The Book of Salt

During the French colonial rule of Vietnam, there was an othering of the Vietnamese people, who were referred to as “orientals” or “asiatiques.” The Vietnamese were marginalized on their own land. France saw Vietnam’s rich farmlands, the opium trade, and rice as valuable resources the French wanted to exploit.

Binh works alongside his brother, Anh Minh, in the Governor-General’s residence, where they are treated as servants. The Madame shows this superior attitude when she replies to her secretary’s story about the chef and Binh: “Madame was a snob but not a prude. She did not care about the relations of two men, just as long as they were of the same social standing and, of course, race” (132).

The reason Anh Minh would never advance to head chef at the Governor-General’s is simply due to his being Vietnamese, rather than French. Further, it is the inherent racism of the French (along with the petty jealousy of Binh among other house employees for being with Bleriot) that forces Binh to leave his homeland. In this manner, we see how colonialism has the potential to displace. 

The man on the bridge explains to Binh:

‘The French are all right in France.