"Freshwater Jar" is a tender journey into the heart of Vietnam's natural world, where memory clings to the precious jar of freshwater in a land defined by salt. Rooted in elemental landscapes - from the fertile Mekong Delta to the brackish soil of the Saltwater Canal Hamlet - the book deepens appreciation for the pioneer farmers who have learned to carve out meaning, sustenance, and dignity amid not only the harshest elements but also the cruelties of war.

At the center of the narrative is the bond between two neighboring boys, Minh and Thành, who grow up side by side like brothers, their childhoods intertwined through muddy fields, shared secrets, and the quiet rhythms of village life. But as the country descends into civil war, the innocence of their friendship is shattered. Political divisions seep into homes and hearts, pulling the two onto separate, fateful paths. Their story echoes the broader fracture of a nation, where entire communities, and even families, are torn apart by ideology, duty, and loss.

"Freshwater Jar" can be seen as both a personal memoir and a collective elegy - an homage to the landscapes, relationships, and cultural inheritances that shape a people forged by both abundance and adversity.