Hồi ký
Nhớ Thương
Memoirs he wrote for his wife thirty years after her death in late 1969. Privately printed in 1970 to give to friends and family, not released.
Nhà in Chí Thanh, 156 Hòa-Hưng, Sài Gòn, 1970 · 226 tr.
Bibliography
Works
Listing 46 of approximately 124 recorded works, by year from 1935 to 2025. This bibliography is still being extended.
This bibliography was rebuilt from library catalogue records — the Bibliothèque nationale de France, Cornell, Princeton, K10plus, CiNii and the Library of Congress — rather than from press listings. Several dates in circulation turn out to be reissues rather than first editions.
Chronology
Ordered by the earliest printing that could be traced, so that the years he published and the years without a single book are equally visible.
Hanoi, 1935–1950
A first story in a magazine in 1935, then four books printed in Hanoi. All four survive through the legal-deposit copies held at the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and none of them appears in the Vietnamese listings of his work.
Saigon, 1957–1974
Between the last book printed in Hanoi and the first printed in Saigon lie seven years in which no title has been found. From 1957 the books come steadily for eighteen years, among them most of the Nếp Cũ series and three volumes of Việt Nam Chí Lược.
- 1957Tiết Tháo Một ThờiTxt
- 1959Ký VãngView
- Nếp Cũ: Bó Hoa Bắc ViệtView
- 1960Nghệ Thuật Ăn Trộm Và Bắt Trộm Của Người XưaView
- 1963Nếp XưaView
- Múa Thiết Lĩnh, Ném Bút ChìView
- 1965Nếp Cũ: Con Người Việt NamView
- 1967Người Việt Đất Việt
- Nếp Cũ: Tín Ngưỡng Việt Nam (Thượng)Txt
- 1968Nếp Cũ: Tín Ngưỡng Việt Nam (Hạ)Txt
- Nếp Cũ: Làng Xóm Việt NamView
- Phong Tục Việt Nam: Từ Bản Thân Đến Gia ĐìnhTxt
- 1969Nếp Cũ: Hội Hè Đình Đám (Thượng)View
- Miền Bắc Khai Nguyên
- Tinh Thần Trọng Nghĩa Đông Phương
- 1970Nhớ ThươngView
- Nghệ Thuật Tham Nhũng Và Hối Lộ
- Cầm Ca Việt NamView
- 1974Nếp Cũ: Hội Hè Đình Đám (Hạ)View
- Cao Nguyên Miền Thượng (Thượng)View
- Cao Nguyên Miền Thượng (Hạ)View
Later, 1991–2006
After 1974 come seventeen years with no book at all. From 1991 they appear again — though for several it is still unsettled whether they are new work or a reissue of something written earlier.
- 1991Phong Tục Thờ Cúng Trong Gia Đình Việt Nam
- 1993Vào Làng Cầm Bút
- Trong Họ Ngoài Làng
- 1994Gái Đẹp Xứ BắcView
- 1996Nho Sĩ – Đô VậtView
- 1999Nếp Cũ: Hương Nước Hồn Quê
- 2002Văn Hóa Việt Nam – Những Nét Đại Cương
- 2005Khúc Ca Diệt Thù
- Hồ Ly Nghĩa Trang
- Giai Nhân Võ Hiệp
- Lỗ Hoa Nương
- Sơn Đông Thất Hiệp
- 2006Tân Truyện Kỳ Việt Nam
After his death, 2012–2025
He died on 14 May 2009. The volumes below were printed afterwards — the close of the Nếp Cũ series, together with studies and collections reissued since.
Year not established
These titles appear in his bibliography, but no printing of any of them has been located in a library record. They sit apart here, because on the page a guessed year looks exactly like a verified one.
The full bibliography
Each work with its imprint, its cover where one survives, and a link to the library record. Filterable by genre.
His works were gathered by NXB Trẻ into the collected edition "Toan Ánh toàn tập". Author page at NXB Trẻ ↗
Showing 46 works
Truyện ngắn
Chiếc Nhẫn Quý
Debut short story — marking the beginning of his literary career.
Báo Tiểu thuyết Thứ Bảy, 1935
Published in a newspaper, not printed as a book. The only newspaper identified that he collaborated with before 1975.
Kịch
Bước Đầu
Comedy play — the only work of this genre in his entire career, and his earliest surviving book. BnF note: "[Le premier pas, comédie]".
Nhà in An-Thịnh, 181 Rue du Coton, Hà Nội, 1942 · 74 tr.
Printing completed on 7/7/1942. In addition to the regular paper edition, there were fifty vellum paper copies numbered 1–50, each with the author's signature — according to the last page of the book.
Digitised edition(PDF 41 MB)
Digitised by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (Gallica) ↗
Biên khảo
Phong Lưu Đồng Ruộng
Study of Northern rural customs and country pastimes. The 1957 edition clearly states "3rd printing" — the 1958 date is often mentioned as the third printing, not the first.
Ánh Hoa, Hà Nội, 1943 · 152 tr.
Reissued: Hà Nội: Minh Tuấn 1952 · Sài Gòn: Nam Sơn 1957 (in lần 3)
Digitised edition(PDF 85 MB)
Digitised by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (Gallica) ↗
Truyện ngắn
Trong Lũy Tre Xanh
Short story collection criticizing rural outdated customs.
Nhà xuất bản Hàn-Mặc, 26 Phố Hàng Quạt, Hà Nội, 1944 · 136 tr.
Reissued: Sài Gòn 1957 · Hà Nội: NXB Văn nghệ 2004 · có thể cả "Truyện ngắn làng quê", NXB Văn nghệ 1996 (chưa đối chiếu)
The first page of the book records the printing license issued on 1/7/1944 and the line "first printing"; therefore, 1944 is recorded here, while some library records state 1945. The 1957 date marks a reprint in Sài Gòn.
Digitised edition(PDF 78 MB)
Digitised by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (Gallica) ↗
Tiểu thuyết lịch sử
Thanh Gươm Bắc Việt
Historical novel set against the resistance against the Yuan-Mongols. BnF note: "L'épée du delta tonkinois, roman."
Nhà in Minh-Tuân xuất bản, 15 Phố Nhà Thương Chữa Mắt, Hà Nội, 1950
Digitised edition(PDF 63 MB)
Digitised by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (Gallica) ↗
Tiểu thuyết
Tiết Tháo Một Thời
Highlights the spirit of Vietnamese scholars. The first book after he moved to the South — he self-funded the printing, noting "1st printing".
Tác giả tự xuất bản, Sài Gòn, 1957 · 131 tr.
Tiểu thuyết phong tục
Ký Vãng
Foreword by Triều Đẩu. The 1957–58 date is often mentioned as inaccurate.
Sống Lúa, Sài Gòn, 1959 · 190 tr.
Nếp Cũ 7/11 · Biên khảo
Nếp Cũ: Bó Hoa Bắc Việt
The gentle, virtuous, and capable qualities of Vietnamese women in the Northern region.
Vạn Lợi, Sài Gòn, 1959 · 137 tr.
Biên khảo
Nghệ Thuật Ăn Trộm Và Bắt Trộm Của Người Xưa
Research on tricks and methods of theft prevention in ancient society.
Đông Nam Á, Sài Gòn, 1960 · 211 tr.
Reissued: Sài Gòn: Cơ Sở Xuất Bản Tiến Bộ 1969
The scanned copy readable here is the 1969 printing by Cơ Sở Xuất Bản Tiến Bộ — the cover clearly states that year — not the Đông Nam Á 1960 edition listed in the catalog. It has not been determined which library collection this scanned copy belongs to, so no source is recorded.
Tiểu thuyết phong tục
Nếp Xưa
Customary novel — fiction, different from the research collection Nếp Cũ.
Xây Dựng, Sài Gòn, 1963 · 183 tr.
This is a novel, not part of the Nếp Cũ series. The Library of Congress classifies it under literature and explicitly states "Novel".
Biên khảo võ thuật
Múa Thiết Lĩnh, Ném Bút Chì
Study of two traditional Vietnamese martial arts.
Tiến Bộ, Sài Gòn, 1963 · 154 tr.
Nếp Cũ 1/11 · Biên khảo
Nếp Cũ: Con Người Việt Nam
The life cycle of Vietnamese people from birth to death — birth, study, starting a family, funerals, reburial.
Nam Chi Tùng Thư, Sài Gòn, 1965 · 422 tr.
Reissued: Khai Trí 1970 · NXB TP.HCM 1991 · NXB Trẻ 2023
Việt Nam Chí Lược 1/5 · Biên khảo
Người Việt Đất Việt
Overview of the people and geography of Vietnam — origins, national identity.
Nam Chi Tùng Thư, Sài Gòn, 1967 · 528 tr.
Nếp Cũ 2/11 · Biên khảo
Nếp Cũ: Tín Ngưỡng Việt Nam (Thượng)
The system of Vietnamese folk beliefs — ancestor worship, deities, folk Buddhism.
Nam Chi Tùng Thư, Sài Gòn, 1967 · 475 tr.
Nếp Cũ 3/11 · Biên khảo
Nếp Cũ: Tín Ngưỡng Việt Nam (Hạ)
Continued research on beliefs — magic, fortune-telling, feng shui, funeral customs.
Nam Chi Tùng Thư, Sài Gòn, 1968 · 451 tr.
Reissued: Hoa Đăng 1969
Nếp Cũ 4/11 · Biên khảo
Nếp Cũ: Làng Xóm Việt Nam
Village life — structure, village conventions, communal house, rural market, village solidarity.
Phương Quỳnh, Sài Gòn, 1968 · 471 tr.
Photos in the book by Nguyễn Cao Đàm, Nguyễn Mạnh Đan, Trần Lê Sinh and Trần Cao Lĩnh.
Biên khảo
Phong Tục Việt Nam: Từ Bản Thân Đến Gia Đình
Comprehensive study on the customs and practices of Vietnamese people, from the individual to the family.
Khai Trí, Sài Gòn, 1968 · 532 tr.
The Khai Trí 1968 printing lists the full title with subtitle. This page previously listed it twice — once by the full title, once by the short title of the text — now merged into one.
Nếp Cũ 5/11 · Biên khảo
Nếp Cũ: Hội Hè Đình Đám (Thượng)
Traditional Vietnamese festivals — communal house festivals, village festivals, rituals, palanquin processions, entertainment.
Nam Chi Tùng Thư, Sài Gòn, 1969 · 303 tr.
Reissued: Houston, Texas: Vietnamese Book Store, khoảng thập niên 1980
The reprint in Houston, Texas is the only overseas reprint found among all his books.
Việt Nam Chí Lược 2/5 · Biên khảo
Miền Bắc Khai Nguyên
The Northern region — the origin of culture and history of a thousand years of civilization.
Tiến Bộ, Sài Gòn, 1969 · 471 tr.
Biên khảo
Tinh Thần Trọng Nghĩa Đông Phương
Research on morality and the spirit of valuing righteousness in Eastern culture.
Ánh Sáng, Sài Gòn, 1969 · 202 tr.
Reissued: Cà Mau: Mũi Cà Mau 1993 · Đồng Tháp 1996
The Đồng Tháp 1996 edition states "6th revised reprint" — thus, at least four more printings between 1969–1996 have not yet been documented.
Biên khảo
Nghệ Thuật Tham Nhũng Và Hối Lộ
A study on the phenomenon of corruption in Vietnamese society through various periods.
Hoa Đăng, Sài Gòn, 1970 · 242 tr.
Biên khảo
Cầm Ca Việt Nam
Study of traditional music and Vietnamese folk singing art.
Lá Bối, Sài Gòn, 1970 · 270 tr.
Foreword by Nguyễn Hiến Lê. The content was later included in the volume Cầm – Kỳ – Thi – Họa of the Nếp Cũ series.
Nếp Cũ 6/11 · Biên khảo
Nếp Cũ: Hội Hè Đình Đám (Hạ)
Continued research on festivals — pagoda festivals, market festivals, spring festivals, games at festivals.
Nam Chi Tùng Thư, Sài Gòn, 1974 · 356 tr.
Việt Nam Chí Lược 3/5 · Biên khảo
Cao Nguyên Miền Thượng (Thượng)
Tây Nguyên — culture, people and nature of the highland region.
Lê Lợi thư quán, Sài Gòn, 1974 · 276 tr.
Photo by Nguyễn Cao Đàm. The last volume of the bộ Việt Nam Chí Lược to be written. Some libraries catalog it under the title Miền Thượng Cao Nguyên. The printing is divided into two volumes, the Princeton bibliography records 556 pages for the entire set.
Việt Nam Chí Lược 3/5 · Biên khảo
Cao Nguyên Miền Thượng (Hạ)
Volume Two — continues the study of ethnic groups and life in the highland region.
Lê Lợi thư quán, Sài Gòn, 1974 · 291 tr.
Biên khảo
Phong Tục Thờ Cúng Trong Gia Đình Việt Nam
Ancestor worship rituals and Vietnamese family beliefs.
NXB Khoa học Xã hội, Hà Nội, 1991 · 196 tr.
Reissued: Hà Nội: Văn hóa Dân tộc 1993 · Đồng Tháp 1996 · Hà Nội: Văn hóa Dân tộc 2001 · NXB Trẻ 2026
The 1991 edition is titled Phong Tục Việt Nam: Thờ Cúng Tổ Tiên. The NXB Trẻ 2026 edition is the most recent reprint, not the first printing.
Hồi ký
Vào Làng Cầm Bút
Memoir recounting his journey into writing — the sole source revealing which newspapers he collaborated with before 1975.
NXB Văn hóa Thông tin, 1993 · 239 tr.
Memoir about his early years as a writer. It has never been digitized and no articles have been written about this book.
Biên khảo
Trong Họ Ngoài Làng
Kinship and clan life and traditional village-commune relations.
NXB Mũi Cà Mau, 1993 · 167 tr.
Biên khảo
Gái Đẹp Xứ Bắc
The beauty and way of life of young women in North Vietnam, set within traditional customs and rituals.
Xuân Thu, Los Alamitos CA — tái bản lần thứ nhất, 1994 · 200 tr.
Reissued: Hà Nội: NXB Văn hóa 1994
Tiểu thuyết
Nho Sĩ – Đô Vật
Two representative archetypes in traditional Vietnamese society.
NXB Trẻ, 1996
The first Toan Ánh book published by NXB Trẻ, eight years before the 2004 contract.
Nếp Cũ 8/11 · Biên khảo
Nếp Cũ: Hương Nước Hồn Quê
Folk songs, proverbs, and love stories used to explain folk poetry — love for homeland and country.
NXB Thanh Niên, 1999 · 433 tr.
If 1999 is the year of creation and not a reprint year, then this is a book he wrote in his eighties.
Biên khảo
Văn Hóa Việt Nam – Những Nét Đại Cương
An overview of Vietnamese culture — from its origins to modernity.
NXB Văn học, Hà Nội, 2002 · 497 tr.
Reissued: NXB Trẻ 2026
Tiểu thuyết lịch sử
Khúc Ca Diệt Thù
Three-volume historical novel — his longest fictional work.
NXB Thanh Niên, Hà Nội, 2005
Three-volume set. The year recorded is the printing year by NXB Thanh Niên; it has not been determined whether this is a new work or a reprint of a previously written novel. Part of a series of six story books printed by NXB Thanh Niên in 2005–2006.
Truyện
Hồ Ly Nghĩa Trang
Mysterious stories and Vietnamese folk legends.
NXB Thanh Niên, 2005
The year recorded is the printing year by NXB Thanh Niên. It has not been determined whether this is a new work or a reprint of a previously written work.
Tiểu thuyết
Giai Nhân Võ Hiệp
Martial arts novel.
NXB Thanh Niên, Hà Nội, 2005
The year recorded is the printing year by NXB Thanh Niên; no library records have been found. It has not been determined whether this is a new work or a reprint of a previously written novel.
Tiểu thuyết
Lỗ Hoa Nương
Novel.
NXB Thanh Niên, 2005
The year recorded is the printing year by NXB Thanh Niên; no library records have been found. It has not been determined whether this is a new work or a reprint of a previously written novel.
Tiểu thuyết
Sơn Đông Thất Hiệp
Martial arts novel.
NXB Thanh Niên, 2005
The year recorded is the printing year by NXB Thanh Niên; no library records have been found. It has not been determined whether this is a new work or a reprint of a previously written novel.
Truyện ngắn
Tân Truyện Kỳ Việt Nam
Collection of Vietnamese fantasy stories.
NXB Thanh Niên, 2006
The year recorded is the printing year by NXB Thanh Niên; no library records have been found. It has not been determined whether this is a new work or a reprint of a previously written work. The book cover states "TÂN TRUYỀN KỲ VIỆT NAM" — Truyền, different from the word Truyện in bibliographies; here it is temporarily kept according to the bibliography until the inner pages can be cross-referenced. The cover image is for volume 1.
Biên khảo
Lễ, Tết, Hội, Hè
Anthology on festivals and festivities, recompiled from previously published books.
Anthology printed in 2012, not a standalone work from that year.
Nếp Cũ 9/11 · Biên khảo
Nếp Cũ: Cầm Kỳ Thi Họa
The four noble arts — music, chess, poetry, painting in the life of ancient Vietnamese people.
NXB Trẻ, 2023 · 446 tr.
Nếp Cũ 10/11 · Biên khảo
Nếp Cũ: Thú Vui Tao Nhã
Traditional pastimes — Chinese chess, composing poetry, flower arranging, tea appreciation.
NXB Trẻ, 2023 · 376 tr.
Printed together with Bó Hoa Bắc Việt. This is the subtitle of Các Thú Tiêu Khiển Việt Nam.
Nếp Cũ 11/11 · Biên khảo
Nếp Cũ: Trẻ Em Chơi
Vietnamese folk games — ô ăn quan, jump rope, stone skipping, kite flying, tug-of-war.
NXB Trẻ, 2024 · 500 tr.
Biên khảo
Xã Hội Việt Nam – Lá Rụng Về Cội
Traditional Vietnamese society — people always look to their roots.
NXB Trẻ, 2025 · 572 tr.
Biên khảo
Ta Về Ta Tắm Ao Ta
Pride and preservation of national cultural identity — Vietnamese spirit of national pride.
Biên khảo
Phong Tục Xưa Đối Với Phụ Nữ Việt Nam
Role, status and customs related to Vietnamese women of olden times.