Published by RedWord Publications in February 2026, Facing Irony: Evacuation Diary of a Vietnamese Diplomat in the Ukraine War offers a rare account of war and diplomacy. Written by Nguyễn Hồng Thạch—former Vietnamese ambassador to Iran and, from 2020, to Ukraine and Moldova—the book provides detailed information about the evacuation of Vietnamese nationals amid the chaos of the 2022 outbreak of war.
The book stands as perhaps one of the few documents by a Vietnamese diplomat that describes in detail the two most critical months of the crisis, capturing the period from the initial departure of the embassy from Kyiv until its return to operation while the conflict was still ongoing.
Beyond a Binary Perspective of War
The book reveals the author’s personal views on the war, which often diverge from the official position of the state.
According to the author, while the media frequently portrays the Russo-Ukrainian War as a straightforward conflict between Russia and NATO, the reality is far from binary. He does not hesitate to share his personal assessments of Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin, arguing that it is not simply a matter of Putin being wrong and Zelenskyy being right, or of Putin being authoritarian while Ukraine remains democratic. He repeatedly emphasizes that if Zelenskyy’s foreign policy had been more balanced and NATO had not expanded eastward, the senseless war could have been prevented.
He also thoroughly analyzes the propaganda apparatuses of Ukraine, Russia, and even Việt Nam. He notes that while many Ukrainians have come to believe that Việt Nam supports Putin, in reality, Việt Nam sent half a million dollars in humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Despite these facts, when the author called for active opposition to the war, the leadership at home did not agree.
Beyond his geopolitical views, the author also turns his critique toward his colleagues. In his account, a lack of goodwill, a lack of competence, and a lack of diligence are chronic illnesses among state representatives stationed abroad. The sluggishness of the bureaucracy and the hesitation of those unwilling to act ultimately lead to losses of money and time, causing tangible damage to bilateral relations.
The Realities of Evacuating Citizens
The author notes that internal hurdles often overshadowed the physical dangers of the conflict.
He writes: “What weighed on me most was not the bombs or the danger, but the pressures and obstacles in work relations,” specifically “administrative pressures that were not always explained in a satisfactory way, at times even creating the feeling that above my head there was always an invisible disciplinary sentence hanging.”
This reflected a broader problem within a bureaucratic apparatus filled with officials who were afraid to tell the truth and reluctant to take responsibility.
An example of this disconnect was the gap between decision-makers at home and those on the ground. As the author recalls: “People evacuating from war were still being required to register as if they were signing up for tourism. Looking at the number of evacuees, it was already possible to anticipate the need for aircraft. Yet they still demanded lists before the state would make a decision.”
Even in moments of crisis, authorities strictly enforced rigid regulations, demanded privileges, and some individuals actively sought personal profit. Suggestions from those who actually understood the situation were routinely ignored in favor of directives from office workers far removed from the reality of the war.
The book also exposes a toxic workplace culture during the crisis, one that prioritized polished language and outward calm over effective action. When problems arose, people resorted to gossip and slander rather than constructive criticism.
As citizens fled the war zone amid a severe lack of information, many diplomats were primarily concerned with building their own public images. The author vividly recounts the unequal treatment of Vietnamese nationals abroad, the scramble for personal gain, and the quiet sacrifices of individuals holding no official power, repeatedly expressing his anger at the lack of both understanding and a learning spirit among diplomatic officials.
Two months after the war began, authorities had still made no concrete moves regarding diplomatic staff trapped in Ukraine. Proposals by the author—such as granting visas on arrival for Ukrainian citizens to align with global trends, or having the embassy return to Kyiv after the evacuation—received no satisfactory answers.
By the conclusion of the book, the prevailing attitude of leadership at home remained one of simply waiting for instructions from above.
The Shadow of Censorship
The author notes that even the communication of urgent news had to endure censorship pressure, facing prior and post-publication reviews from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Compounding this pressure were malicious attacks from online communities, often perpetrated by individuals who did not fully understand the unfolding events.
The book also exposes deeply rooted bureaucratic problems in Việt Nam that even an ambassador could not escape. He describes the frustrating experience of being disciplined without anyone specifying the alleged wrongdoing. In this system, opportunities for advancement are not reserved for those who dare to think and act proactively but for those who know how to stay safe, hold their positions, speak little, and avoid mistakes.
Strikingly, he highlights a media paradox. While hesitant domestic outlets were unwilling to publish his accounts, international media proved far more proactive. Authorities at home frequently label the two organizations that interviewed him—the BBC and Voice of America—as “hostile.” This dynamic reflects a severe information vacuum that official channels were either unable or unwilling to fill.
Due to the delays and outright silence of official information networks, he was forced to rely on personal relationships to obtain necessary intelligence, and he utilized his personal Facebook account to reassure a panicked citizenry. His account demonstrates that it is not only ordinary citizens who are vulnerable; even ambassadors attempting to fulfill their duties can face suspicion and risk from the very system they serve.
A “Patchwork” Diplomacy
“All the slogans and grand purposes in the end still amount to a patchwork diplomacy,” the author concludes.
He illustrates how rigid institutions and bureaucracies reprimand capable, conscientious individuals simply for taking the initiative to solve problems. Consequently, officials choose caution and personal safety, a defensive posture that costs the budget dearly and inflicts significant emotional harm on citizens.
At times, even the ambassador remained in the dark because his subordinates were afraid of superiors and paralyzed while waiting for instructions. The concern for formality and saving face frequently overshadowed substantive goals, such as protecting the interests of citizens or safeguarding the reputation of the Vietnamese community internationally.
He writes that the culture of dishonesty and the obsession with superficial achievements are deeply entrenched diseases across all sectors, including diplomacy. Ordinary people suffer due to the poor decisions of their leaders.
It is impossible to perform effectively when surrounded by a culture of fear and responsibility avoidance, as he notes: “We were sent by the Ministry, so we also had to wait for the Ministry’s permission before evacuating.” For daring to think and act independently, the author himself faced severe consequences, including delayed appointments and threats of disciplinary action.
Ultimately, the book exposes the harsh realities of wartime diplomacy. The anger of citizens, the desperate urgings of colleagues, and the critical gaze of the international community upon Việt Nam were not enough to compel office-bound decision-makers into concrete action.
When a system obstructs its people from doing real, effective work, frustration and helpless silence become necessary forms of self-protection. Yet, in the long run, it is precisely this stifling mechanism that cripples the entire system’s capacity to act.
Bảo La wrote this book review in Vietnamese as part of the “Reading with Đoan Trang” column, published every Tuesday in Luật Khoa Magazine on April 7, 2026. Đàm Vĩnh Hằng translated it into English for The Vietnamese Magazine.
- Facing Ironies: An Evacuation Diary of a Vietnamese Diplomat During the Ukraine War by Nguyễn Hồng Thạch.
