when heaven and earth changed places

"When Heaven and Earth Changed Places" is a memoir by Le Ly Hayslip, published in 1989. It recounts her childhood during the Vietnam War, including her experiences in a small Vietnamese village caught between northern and southern forces, her eventual escape to the United States, and her return to Vietnam years later. The title metaphorically reflects the profound upheaval and reversal of normal life brought about by the war, where the natural order—symbolized by heaven and earth—seems to invert as people endure extreme suffering, loss, and displacement. The memoir captures how the war turned the world upside down for Le Ly and her family, illustrating intense personal and political turmoil, including imprisonment, torture, and family fragmentation. The phrase "when heaven and earth changed places" suggests a world turned upside down by conflict and chaos, highlighting the disruption of peace and stability during wartime. This story was also adapted into the 1993 Oliver Stone film "Heaven & Earth" based on her memoir.