Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - A collection of people born in the year 1987 have writtenabout their lives in a book. It is simply titled 1987.

Theyear was the first year after the country’s famous Doi Moi (Renewal) policy wasinitiated. It marked the transitional period between the subsidised economy andthe renewal era, when the country promoted the expansion of business.

Thebook 1987 was introduced at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum late last week.

The300-page book, divided into four sections, contains gentle and humourousstories. The first part is about the authors’ childhoods. The second partconsists of stories in the year 2000, when the internet was adopted inVietnamese society. The third part marks a turning point in the life of peoplein 1987 – when they finished high-school education and entered university andchose a vocation. The final chapter runs from 2010 until now, with stories ofmodern life, of which Facebook is an integral part.

“Thirtyyears may not be such a long time, but it’s enough for many changes; a bowl ofpho bo (beef noodle) went from 2,000 VND (9 US cents) to 45,000 VND (2 USD);video/cassette tapes were replaced by YouTube; and the internet became an integralpart of life,” said Mai Nhu Ngoc, writing under the pen name Nick M, chiefauthor of the book.

Thewriters came from different backgrounds, including journalists, screenwriters,photographers, business people, singers, models and actresses.

Someof them are well-known, such as Miss Vietnam World 2007, Ngo Phuong Lan, singerLe Cat Trong Ly and musician Pham Toan Thang.

Althoughall authors are introduced at the beginning of the book, their stories remainanonymous because they want sympathy from readers who are the same age.

Tomark the publishing of the book, Thang composed a song Thirty, which promisesto become a hit.

Theauthors will present the book on November 26 in Hanoi and on November 18 in HCMCity.

“It’smore than personal stories of 30-year-olds, it’s a story of a generation and anera in the Vietnamese society,” said writer Nguyen Truong Quy, an editor at theTre (Youth) Publishing House.

ActressChieu Xuan who gave birth to her first daughter in 1987, said 30 years ago, itwas hard to find diapers, silicone nipples and various kinds of milk. Life thenwas so difficult, she said. 

“Asfar as I know my daughter and her friends, people aged 30, who were born in theyear of Cat, are smart, skilled and spirited and independent. They are alsoobstinate and adventurous,” said Xuan.

“Theywitnessed many historical changes in the country. They represent the younggeneration who are intelligent, active and open-minded about building up amodern society.”

Thebook will be available nationwide from November 20.-VNA