A new book exploring the early life of Hồ Chí Minh has ignited controversy in Việt Nam, pitting defenders of creative freedom against conservative critics demanding censorship over alleged historical distortion.
The Latest: The book “Chuyện với Thanh” has faced a major wave of opposition in recent days, with critics accusing it of “distorting history” by telling the story of Nguyễn Tất Thành in ways that differ from official state accounts.
The controversy has already prompted a media blackout; several major news outlets, including An Ninh Thủ Đô, ZNews, and Pháp Luật Plus, have removed articles introducing the book.
Furthermore, a review shows that some major domestic bookstores have deleted listings for the publication or stopped selling it entirely.
The Details: In recent days, author Nguyễn Thành Nam’s book has faced sharp condemnation on Facebook over its descriptions of Nguyễn Tất Thành. The outrage centers on specific phrases, including descriptions that “as a child, he ‘rowed a boat to listen to singing’ and also ‘ran errands’ for older brothers,” and referring to him as “a 30-year-old young man wandering without a job.”
Facebook user Phan Trung Can, who was prominent in recent denunciation campaigns against the novel “The Sorrow of War” and a seminar on Trương Vĩnh Ký, was among the first to launch this wave of criticism.
- In a June 3 post, he called “Chuyện với Thanh” “a filthy book that must be recalled and destroyed,” accusing the author of “abusing academic freedom to distort history,” “insulting President Hồ,” and “insulting the Vietnamese nation.”
- In another post on June 4, he demanded that the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission direct the editor-in-chief of Nhân Dân Newspaper to remove two articles by journalist Ngọc Đinh praising the book, which were published on May 17, 2026.
That move triggered further public reaction.
- Lieutenant General Nguyễn Thanh Tuấn, another prominent figure in recent denunciation campaigns over alleged “historical distortion,” demanded that the Writers’ Association Publishing House explain its decision to license the book.
- He also called on the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission to intervene.
On the evening of June 4, Nhân Dân removed the two articles introducing the book, stating: “The editorial board assessed that the content was not appropriate and decided to remove the articles.”
Divided Public Opinion: Public opinion remains divided, and many people have spoken out against the denunciation campaign.
- Dr. Vũ Hoàng Linh stated that while he “does not share the author’s perspective at all,” society must respect the freedom of creators and cannot eliminate their ideas or spirit.
- “No country can take off without a minimum level of freedom and a certain degree of safety for creators, people with new ideas, and those who dare to challenge old paths, whether in thinking, ideas, or execution,” Dr. Linh wrote.
- Similarly, Dr. Nguyễn Kiều Dung opposed the campaign, noting that the informal approach and colloquial style of the book are suitable for young readers today, who “are tired of the deification of great figures.”
- Dung wrote: “They [young people] want to understand great figures from the perspective of ordinary human beings. That is why Thành Nam’s approach is very suitable for them. There should be different approaches to suit different audiences.”
As of now, author Nguyễn Thành Nam has not spoken publicly about the controversy.
Meanwhile, neither the Ministry of Information and Communications nor the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has issued any statement or document regarding the handling of the publication.
The Background: “Chuyện với Thanh” was published in 2026 by the Writers’ Association Publishing House. It is structured as a dialogue between Thanh, a Gen Z student who is indifferent to history, and a teacher named Thành. Through that exchange, the book reconstructs the journey of the leader of the Communist Party of Việt Nam during his years abroad.
The author, Nguyễn Thành Nam, currently teaches Hồ Chí Minh Thought at VinUniversity, which is part of Vingroup. He is also a well-known entrepreneur in Việt Nam and was among the co-founders of FPT Corporation and the online university FUNiX.
Why It Matters: All cultural works in Việt Nam must usually navigate an extremely strict censorship process. Even after publication and circulation, works can still be recalled and destroyed at any time if they run afoul of official narratives.
The backlash highlights the state’s rigid protection of the image of Hồ Chí Minh, as he has long been presented by Vietnamese state agencies and the country’s education system as “a symbol of patriotism, heroic spirit, and the nation’s aspiration for independence, freedom, and happiness.”
Trường Tộ wrote this article in Vietnamese and published it in Luật Khoa Magazine on June 5, 2026. The Vietnamese Magazine has the copyrights to the English translation.
