She is named after, but not based on, a Vietnamese friend of Greene's.
During my more recent visits, close Vietnamese friends have sometimes been extremely critical of the Communist Government in private.
Oh, and a murky jar of dead seahorses - "a gift from a Vietnamese friend as a kind of ritualistic thing".
He reminds Merieme that her mother, who is Moroccan, donated blood to a Vietnamese friend.
Another Vietnamese friend, now in his late 60's, worked during the war as an agent for the North Vietnamese.
"Life is better and the Government is lighter now," said an old Vietnamese friend, a trader.
It's very important that our Vietnamese friends understand our Republican position and I hope you have made that clear to them.
But outside the Shinagawa center recently, a group of Vietnamese friends of the refugees were complaining about the Chinese.
Shindo had many Vietnamese friends, acquaintances, and contacts.
Among his Vietnamese friends, he was known as Pham Van Hua.