He was a spy like no other, respected by both sides, enemy and friendalike. His story, told six years ago in a book by Larry Berman, anAmerican historian, surprised and even shocked the US readingpublic.
And now, the second edition of the book, aswell as an upcoming film, will offer even more stunning details aboutthe complex life of the legendary Vietnamese spy Pham Xuan An.
Six years after the publication of his first book, ‘Perfect Spy – TheIncredible Double Life of Pham Xuan An, Time Magazine Reporter &Vietnamese Communist Agent’, Berman was back in Vietnam to introduce anupdated version revealing heretofore unknown information about theextraordinary life of the man known as X6.
Berman,speaking at a press conference in HCM City on September 4, said hehad promised An that he would not reveal his secrets until after hisdeath.
The book about An, who was also known as HaiTrung, has been published in Vietnamese, and will be available inEnglish in the US later this year.
Speaking at theContinental Hotel in downtown HCM City , where An frequented as ajournalist during the American war, Berman recalled that the firstedition of his book ignited a firestorm among many older Vietnamese wholive in California . But the younger generations admire him, headded.
At the hotel, Berman was surrounded bysurviving members of the former intelligence network that includedNguyen Van Tau who was known as Tu Cang, and Nguyen Thi Nhung, whosealias was Tam Thao.
The book, published by Tri VietBook Company, reveals details about "the master of human intelligence"who carried out his missions with a relatively simple network of spies.
"An's life, like his name, is much more than aboutbeing a spy," Berman said, adding that An had always hoped that Vietnamwould have good relations with the US . Now his dream has beenrealised, he said.
Since his death in 2006, An hasbeen the subject of commentary, debate, conjecture and writing, withseveral documentaries shot about his life. But there is still a lot totell, according to Berman.
Born in 1927, An began totake part in revolutionary activities in the early 1950s, and wasinducted into the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1953 and then admittedinto espionage activities.
In order to create a bettercover to penetrate deeper into the government and military of theformer Saigon administration, he was sent to the US to studyjournalism.
Later he returned to Vietnam and worked for Reuters, Time magazine and the New York Herald Tribune.
With his erudite knowledge, unique diplomatic and communicationtalents, he spoke with US senior generals, journalists and USpoliticians and learned confidential information that was strategic forNorth Vietnam in its confrontation against the US and the former Saigonadministration. He did it all without leaving a trace.
Berman said he had plans to continue to write about An, calling the spya great "conversationalist ... funny, friendly and honest".
Also speaking at the press conference, Nguyen Van Phuoc, director ofTri Viet Book Company, said that he has received the copyright fromBerman to produce a 120-minute feature film about An.-VNA
And now, the second edition of the book, aswell as an upcoming film, will offer even more stunning details aboutthe complex life of the legendary Vietnamese spy Pham Xuan An.
Six years after the publication of his first book, ‘Perfect Spy – TheIncredible Double Life of Pham Xuan An, Time Magazine Reporter &Vietnamese Communist Agent’, Berman was back in Vietnam to introduce anupdated version revealing heretofore unknown information about theextraordinary life of the man known as X6.
Berman,speaking at a press conference in HCM City on September 4, said hehad promised An that he would not reveal his secrets until after hisdeath.
The book about An, who was also known as HaiTrung, has been published in Vietnamese, and will be available inEnglish in the US later this year.
Speaking at theContinental Hotel in downtown HCM City , where An frequented as ajournalist during the American war, Berman recalled that the firstedition of his book ignited a firestorm among many older Vietnamese wholive in California . But the younger generations admire him, headded.
At the hotel, Berman was surrounded bysurviving members of the former intelligence network that includedNguyen Van Tau who was known as Tu Cang, and Nguyen Thi Nhung, whosealias was Tam Thao.
The book, published by Tri VietBook Company, reveals details about "the master of human intelligence"who carried out his missions with a relatively simple network of spies.
"An's life, like his name, is much more than aboutbeing a spy," Berman said, adding that An had always hoped that Vietnamwould have good relations with the US . Now his dream has beenrealised, he said.
Since his death in 2006, An hasbeen the subject of commentary, debate, conjecture and writing, withseveral documentaries shot about his life. But there is still a lot totell, according to Berman.
Born in 1927, An began totake part in revolutionary activities in the early 1950s, and wasinducted into the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1953 and then admittedinto espionage activities.
In order to create a bettercover to penetrate deeper into the government and military of theformer Saigon administration, he was sent to the US to studyjournalism.
Later he returned to Vietnam and worked for Reuters, Time magazine and the New York Herald Tribune.
With his erudite knowledge, unique diplomatic and communicationtalents, he spoke with US senior generals, journalists and USpoliticians and learned confidential information that was strategic forNorth Vietnam in its confrontation against the US and the former Saigonadministration. He did it all without leaving a trace.
Berman said he had plans to continue to write about An, calling the spya great "conversationalist ... funny, friendly and honest".
Also speaking at the press conference, Nguyen Van Phuoc, director ofTri Viet Book Company, said that he has received the copyright fromBerman to produce a 120-minute feature film about An.-VNA
