VietNamNet Bridge – Founding dean of the Georgia State University Honors College Larry Berman, writer of ‘Perfect Spy X6’ which tells the story of Vietnamese spy Pham Xuan An, on Thursday morning (Feb 13) arrived in HCMC to place a bronze plaque in Room 307 at the Hotel Continental Saigon in District 1, An’s base during the American War.

Movie on legendary spy Pham Xuan An planned



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Larry Berman, writer of ‘Perfect Spy X6’, is shown under the bronze plaque he hung up on Room 307 where the spy was based at the Hotel Continental Saigon during the American War.

 

 

The event was aimed at commemorating An’s stay there while on missions during the American War as well as giving enthusiasts the chance to learn more about the nation’s history and see documents related to An’s activities. An worked as a journalist for TIME, Reuters and New York Herald Tribune, which were based at the hotel for many years during the war, spying for the liberation forces. The room is where An met colleagues and journalists to fulfill his missions.

Berman added that many articles An wrote gained much attention around the world. “I am so delighted to be here on Friday in the spirit of Pham Xuan An who would often be across the street in Givral store looking for the daily rumors and stories,” Berman said.

“When his friend Robert Shaplen was in town, it was in this room Pham Xuan An and other journalists met for long discussions on a wide range of topics. As An’s biographer, I can feel his spirit in the room and we can now always honor his memory.”

Berman also revealed that this is the only the room he stays in at the Continental. Berman has visited Vietnam more than 50 times to meet An and his family and collect information to finish his book. “I took me five years to finish the book. An to me is a special person and a friend I loved so much,” Berman said.

Berman’s first book ‘Perfect Spy – The Incredible Double Life of Pham Xuan An’ recounts Vietnamese spy An who studied communications in 1950 in the U.S. After returning home, he still collaborated with news organizations such as Reuters and TIME as well as major CIA agents and passed on military secrets to revolutionary soldiers. After some private talks with the spy, Berman knew many secrets that he promised not to reveal until the spy died. Keeping his word, after An died, Berman came back to Vietnam and over the last six years collected more information for his new updated book ‘Perfect Spy X6’ which reveals more details about the remarkable story of An. Both books have been translated into Vietnamese and published by First News.

Source: SGT