The article is devoted to the life and work of one of the prominent politicians of Vietnam in the 70-80 years of the last century, which in Vietnam deservedly considered the founder and architect of the modern Vietnamese diplomacy. He played especially significant role in designing and achieving agreement about withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam on Paris negotiations 1968-1973. All his colleagues unanimously note his great contribution to the development and implementation of the country’s foreign policy in the extremely difficult international situation for his country in the 80s of the last century and to the adoption of the liberated and United Vietnam in the world community as an authoritative, constructive and reliable partner. As a minister he drastically changed the structure of this body paying most attention to researches and preparation of professional diplomats of a new school. It is not by chance that in 2008 in Hanoi one of the new streets of the capital of Vietnam was named after him.

The author considers erroneous and completely unfair the opinion expressed by some Chinese scientists and publicists about the Vietnamese Minister of foreign Affairs as «extremely anti-Chinese politician». Of course, as always, he was firm and inventive in defending the legitimate rights and interests of his country, but he did everything possible to prevent the terrible scourge of war from hitting the long-suffering land of Vietnam again. His consistent foreign policy was based on President Ho Chi Minh’s favorite formula, which he bequeathed to his successors: «as many friends as possible, as few enemies as possible».