As a kid of the Vietnam War, and Vietnamese American, I gotta say, Ken Preston has done one hell of a service by making this book. I personally have tried to investigate and find information on other aspects of Vietnamese culture (archery for example), which unfortunately got destroyed in the Communist purges, as well as the rot of the monsoon rains and jungles, so the fact that he managed to collate this much valuable information on Vietnam's maritime heritage is IMO an astonishing achievement. From my own personal family history, there's a lot of stories about indigenous merchant sailing vessels in the 18th century that set sail to the America's for trade from the coast of Vietnam. But all I got were the stories. No designs, no pictures, no plans, no nothing on what those ships once looked like. Mr. Preston's book looks like a great starting point in terms of finding out what some of those vessels might have looked like and how they operated. At least in terms of coastal waters. I am definitely getting a copy of the book, one for my self, and one for my folks, since when they escaped Vietnam just before the Fall of Saigon, all that information was lost or destroyed.
Now to translate those vessels into marine plywood and fiberglass...
Fascinating comments and sample pages. Traditional/indigenous boats represent their origins and the cultures that produced them. Seeing these boats now, lets us look back to where they came from. Hopefully we won't lose this history before we need it again. A copy of this book would be much appreciated, and passed on.
What a great book! I am always impressed at how well "third world" boatwrights manage so much with so little. Their creative solutions to keeping the water out and the topsides up, as well as the variation in craft from country to country in response to available materials and sea conditions never ceaes to amaze and fascinate me! Michael Morin
I also got into boating by being in Vietnam in 1971 and 1972. The best place I was stationed was at Cam Rahn Bay. All kinds of boats and all kinds of fishermen. Your pictures bring back a lot of memories from there. Look forward to getting the book.
This looks like a very interesting book. I’ve built a skin on frame boat for my granddaughter and a lot of the boats are similar to what the native Alaskan people built. I’m looking forward to obtaining a copy for my library until I can establish my boat building shop.
I have not met Ken, but we did correspond a good bit, particularly in advance of my own trip to Vietnam. He was able to give me several valuable tips regarding the indigenous boats over there and we saw a bunch of them. We even rode on a few. What a trip. Thanks, Ken.
Great article, and I very much look forward to getting a copy of the book!
Very interesting boat designs. Would love to see them with sails.
As a kid of the Vietnam War, and Vietnamese American, I gotta say, Ken Preston has done one hell of a service by making this book. I personally have tried to investigate and find information on other aspects of Vietnamese culture (archery for example), which unfortunately got destroyed in the Communist purges, as well as the rot of the monsoon rains and jungles, so the fact that he managed to collate this much valuable information on Vietnam's maritime heritage is IMO an astonishing achievement. From my own personal family history, there's a lot of stories about indigenous merchant sailing vessels in the 18th century that set sail to the America's for trade from the coast of Vietnam. But all I got were the stories. No designs, no pictures, no plans, no nothing on what those ships once looked like. Mr. Preston's book looks like a great starting point in terms of finding out what some of those vessels might have looked like and how they operated. At least in terms of coastal waters. I am definitely getting a copy of the book, one for my self, and one for my folks, since when they escaped Vietnam just before the Fall of Saigon, all that information was lost or destroyed.
Now to translate those vessels into marine plywood and fiberglass...
Fascinating comments and sample pages. Traditional/indigenous boats represent their origins and the cultures that produced them. Seeing these boats now, lets us look back to where they came from. Hopefully we won't lose this history before we need it again. A copy of this book would be much appreciated, and passed on.
Ken Preston was a gem!
I caught Ken's online talk on another platform. Absolutely fascinating. He certainly knows his boats! Would love to have a copy of his book ...
Great story thanks for it
Amazing research & photos! Ken must be proud of his work & so he should be. Good on him!
James
If the photographs shown here are indicative of the rest of the book then this book will be a real treat!
What a great book! I am always impressed at how well "third world" boatwrights manage so much with so little. Their creative solutions to keeping the water out and the topsides up, as well as the variation in craft from country to country in response to available materials and sea conditions never ceaes to amaze and fascinate me! Michael Morin
Absolutely beautiful craft , I'm so glad they have recovered.
JW , USN , Viet Nam
Very close to me as a USNavy Vietnam veteran who spent all my time ashore up north of DaNang..
I also got into boating by being in Vietnam in 1971 and 1972. The best place I was stationed was at Cam Rahn Bay. All kinds of boats and all kinds of fishermen. Your pictures bring back a lot of memories from there. Look forward to getting the book.
Wonderful pictures & history! Thanks!
This looks like a very interesting book. I’ve built a skin on frame boat for my granddaughter and a lot of the boats are similar to what the native Alaskan people built. I’m looking forward to obtaining a copy for my library until I can establish my boat building shop.
I have not met Ken, but we did correspond a good bit, particularly in advance of my own trip to Vietnam. He was able to give me several valuable tips regarding the indigenous boats over there and we saw a bunch of them. We even rode on a few. What a trip. Thanks, Ken.