Where did Diệu Lan spend what she calls the happiest days of her life in the novel, The Mountains Sing?

Diệu Lan’s childhood home, which once had exquisitely carved wooden doors, lacquered shutters, and ceramic dragons, lies within the Nghệ An province. Diệu Lan spent the happiest days of her life on this property: she grew up in that home, got married, and raised her young children there. From 1930-1942, her family prospered from their rice and potato fields. The Great Famine of 1945 caused the death of Diệu Lan’s mother and the Trần family had to rebuild their rice fields, only for the Land Reform of 1955 to destroy and rob the Trần family of their entire property. The Nghệ An Province becomes a symbol of lost innocence and traumatic memories for Dieu Lan.