Xuan Oanh and the Impact of People-to-People Diplomacy During the American War (Part 2)
Part 1: Do Xuan Oanh and People-to-People Diplomacy During the American War Writer Susan Sontag recounts her 1968 journey to North Vietnam, including extensive interaction with Xuan Oanh in her aptly titled and deeply reflective memoir of that mission, Trip to Hanoi . She references Xuan Oanh throughout Trip to Hanoi , as early as page nine mentioning his leadership role with the escorting group, and gives extensive reflections, even musings on how Xuan Oanh would come to view things over time. Toward the middle of the book Sontag ponders about her impact on her hosts, questioning whether her presence is wasting their time. She remarks, “I sometimes have the feeling that my being here…is a big waste of our Vietnamese hosts’ time. Oanh should be spending these days writing music.” Xuan Oanh (2nd from the left) interpreted for Uncle Ho and Prime Minister Pham Van Dong (Photo courtesy of the family) Nonetheless, it seems Xuan Oanh’s openness with his guests was disarming, ...