Walking the Tightrope

Saigon 1961/62 - civil war, coups d'état, family breakdowns, awash with rumour and political intrigue. Very little has been written about this period in Vietnam’s history: after the defeat and departure of the French and before the influx of international armies. The book portrays the strength of Vietnamese nationalism, which led to what some might call espionage and betrayal. It spans forty years and traces the lives of two Vietnamese men working for Reuters News Agency, one of whom was also employed by the Viet Cong.