The memoir of Trần Quang Cơ (1927-2015), former member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), brings to light the intense diplomacy among great powers and regional players over the continued conflicts in Indochina after the unification of Vietnam as well as the bitter disagreements within the Vietnamese leadership over the country’s political priorities during the period of 1975-1993.

Cơ put together his memories and thoughts on “many sensitive developments” in Vietnamese foreign relations that he believed had been “intentionally or unintentionally” forgotten (rơi rụng) in the state-endorsed history “to ‘smooth over’ (tròn trĩnh) the historical record.”  Completed in Vietnamese in 2001 (updated in 2003) and informally circulated on the internet, Merle Pribbenow’s English-translation makes this valuable historical source available to wider audiences.

Telegram to the Ambassador in the DRV details fundamental positions of the Soviet Union regarding maintenance of peace in Vietnam, strengthening of the political and economic situation, and increasing the well-being of workers. The Embassy is also tasked with further developing not only Soviet-Vietnamese relations but also Vietnamese-Chinese and other socialist countries relations. The telegram states that the Embassy should overall strive to strengthen the influence of the Soviet Union and should additionally monitor the situation in South Vietnam for reunification.

Instructions to Soviet ambassadors on dealing with China's outreach to socialist countries in the eastern bloc, outlining a series of steps for Soviet ambassadors to follow which would
foster skepticism about China’s intentions and thwart efforts by Chinese representatives to make wide-ranging contacts in these states. The directive notes China’s hostility to Vietnam, Cuba, Laos, and Mongolia and contrasts this with its development of extensive relations with Romania, Yugoslavia, and North Korea.

12 million BGN, five-year plan for arms delivery to People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen, Liberation Front of Mozambique (FRELIMO), Lao People's Revolutionary Party, Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), and the Lebanese Communist Party.