,NGO ,VAN1 ,RELAY] ( ,LIV+ ,HI/ORY 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,NGO ,VAN ,XUYET 

,TRANSLATOR 3 ,K5 ,KNABB 

,TRANSLATOR 3 ,HEL5E ,FLEURY 

,TEXT 3 

,NGO ,VAN1 ,RELAY] ( ,LIV+ ,HI/ORY 

  

,NGO ,VAN LIV$ ?R\< ALMO/ ! 5TIRE TW5TIE? C5TURY 7#a#i#a#b-#b#e7 & HIS LIFE & WORK >E 9TIMATELY 9T]TW9$ ) ! REVOLUTION>Y HOPES & CONFLICTS ( ?AT C5TURY4 

,9 HIS WRIT+S HE SPEAKS NOT AS AN ACADEMICALLY 0NEUTRAL0 HI/ORIAN1 BUT AS A P>TICIPANT ACTIVELY 5GAG$ 9 ! EV5TS HE REC\NTS2 NOT AS A 0P>TY SPOKESP]SON10 BUT AS A HUMBLE 9DIVIDUAL /RUGGL+ ALONGSIDE SO MANY O!R ANONYM\S1 UNKN[N P]SONS1 ! 0WRET*$ ( ! E>?0 :O >E ALSO ! SALT ( ! E>?1 FRAT]NAL1 G5]\S & 9V5TIVE4 ,) !M HE EXP]I5CES ?OSE SUBLIME MOM5TS :5 PEOPLE UNITE TO ATTACK ! S\RCES ( !IR EXPLOITATION & 5SLAVEM5T2 :5 !Y BREAK ?R\< ! B\NDS ( ! 0POSSIBLE0 & /RIVE TO CREATE A LIFE WOR?Y ( !IR DEEPE/ DREAMS & ASPIRATIONS4 ,) !M HE ALSO EXP]I5CES ! M]CILESS REPRESSION ! E/ABLI%$ P[]S 9V>IABLY RESORT TO :5 !Y S5SE ?AT !IR SY/EM IS 9 DANG]4 

,AFT] EMIGRAT+ TO ,FRANCE 9 #a#i#d#h1 ,VAN CONT9U$ ?AT /RUGGLE AS A RESOLUTELY 9DEP5D5T 9DIVIDUAL1 )\T LABEL OR P>TY1 9 GR\PS ( C\NCILI/ REVOLUTION>IES & ALONGSIDE O!R REBELLI\S WORK]S 9 ! FACTORIES4 

,IT WAS A TIME :5 ANTICOLONIAL MOVEM5TS1 9 ! COLONIZ$ C\NTRIES & ! ,WE/ ALIKE1 W]E DOM9AT$ BY ! IDEOLOGY ( 0,?IRD ,WORLD-ISM0 -- AN IDEOLOGY ?AT OBSCUR$ ! REAL 5EMIES :ILE WEAK5+ OR P>ALYZ+ TRULY RADICAL SOCIAL CRITICISM4 ,FAC$ ) ?IS SITUATION1 ,VAN S\<T TO TRANSMIT ! REAL1 HI!RTO UNWRITT5 HI/ORY ( ,VIETNAM1 TO *ALL5GE & REFUTE ! (FICIAL HI/ORIES PROPAGAT$ BY ! 0MA/]S ( ! PRES5T0.<#b.> & UNCRITICALLY P>ROT$ 9 ,EUROPE & ,AM]ICA BY ! SELF-PROCLAIM$ SUPPORT]S ( ! 0/RUGGLES ( ! ,VIETNAMESE PEOPLE40 ,FOLL[+ HIS RETIREM5T 9 #a#i#g#h1 & ) ! CON/ANT SUPPORT ( ,SOPHIE ,MO5 7HIS P>TN] FROM #aieb UNTIL H] DEA? 9 #a#i#i#d71 ,VAN DEVOT$ ! NEXT SEV5TE5 YE>S TO RESE>*+ & WRIT+ ,VIETNAM #a#i#b-#a#i#d#e3 REVOLUTION ET CONTRE-REVOLUTION S\S LA DOM9ATION COLONIALE 7#a#i#i#e74 ,9 ?AT BOOK HE BR\<T BACK TO LIFE ! ]A ( FI]CE CLASS /RUGGLES ?AT PREC$$ ! TWO ,VIETNAM W>S1 A P]IOD :5 ! WORK]S & PEASANTS BELIEV$ ?AT PUTT+ AN 5D TO COLONIALISM WAS 9SEP>ABLE FROM A SOCIAL REVOLUTION4 ,9 SO DO+ HE ALSO EXPOS$ ! DEVI\S MANEUV]S ( ! ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY AS IT SEIZ$ CONTROL OV] ?OSE /RUGGLES ?R\< D\BLE-DEAL+1 LIES1 9TIMIDATION & MURD]4 

,I FIR/ MET ,VAN 9 ,NOVEMB] #a#i#i#e1 & !RE WAS AN IMM$IATE RAPPORT BETWE5 US -- AN AL*EMY ( ELECTIVE AFF9ITIES & ( %>$ DREAMS & CONVICTIONS4 ,HAV+ JU/ F9I%$ ,VIETNAM #a#i#b-#a#i#d#e1 HE WAS WOND]+ :E!R TO UND]TAKE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ACC\NT ( ! SAME P]IOD BE=E RETURN+ TO HIS MORE /RICTLY 0OBJECTIVE0 HI/ORY4 ,I & SEV]AL ( HIS O!R FRI5DS CONV9C$ HIM TO DO SO4 ,IT IS H>D TO CONVEY JU/ H[ EXCIT+ IT WAS TO %>E 9 ?IS PROJECT4 ,?\< IT 9VOLV$ RETURN+ TO ! PA/1 IT WAS AT ! SAME TIME A M>* =W>D1 A CALL = NEW P]SPECTIVES1 A DEFIANCE ( TIME4 ,N9E YE>S ( COMPANION%IP 9 %>$ J\RNEYS1 READ+S1 WRIT+S1 DISCOV]IES1 FRI5D%IPS4444 

,VAN'S MEMOIRS ( HIS ,VIETNAM YE>S1 :I* =M ! FIR/ P>T ( ! PRES5T VOLUME1 W]E PUBLI%$ 9 #b UND] ! TITLE ,AU PAYS DE LA ,CLO*E FELEE4 ,! TITLE ALLUD$ BO? TO ,BAUDELAIRE'S POEM 0,LA ,CLO*E ,FELEE0 7,! ,CRACK$ ,BELL7.<#c.> & TO A SUBV]SIVE J\RNAL ( ! SAME TITLE PUBLI%$ 9 ,VIETNAM 9 #a#i#b#c-#a#i#b#f BY ,NGUY5 ,AN ,N9H1 A J\RNAL ?AT 9FLU5C$ A :OLE G5]ATION ( ANTICOLONIAL REVOLUTION>IES4 ,VAN %>$ A P]IOD ( DET5TION ) ,NGUY5 ,AN ,N9H 9 ! ,SAIGON PRISON & REMA9$ P]MAN5TLY M>K$ BY ! 5C\NT]4 

,HAV+ COMPLET$ ,AU PAYS DE LA ,CLO*E FELEE1 :I* HE CONSID]$ ESS5TIAL 9 P]PETUAT+ ! MEMORY ( HIS DEP>T$ COMRADES1 ,VAN 5VISAG$ A SEQUEL ?AT W\LD REC\NT HIS YE>S 9 ,FRANCE4 ,HE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO COMPLETE ?IS PROJECT1 EXCEPT = A FEW FRAGM5T>Y *APT]S1 BUT HE HAD ALREADY *OS5 ! TITLE4 ,AS *ANCE W\LD HAVE IT1 DUR+ ! LA/ TW5TY YE>S ( HIS LIFE HE LIV$ 9 A SMALL AP>TM5T ON ! ,ILE DE LA ,CITE1 AN ISL& 9 ! HE>T ( ! MO/ ANCI5T P>T ( ,P>IS1 NE> ! HOME ( ! M$IEVAL PHILOSOPH] ,PET] ,ABEL>D4 ,L$ BY HIS 9SATIABLE CURIOSITY1 ,VAN EXPLOR$ ! AUDACITIES & MISADV5TURES ( ?IS GREAT SPIRIT & ( HIS BRILLIANT /UD5T & SECRET LOV]1 ,HELOISE4 ,! /ORY ( !SE DISSID5T & TRAGIC LOV]S 9SPIR$ ! TITLE ( ! SECOND P>T ( HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY -- ,AU PAYS D',HELOISE -- & !IR CORRESPOND5CE BECAME P>T ( HIS P]SONAL LIT]>Y PAN!ON1 ALONGSIDE ! LIB]T9E POETRY ( ,CLAUDE ,LE ,PETIT 7BURN$ AT ! /AKE 9 #a#f#f#b71 ! FI]Y POEMS ( ,L\ISE ,MI*EL1 0,P]E ,DU*5E0 SUNG BY ! IMPLACABLE ,RAVA*OL AS HE CLIMB$ TO ! GUILLOT9E1 ,JONA?AN ,SWIFT1 ,OSC> ,WILDE1 ,CEL9E1 ,TRAV51 & LA/ BUT NOT LEA/ ! CLASSIC ,*9ESE WRIT+S POPULAT$ ) REBELS1 B&ITS & CANTANK]\S H]MITS4 ,EV] ON ! LOOK\T = SP>KS ( POETIC FRE$OM1 HE WAS DELI<T$ TO DISCOV] CONNECTIONS BETWE5 ! AN>*I/IC ,TAOI/S ( ANCI5T ,*9A & ! 5EMIES ( CAPITALISM ! WORLD OV]4 ,HIS RESE>*ES 9 ?IS >EA L$ TO ! PUBLICATION ( AN ]UDITE /UDY1 ,DIV9ATION1 MAGIE ET POLITIQUE DANS LA ,*9E ANCI5NE 7#a#i#g#f71 AS WELL AS TO A SMALL] & MORE ACCESSIBLE BOOK1 ,UTOPIE ANTIQUE ET GU]RE DES PAYSANS 5 ,*9E 7#b#d74 

,A *APT] IS MISS+ FROM ,AU PAYS D',HELOISE ?AT ,VAN P>TICUL>LY WI%$ TO 9CLUDE3 :AT HE CALL$ 0,! ,/ORY ( ! ,BOOK40 ,! REPUTATION ( ,VIETNAM #a#i#b-#a#i#d#e HAD SOON SPREAD BEYOND SMALL CIRCLES ( RADICALS TO REA* A MU* L>G] READ]%IP AMONG ,VIETNAMESE PEOPLE ?R\<\T ! WORLD4 ,= MANY ( !M ! BOOK WAS AN UNHOP$-= *ANCE TO RECONNECT ) !IR [N HI/ORY4 ,5?USIA/IC RESPONSES >RIV$ FROM ! DIASPORA & FROM )9 ,VIETNAM ITSELF 7:]E A NUMB] ( COPIES OR PHOTOCOPIES HAD BE5 SMUGGL$ 974 ,PEOPLE W]E MOV$ TO DISCOV] !IR OLD FRI5DS & COMRADES M5TION$ 9 ! BOOK BY NAME4 ,RESE>*]S FURNI%$ ,VAN ) PRECI\S 9=MATION DRAWN FROM DIFFICULT-TO-ACCESS >*IVES4 ,O!RS PROVID$ HIM ) DISSID5T TEXTS1 OLD & NEW1 OR ) ACC\NTS BY O!R SURVIVORS4 ,SUPPORT FROM !SE DIV]SE CONTACTS ALSO 5ABL$ HIM & HIS PUBLI%] FRI5DS AT ,9SOMNIAQUE TO PR9T A ,VIETNAMESE-LANGUAGE $ITION ( ! BOOK1 MAK+ IT MU* MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ! PEOPLE MO/ DIRECTLY CONC]N$4 

,!SE NEW-F\ND CONTACTS & COLLABORATIONS ALSO PAV$ ! WAY = SEV]AL TRIPS TO ,B>CELONA1 ,LONDON1 ,$9BUR<1 ,BO/ON & ,NEW ,YORK4 ,VAN WAS P>TICUL>LY 9T]E/$ 9 %>+ EXP]I5CES ) ,AM]ICANS1 :O 9 !IR DIFF]5T WAY HAD ALSO BE5 SO /RONGLY AFFECT$ BY ! ,VIETNAM ,W>1 & WAS ?RILL$ TO HE> !IR /ORIES ( DRAFT REFUSAL1 DEMON/RATIONS & O!R =MS ( ANTIW> RESI/ANCE1 BO? 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES & AMONG ! SOLDI]S 9 ,VIETNAM2 NOTABLY 9CLUD+ ! PRACTICE ( 0FRAGG+10 ?AT DESP]ATE ACT E*O+ ! MUT9IES ( #a#i#a#g-#a#i#a#h & PUTT+ 9TO PRACTICE ! FAM\S CRY3 0,LET'S SAVE \R BULLETS = \R [N G5]ALS60 

,ON ! OPPOS+ SIDE1 TOO1 NOT ALL ! SOLDI]S 9 ! ,NOR? ,VIETNAMESE >MY SUBMISSIVELY M>*$ (F TO SLAU<T]4 ,AL?\< ! EXACT NUMB]S >E UNKN[N1 MANY DID 9DE$ DES]T & MANY W]E EXECUT$4 ,VAN WAS ABLE TO HE> SEV]AL FIR/H& ACC\NTS :51 AFT] =TY-N9E YE>S ( EXILE1 HE F9ALLY MADE A TRIP BACK TO HIS NATIVE C\NTRY 9 #a#i#i#g4 ,HE HAD 9T5D$ TO TELL ! /ORY ( ?AT VISIT 9 ! SECOND P>T ( HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY1 BUT !RE WAS NOT 5\< TIME4 ,HE DID1 H[EV]1 SUCCE$ 9 COMPLET+ ! SECOND VOLUME ( HIS HI/ORY ( TW5TIE?-C5TURY ,VIETNAM1 ,LE ,J\EUR DE FLUTE ET L',ONCLE ,HO3 ,VIETNAM #a#i#d#e-#b#e1 & ?AT BOOK CONTA9S SOME REF]5CES TO HIS TRIP BACK TO ,VIETNAM1 ?\< 9 A LESS P]SONAL =M4 

,ONE DAY AS WE W&]$ >\ND 9 ,HANOI1 WE KEPT RUNN+ 9TO ! HUGE MAUSOLEUM :]E ,HO ,*I ,M9H'S EMBALM$ CORPSE IS 5%R9$4 ,AS A FITT+ TRIBUTE TO ! DESPICABLE OCCUPANT ( ?AT TEMPLE ( S]VILE SUBMISSION1 ,VAN SANG ,CEL9E'S 0,LE ,REGLEM5T0 .<,PAYBACK.> AT ! TOP ( HIS LUNGS3 

,MAIS LA QUE/ION QUI ME TRACASSE 

,5 TE REG>DANT3 

,E/-CE QUE TU S]AS PLUS DEGUEULASSE 

,MORT QUE VIVANT8 

 .<,BUT LOOK+ AT Y\1 ,I CAN'T HELP ASK+ MYSELF3 ,WILL Y\ BE ANY MORE ROTT5 DEAD ?AN ALIVE8.>  

,ONE ( ! CONSEQU5CES ( ! ,AM]ICAN 9T]V5TION WAS ?AT IT 5ABL$ ! NEW 0,SOCIALI/0 ,REPUBLIC ( ,VIETNAM TO CONCEAL ! DE/RUCTIVE NATURE ( ITS [N SY/EM ( OPPRESSION4 ,9 ,LE ,J\EUR DE FLUTE ET L',ONCLE ,HO1 ,VAN %[S H[ ,HO ,*I ,M9H ROSE TO P[]1 & H[ ?IS MA/] ( A SY/EM ( CO]CION & T]ROR MODEL$ ON ,/AL9'S SUCCE$$ 9 BECOM+ 0,UNCLE ,HO10 A FIGURE ADMIR$ BY MILLIONS ( DEVOT$ ANTI-IMP]IALI/S >\ND ! WORLD :O EI!R DID NOT KN[ ANY?+ AB\T ! ,VIETNAMESE PEOPLE'S ACTUAL FATE OR PREF]R$ TO IGNORE IT 9 ORD] TO AVOID T>NI%+ ! IMAGE ( ! *>ISMATIC LEAD]4 ,HO'S BLOODY 0AGR>IAN RE=M0 & HIS REPRESSION ( DISSID5T 9TELLECTUALS 9 ! MID-#a#i#eS W]E EV]Y BIT AS VICI\S AS ! REPRESSIONS 9 O!R ,/AL9I/ C\NTRIES DUR+ ! SAME P]IOD1 FROM ,MAO'S D\BLE-CROSS+ ( ! 0,HUNDR$ ,FL[]S0 MOVEM5T.<#d.> TO ! ,RUSSIANS' CRU%+ ( ! REVOLUTION>Y 9SURRECTION 9 ,HUNG>Y4 ,& OV] ! DECADES S9CE ?AT TIME WE HAVE CONT9U$ TO SEE ! SAME SORTS ( SORDID MANIPULATIONS AT ! SUMMIT ( ! /ATE MA*9E -- RIVALRIES1 PLOTS1 BETRAYALS1 ALONG ) A NUMB] ( 0SUICIDES0 & 0ACCID5TS40 

,UPON HIS RETURN TO ,SAIGON1 ,VAN WAS BR\<T CLOSE TO ! DAILY LIVES & WORK+ CONDITIONS ( PRES5T-DAY ,VIETNAMESE PEOPLE1 ?RU/ BY ! 0NEW0 ECONOMY 9TO DEVELOPM5T PROJECTS FUND$ BY ,S\? ,KOREAN1 ,EUROPEAN1 ,AM]ICAN & ,JAPANESE CAPITAL4 ,LE ,J\EUR DE FLUTE ET L',ONCLE ,HO PROVIDES NUM]\S FIR/H& ACC\NTS BY WORK]S AT COMPANIES LIKE ,NIKE OR ,COCA-,COLA1 :OSE =EIGN [N]S >E PLEAS$ AT H[ EASILY ! EXPLOIT$ WORK]S CAN BE KEPT 9 L9E BY ! POLICE-/ATE MA*9]Y4 ,! BOOK ALSO PROVIDES 9=MATION ON /RIKES & O!R SIGNS ( REVOLT AGA9/ !SE CONDITIONS & AGA9/ ! CURR5T REGIME4 

,BY A TRAGIC IRONY ( HI/ORY1 ! HEIRS ( ! OLD ANTI-IMP]IALI/ G5]ATION 9 ,VIETNAM1 AL?\< /ILL PR(ESS+ AN OBLIGATORY DEVOTION TO ! MEMORY ( ,UNCLE ,HO1 HAVE TURN$ TO ! C\NTRY'S =M] 5EMY = SUPPORT1 WELCOM+ ! ALMI<TY DOLL> :ILE ! 0H]OIC MASSES0 CONT9UE TO /RUGGLE = SURVIVAL4 ,BUT ?IS NEW-F\ND COMPLICITY 9 ,VIETNAM BETWE5 PRIVATE CAPITALISM & /ATE CAPITALISM CAME AS NO SURPRISE TO ,VAN1 :O HAD ALWAYS SAID ?AT ?OSE 5EMIES W]E 9 FACT BLOOD BRO!RS4 

,:5 WE W]E 9 ,B>CELONA ON ! OCCASION ( ! PUBLICATION ( ! ,SPANI% V]SION ( ,AU PAYS DE LA ,CLO*E FELEE1 SOMEONE ASK$ HIM3 0,:Y1 AFT] ALL ?IS TIME1 DO Y\ SO /UBBORNLY P]SI/ 9 BE>+ WITNESS TO ?IS PA/ HI/ORY80 ,HE REPLI$3 0,BECAUSE ! WORLD HASN'T *ANG$40 

,DUR+ \R ,VIETNAM TRIP1 ,VAN ALSO RETURN$ TO ! VILLAGE ( HIS BIR?4 ,NIECES & NEPHEWS :OM HE HAD LEFT AS *ILDR5 TOLD HIM C&IDLY1 & (T5 ) HUMOR1 AB\T !IR LIFE DUR+ ! DECADES ( W>1 :5 !Y HAD BE5 CAU<T 9 ! CROSSFIRE BETWE5 ! ,VIETCONG1 ! ,B9H ,XUY5 PIRATES & ! ,S\? ,VIETNAMESE >MY1 9 SOME CASES JO9+ ONE TO PROTECT !MSELVES FROM ! O!RS1 ?US BECOM+ ALT]NATELY DES]T]S & NEW RECRUITS4 

,EA* NI<T :5 WE W5T BACK TO \R HOTEL WE W\LD DISCUSS ! DAY'S EV5TS & CONV]SATIONS1 SO AS TO COMP>E & !N RECORD \R RECOLLECTIONS4 ,DUR+ ONE ( ?OSE SESSIONS ,VAN DESCRIB$ HIS 5C\NT] ) ONE ( HIS NEPHEWS3  
  

,HE URG$ ME TO COME BACK & /AY ) !M4 0,COME BACK & ,I'LL BUILD Y\ A ROOM4 ,Y\ CAN LIVE ) US & :5 ! TIME COMES = Y\ TO DIE1 ! *ILDR5 WILL BE >\ND Y\ AS Y\ GO TO Y\R F9AL RE/+ PLACE40 ,ANCE/OR WOR%IP IS V]Y /RONG4 ,HE WANTS ME TO BE BURI$ 9 ! FAMILY GRAVEY>D4 ,HIS IDEA IS ?AT 9 MY F9AL H\R ! *ILDR5 & GR&*ILDR5 WILL SURR\ND MY MORTAL REMA9S4 ,WE MU/ LIE AMONG \R ANCE/ORS1 ?AT WAY WE WILL ALWAYS FEEL CLOSE TO !M & WON'T BE LO/ 9 ! WORLD4 ,BUT ME1 ,I'M A W&]]4 ,I'VE ALWAYS BELIEV$ ?AT ONCE Y\'RE GONE1 Y\'RE GONE1 & !RE'S NO?+ MORE TO SAY4 ,I C\LDN'T C>E LESS AB\T H[ ,I GO4  
  

,!N HE BEGAN S(TLY S++ ?IS FRAGM5T FROM ,BRASS5S3 

,J'AIM]AIS MIEUX M\RIR DANS L'EAU1 DANS LE FEU1 N'IMPORTE \1 

,ET MEME1 A LA GR&E RIGUEUR1 NE PAS M\RIR DU T\T4 

 .<,I W\LD PREF] TO DIE 9 WAT]1 9 FIRE1 ANY:]E AT ALL1 OR EV51 IF IT W]E POSSIBLE1 NOT TO DIE AT ALL4.>.<#e.>  

,!N HE CONT9U$3 0,IT'S LIFE1 ! 9/ANT ( LIFE1 ?AT IS ET]NITY4444 ,I FEEL IMMORTAL1 ,I FEEL ET]NAL4 ,Y\ MAY DIE TOMORR[ OR RI<T N[1 BUT :5 Y\ REALLY IMM]SE Y\RSELF 9 SOME PROJECT Y\'RE LIV+ BEYOND ! HUNDR$ REVOLUTIONS ( ! E>? >\ND ! SUN4 ,ACTUALLY1 TIME HAS NO?+ TO DO ) IT4 ,:5 Y\'RE ET]NAL1 Y\'RE ET]NAL40  
  

,H,E,L,5,E ,F,L,E,U,R,Y 

,AUGU/ #ba  

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #h1 #bba 3 ,NGO ,VAN1 ,RELAY] ( ,LIV+ ,HI/ORY -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #a#g1 #bbb 3 ,NGO ,VAN1 ,RELAY] ( ,LIV+ ,HI/ORY -- ,UPDAT$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/