The Girls in the Melody Bar

Melody Bar is set in 1971 in wartime Saigon and follows the love affair of American Army officer Andy Carpenter and Melody Bar hostess Huong as they attempt to overcome the many obstacles that threaten their relationship. As her relationship with Carpenter develops, Huong begins a journey toward self acceptance that necessitates deciding which of her beliefs may be jettisoned for short-term gain and which define her moral code. Carpenter reveals more of his heart to Huong, describing his deceased wife and the love he felt for her. He acknowledges that it is difficult for him to love again, especially in a foreign land. He knows that prolonged absence from home can confuse the senses into believing that loneliness is really love. He tells Huong that his year tour of duty in Vietnam will be up in four months, and he will be return to the U.S. Other Melody Bar hostesses are highlighted as they form liaisons with American contractors and American soldiers for love or profit. The Melody Bar and the greedy ambitions of its owner, Mrs. Bao, a woman who jealously guards her business from perceived and real dangers, are the setting that draws the separate narratives together.