,

    I’ve nominated you for the Seven-Awards-in-One Award. Full details may be found here: http://lilmisspoutinessegues.wordpress.com/2014/03/02/the-seven-awards-in-one-award/

    Congratulations and thank you for sharing your amazing stories and photos!
    lilmisspoutine

    While due diligence has been done to make sure that yours is not an award-free blog, please accept my apologies (if I have missed the obvious), and in the spirit in which the nomination is given. Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Thanks to you for the follow. You visited me earlier this month and I’m now just catching up. I’ve put your book “Village Teacher: Genesis” on my Amazon wish list so I don’t forget to check it out. 😀 You’ve gotten great reviews there.

    Liked by 1 person

  32. Good luck with the book! They say “do what you love and the money will follow!” I wish this for you!

    Thank you for signing up to follow my blog! I hope that you will enjoy my posts! ^..^ B

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you! You have a refreshing and delightful blog, and I enjoy following it, viewing your photos, reading the posts, and learning a little bit about life in the Sierra Foothills.

      Like

  33. Hi Hien, mr Hien

    First of all thank you for dropping by on my weblog. You’ve got some stunning photography, so time to follow your every move 🙂

    And may i congratulate you on finishing and publishing your book?! I hope one day i’ll be able to publish something myself, so i know what i have to do in the evenings and weekends the upcoming 4 years lol

    All the best!

    Cheers
    Pieter

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Pieter,

      Thanks for following my blog. I may be publishing less frequently from here on as I need to devote more time on a second book. I do enjoy visiting your blog with such nice photos and interesting stories.

      Hien

      Like

  34. I had a look at some of your photographs, they’re stunning!

    Liked by 1 person

  35. Thanks for the like Hien, really appreciated. Hope you will come back to have a further look around. Congratulations on the published book, a great achievement, MM 🍀

    Liked by 1 person

  36. Thank you Hien for following my blog and liking my takes on the photo challenges. Your blog is great, love your photo work, I’m following and looking forward to viewing your posts!

    Liked by 1 person

  37. Hello! You have some really good photographs – glad to have stumbled on here! Wishing you a happy new year! 🙂 Regards.

    Liked by 1 person

  38. It is wonderful to meet you, especially at this time of year when so much magic is in the air.

    Liked by 1 person

  39. Hi Hein!!

    A Personal Thank You to The Very Inspiring Bloggers in My Life


    Here is Very Inspiring Blogger Award for you should you wish to have it. You definitiely inspire me with the quality of your work, both written and photographic!! Reading Village Teacher when I was feeling poorly was an absolute pleasure and mentally travelling along with your characters transported me to another time and place where I enjoyed being.

    Liked by 1 person

  40. Thank you so much for following my blog. I will be checking out your book. Keep writing and blogging!

    Liked by 1 person

  41. Thanks so much for checking out my little photo blog. I’ve been scrolling through your beautiful photographs.
    I love historical fiction and I’m looking forward to reading your book which I just ordered for my Kindle.

    Liked by 1 person

  42. Hello Hein, thank you very much for all the likes and for following my blog, i really appreciate it! 😀 Hope you have a great week!! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  43. Thanks for stopping by and following my blog. I have already enjoyed exploring some of your posts, especially the Red Rock series. Very nice photo work.
    Congratulations on your new book, I wish you much success with your writing endeavor.

    Liked by 1 person

  44. Hi Hien,

    Thank you for following my blog. This was my journey cycling through Vietnam: https://vimeo.com/77878273 I absolutely loved Vietnam and we met some great people! 😀 Hope you like the video

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Ozge,

      I have a very bad internet connection at home and could not watch your video beyond the first 30 seconds. I will try again at work .

      Thank you for stopping by my blog!

      Like

  45. So you decided to join the small clan of Uncle Spike followers Hein…. That makes me a happy blogger now – I really appreciate you making that special mouse click.

    Hope you like my upcoming posts and if you get bored one day, maybe you’ll enjoy trawling through some of my older stuff too.

    If you have any likes, dislikes or suggestions about my blog, just let me know, either through ‘comments’ or via email. Always welcome reader input 🙂

    Have a great old day…

    UNCLE SPIKE
    uncle.spikes.adventures1@gmail.com

    Liked by 1 person

  46. hi hien,

    many thanks for dropping by and liking my recent post.
    hanoi is a fab place to visit, the mid-autumn festivity in the old quarter is truly an astounding event to experience. a sea of people all round and the lion/dragon dance troupes vying with each other to do their best was amazing to watch.

    best regards,
    kap

    Liked by 1 person

  47. Dear Mr. Hien

    Thank you for visiting my site “Sometimes Words Help.”
    I’m certainly going to try to read Village Teacher and will let you know what I think when I’m done.
    Marshall Cavendish will be releasing my novel about 60 years of a Vietnamese man’s life in November. The title is “As the Heart Bones Break”. If you’d like a free copy in return for your review on Goodreads or Amazon, do let me know and I’ll be happy to send you the PDF.
    Do keep in touch. It will be nice to follow each other’s writing lives.

    Regards
    Audrey Chin

    Liked by 1 person

    • PN Ravindran said:

      Great photos of lotuses. I am writing a book Lotus-The Cosmic Flower. I wish to get some lotus photos for including in this book. The book will be published by a UK publisher. Kindly grant me permission and also send me high resolution photographs of the lotuses . Your help will be properly acknowledged.
      Regards
      Dr PN Ravindran

      Liked by 1 person

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