In 2000, I illegally crossed the border from Vietnam into China.

"2000, I Smuggled My Way from Vietnam to China" is based on the personal experience of Nguyen Ah Cuong, written in the first-person memoir style, realistically and realistically portraying a life full of twists and turns and struggles. In 2000, Nguyen Ah Cuong, living in rural Vietnam, faced dire straits due to his family's gambling debts and his mother's serious illness. Desperate, he illegally crossed the border into China's Guangxi province. Upon arriving in China, unable to speak the language, he was cheated by shady brokers and forced to work as a laborer at the bottom of society, living in a basement and enduring immense hardship. However, Ah Cuong seized many opportunities presented by China's development between 2000 and 2025, such as the trade opportunities brought by WTO accession, the business opportunities created by the rise of e-commerce, and various opportunities arising from the infrastructure boom, gradually transforming himself from a lowly laborer into a shrewd businessman. Throughout the book, the characters vividly depict the customs and culture of China in the 2000s: from the aroma of street food to unique local traditions; from the transformation of cities from mud-brick houses to skyscrapers; to the technological revolution from pagers to smartphones. At the same time, the book portrays the complexities of human relationships, including the exploitation by Chinese bosses, the scheming of fellow villagers, and the help from kind coworkers and benevolent landlords. Through Ruan Aqiang's perspective, the book vividly presents the story of an ordinary person's struggle and transformation amidst the tides of Chinese history, filled with positive energy, allowing readers to feel the unique charm of that era and the resilience of its fighters.