A Vietcong Memoir

An Inside Account of the Vietnam War and Its Aftermath

By: Truong Nhu Tang, David Chanoff, Doan Van Toai

Narrated by: Trieu Tran

When he was a student in Paris, Truong Nhu Tang met Ho Chi Minh. Later he fought in the Vietnamese jungle and emerged as one of the major figures in the "fight for liberation" - and one of the most determined adversaries of the United States.

He became the Vietcong's Minister of Justice, but at the end of the war he fled the country in disillusionment and despair. He now lives in exile in Paris, the highest level official to have defected from Vietnam to the West. This is his candid, revealing, and unforgettable autobiography.

©1985 Truong Nhu Tang, David Chanoff, and Doan Van Toai (P)2018 Tantor

The French-educated bourgeois author should have known better and earlier about the eventual betrayal author

Many people sharing the fate of this author found out too late about the motives of their supposed allies, or may be did not want to acknowledge it earlier, until they themselves became the victims. Their supposed allies manipulated them into cooperation to help substitute the Russians for the Americans and French AND start a reign of TERROR with anybody affiliated with the old regime ending up in concentration reeducation camps for as many years as they have served in the Armed Forces or government. Copycat of Russian and Chinese previous reforms.

Why did so many people choose death at sea instead of living in a reunified South Vietnam ruled by the DRV where the sons and daughters of people affiliated with the old regime (and now in concentration camps), cannot go to college/university or find employment because of BAD IDENTITY.

You pay a high price for not acknowledging your mistakes and get out earlier. The very smart author at least admitted his mistake belatedly when his own life became unbearable. He wanted the French OUT of Vietnam and ended up seeking refuge in France. How ironic!!!!

Live and learn about whom you can trust because you are the one who will pay the PRICE sooner or later.

Phenomenal

One of the best books I’ve ever read (or listened to). Anyone with an interest in history, military history, or communism (for or against) should listen to this.

Stunning

Everyone interested in history needs to read this book. It contains perhaps the most poignant political lessons and insights of the modern era and the tragedy and triumph in an impossible struggle.

What I learned from first person testimony

Having served in Vietnam in 1969, as part of the US Army, in partnership with Chou Hoi”s fighting against the VC and at times the NVA, this book has opened my eyes to the deception and cruelty of the North Vietnamese.

It is so sad that those on all sides that fought so hard for the principles of Uncle Ho, were later after his death, led down a path of self destruction. The richness and education of the South due to the association of the United States, was squander by the North’s blindness of punishment.

I have visited South Vietnam in 2007 and was happy to see the success and happiness of the people there. By then, the had seemed to shaken the pains of the North and got on with freedom. I was delighted to see the successes and that they were in fact partnering in manufacturing and trade with US companies.

Perhaps I have not followed the politics of Vietnam, but the people seem satisfied!!

Hmmmmm...

A most eloquent and interesting account of a VC Politico. Worth the read, yet, considering the author was a priviledged; educated and self described nationalist, its hard to understand why he believed the communists would allow for an independent, reunified South Viet Nam. His naivete cost his father shame, his mother grief and his brothers "reeducation" /incarceration for years.
Owing to his stupidity, many South Vietnamese lost their freedom and many Americans lost their lives and treasure...
It would have been a fitting punishment for the author to have suffered under communist overlords for life rather than escaping to the West.
Vietnam Veteran 1972-1976

A must read for anyone who loves history

I love history and learning history from all perspectives. 5his book was insightful and eye opening.

The other side

Great insight into Vietnam in the 20th century. The Vietcong and the north were not as aligned politically as I thought.

A very good listen

I felt the author was a little self serving but I think on balance it was a mostly accurate account

For me it was a good to hear the other side of the story especially regarding the negotiations that ultimately ended the “American War” I agree with another reviewer that he truly was naive to believe that the North would respect the South after the war or that they would take all the wealth the could from the South

One cannot look at Vietnam and not have pity on the country and it’s people north and south in their long struggle for independence I regret our involvement in the struggle, mostly because of the death of 58,000+ young Americans, especially given how stupidly we fought (not the soldiers but by the political rules of engagement) that assured we and the South could not win It was disheartening to learn of lost opportunities in those negotiations that would have given a more democratic and pluralistic Vietnam

I had the fortune to re visit Vietnam this year (2023) after serving there in 1969-70 in the US Army in the rear thank goodness that history has moved beyond 1985 when the book was written The country is alive The wonderful people in the South, though not politically free, are finally seeing more prosperity and a better future for themselves and their children I wish them the best

Excellent Political History of the Vietnam War

As a Vietnam Veteran, I found this book to be very informative. Perhaps if the United States had never supported the brutal and corrupt dictatorships in Saigon, the South Vietnamese people might been able to establish a true democracy through the ballot box. When the South Vietnamese people were forced to wage war in the jungle, their only allies were the North Vietnamese, who took over the movement and, even though the south was anti-communist, established communism in South Vietnam. The author was an anti-communist leader of the South Vietnamese National Liberation Front. He eventually fled Vietnam after the war, betrayed by the North Vietnamese. Great book.

Engrossing

This book is informative and thought provoking. Really enjoyed the information, however the accent of the reader was hard to understand.