"The Teacher" is the debut literary work of Lieutenant General, Professor, Doctor Nguyen Chi Vinh (son of General Nguyen Chi Thanh, an outstanding son of Hue ), published by the People's Army Publishing House in March 2023. The book revolves around the central character, Mr. Ba Quoc, also known as Major General Dang Tran Duc (1922 - 2022), Hero of the People's Armed Forces, a legendary intelligence officer of the Vietnam People's Army. Mr. Ba Quoc was the teacher who guided and trained Professor, Doctor Nguyen Chi Vinh for over 20 years, from when he was a young officer to when he became a high-ranking intelligence commander.

Book cover of "The Teacher" by Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh

The 491-page book comprises seven chapters: Mr. Ba Quoc, Cambodia - The First Lessons; Mr. Ba and His Comrades; The Intelligence Profession - Lessons Passed Down; A New Vision, a New Horizon; Returning to Cambodia; Life Stories, Moments, and Life. The work recreates the outstanding intelligence activities of Mr. Ba Quoc, the only spy to deeply infiltrate the high-level intelligence agencies of the Saigon government (including the Presidential Palace and the Central Intelligence Agency). He carried out many "superb" missions, most notably rescuing Secretary Nguyen Van Linh (later General Secretary ) and nine members of the Saigon-Gia Dinh Special Zone Committee from pursuit by secret agents.

A highlight is that the author not only recounts the glorious achievements of Mr. Ba Quoc but also focuses on portraying the life, personality, and relationship between the two teacher and student. Mr. Ba Quoc was "an outstanding teacher, both strict and caring, who nurtured me into the person I was when I first entered the intelligence field, until his death 20 years later," Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh expressed. In "The Teacher," the teacher-student relationship and Mr. Ba Quoc's strict yet humane nature are recounted through personal memories and factual records from decades of work, interspersed with the author's commentary and reflections. The journalistic style is accessible, easy to read, simple yet profound, not fictional but based on real events.

The book also provides many valuable documentary images about Mr. Ba Quoc, recording many important events. Notable examples include: Deputy Director of Department 2 Nguyen Nhu Van handing over the decision assigning the task of Deputy Commander of Unit 817 to Lieutenant Colonel Dang Tran Duc in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 1981; the celebratory conference for Unit 817 in Phnom Penh in 1982; and Mr. Ba Quoc at the K4 base, Ho Chi Minh City in 1993.

Notably, the book serves as a study of the life of Mr. Ba Quoc, but also as a reflection on the vibrant youth of Nguyen Chi Vinh. Every milestone in his career has been marked by the presence of his mentor, Mr. Ba Quoc. During his lifetime, the General stated that the idea for the book originated from visits to Mr. Ba Quoc's family during holidays and festivals, where he heard little-known stories about him, from his daily life to his work. After retirement, Nguyen Chi Vinh reread archived files, documents, books, and even poems and diaries that Mr. and Mrs. Ba Quoc had exchanged.

Along with "The Teacher," Professor Dr. Nguyen Chi Vinh is also the author of several books in the genres of memoirs, non-fiction, and historical documents, mainly revolving around the themes of defense intelligence, peacekeeping, and historical military figures. Notably, these include "Journey for Peace," a memoir about Vietnam's participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations (as part of the "blue beret" force); and "Stories about General Nguyen Chi Thanh," recounting the life and career of General Nguyen Chi Thanh - the author's father.

With its immense documentary value and emotionally rich content, "The Teacher" was nominated in two categories: Reader's Favorite Book and Literature - Art Book at the 2024 National Book Awards.

An Nhien (introduction)

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/tac-gia-tac-pham/nguoi-thay-cua-tuong-vinh-160140.html