Perhaps the most apt introduction WoWasis found to the amazing world of North Vietnam’s super spy Pham Xuan An was discovered during a tour we took of the Cu Chi war tunnels, just outside of Saigon. Our tour guide was Binh Le Thai, a member of the Viet Cong who worked for American interests while he was serving the opposition. “Americans are very stupid,” said Mr. Binh, “our tunnels went into the military base, and the Army commander’s Vietnamese girlfriend was Viet Cong who told us everything. But if you don’t like Americans, I kill you.” This apparent dichotomy, loving American as individuals while fighting against them, was the basis for the working world of Pham Xuan An. 

Author Larry Berman’s Perfect Spy: The Incredible Double Life of Pham Xuan An, Time Magazine Reporter and Vietnamese Communist Agent (2007, ISBN 978-0-06-088838-1) details the life of Pham, who studied in the U.S. and was nominally a reporter for Time magazine during the Vietnam war years. Berman knew Pham, interviewed him countless times, and discussed his actions with friend and foe. The book is an outstanding chronicle of a little-known but fascinating aspect of the war, and underscores the fact that in Asia, very little is black and white, but instead exists in a world of many hues of gray. Pham saw himself as a freedom fighter, tempered with personal loyalty to his American friends. As the book reveals, on more than one occasion he saved American friends from almost certain death at the hands of his countrymen, and considered himself a man of honor thrown into a difficult situation. Some of his American colleagues are not so generous, feeling Pham sold them out. Others share an opposite opinion. 

Pham Xuan An’s story is a fascinating one, important reading for anyone interested in learning what went on behind the scenes in terms of reporting the war, North and South Vietnamese war politics, and the interactions of individuals on both sides of the conflict. An, who died in 2006, would we think, have enjoyed the book. His story is not unique: anyone today making friends in Vietnam will invariably encounter people like Mr. Binh who represented both sides during the war, and they’re happy to tell their stories to those who would listen with an open mind. For those who haven’t had that opportunity, Berman’s book is a start. Buy it now at the WoWasis estore, powered by Amazon.