The Vietnam book tour began with a formal launch of the Vietnamese edition of From Enemies to Partners at the National Library in Hanoi on Wednesday, September 26, 2018.
Among the most acclaimed recognition of the book came as a letter from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pham Binh Minh. He praised the authors and recognized their contributions to advocating and promoting collaboration to overcome the consequences of Agent Orange.
The Hanoi launch opened with a speech by Trần Đoàn Lâm, Director, World Publishing House (Thế giới), which published the Vietnamese edition of From Enemies to Partners. Following remarks from the authors, Dr. Le Ke Son and Dr. Charles R. Bailey, Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, vice minister of foreign affairs and former Vietnamese ambassador to the U.S. and Molly Stephenson, public affairs counselor from the American embassy also spoke. See Charles Bailey’s remarks at the Hanoi launch event.
The authors spent four years interviewing officials and scientists in both Vietnam and the U.S. and reviewed all the principal documents and books on Agent Orange in Vietnam. From Enemies to Partners comprehensively addresses this subject and proposes what the two governments need to do to bring this legacy of the war to a proper end.
On Wednesday, October 3, 2018, the authors presented their book at an event in Book Street Nguyen Van Binh, Ho Chi Minh City. Speakers included Madame Ton Nu Thi Ninh, formerly the Vietnamese co-chair of the Aspen-supported U.S. Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/ Dioxin and Tim Liston, Principal Deputy Officer from the U.S. Consulate Ho Chi Minh City. Vo Thi Hoang Yen, Director of Vietnam’s leading disabilities advocacy group and winner of the 2018 Ramon Magsaysay Award for her social justice leadership, introduced the event with live music. Artist Le Minh Chau, the protagonist in the 2016 Oscar-nominated documentary Chau, Beyond the Lines, also attended. See Charles Bailey’s remarks at the Book Street event.
The final event was a presentation at the Foreign Service Center in Da Nang. See Charles Bailey’s remarks in Da Nang.
See how the Vietnamese media covered the release of From Enemies to Partners.
Read a summary of the events from Charles Bailey & Le Ke Son.
