Following Ho Chi Minh: The Memoirs of a North Vietnamese Colonel [Paperback]

Bui Tin (Author), Do Van (Translator), Judy Stowe (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A 'must' for any student, researcher and politician interested in Vietnam's political system and its leaders." -- Vo Nhan Tri, Asian Affairs (London)

"A rarity. A true North Vietnamese insider speaking candidly." -- Book World, 30 April 2000

"Here is a wealth of gossip level detail about life on the inside at the top in Hanoi--material Hanoi watchers lust after, seldom find." -- Indochina Chronology

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Vietnamese --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 202 pages
• Publisher: University of Hawaii Press (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824822331
• ISBN-13: 978-0824822330
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #776,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An insider's revelations., January 20, 2002

By 

alainviet "alainviet" (Indianapolis, IN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Following Ho Chi Minh: The Memoirs of a North Vietnamese Colonel (Paperback)

As a North Vietnamese colonel and high ranking Party member, the author accepted the surrender of Saigon on April 1975. He continued to work for Hanoi until 1990, when disillusioned with the communists he moved to Paris and hoped to see a free and democratic Vietnam.

In his memoir, he talked about communism being elevated to the rank of a "blind faith", the purges within the Party, the errors, greed, and corruption of communist leaders, the "arrogance of the Party" and so on.

This book is recommended to those who are interested in the inner world of the Vietnamese communist Party and the causes of its failure. It is not the ideal world painted by the communists, not the people's rule but the rule of five or six men who imposed their dictatorship on the people.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A seemingly highly credible report by the ultimate insider., March 29, 2000

By 

R. ARANT "Toun" (Lanesville, Indiana USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Following Ho Chi Minh: The Memoirs of a North Vietnamese Colonel (Paperback)

The rarest of gifts -- a credible account from a Vietnamese communist cadre! Bui Tin has done a great service to all of his countrymen, regardless political faction or religion. His assessments of legendary Vietnamese cadres, including Ho Chi Minh, Le Duan and Le Duc Anh are stunningly frank. Those interested in Vietnam or Cambodia should place this title on the top of their reading lists. There is simply no other work of its kind, although we can always hope that another courageous figure will follow in the author's footsteps.

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An indepth look at Vietnamese Government after 1975, June 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Following Ho Chi Minh: The Memoirs of a North Vietnamese Colonel (Paperback)

Bui Tin has written a remarkable story about the Vietnamese government and the social chaos that went on which no one outside of Viet Nam ever knew about it after 1975. Thanks to him we now know that life was easier during the time of war than peace time.