(VOVWorld)- 2 books on the history of the wars in Vietnam by French historian Pierre Journoud have been introduced at a recent ceremony in Paris. Based on in-depth research and interviews with many witnesses, the book “De Gaulle and Vietnam”, analyzes the changes in General de Gaulle’s policies throughout the war in Vietnam, his worries and mistakes as well as later understandings and regrets.

The second book, co-authored by Journoud’s American colleague Cecile Menetrey-Monchau, is entitled “Vietnam, 1968-1976: get out of the war”. The book was introduced to a French and Vietnamese audience with a DVD recording of witnesses talking about secret negotiations in Paris between 1963 and 1973. Journoud talks about his keen interest in Vietnam and its relations with France: "My father used to be a soldier. Although he did not directly participate in the wars in Indochina, he experienced all the bitterness of war and always criticized French policies in Indochina and in Vietnam at that time. During my study, a teacher recommended the topic of Vietnam-French ties after the war, which was rarely mentioned in France. I’m passionate about Vietnam and I want to do more research on economic, political and social relations between Vietnam and France. I did a bike trip across Vietnam with Vietnamese friends and we made a documentary film of notable historical sites significant to the Vietnamese-French relationship".

Pierre Journoud at the book launching event

The young historian is a researcher at the Institute for Strategic Research of the French Ministry of Defence and a member of the modern Asian History Centre of Pantheon Sorbonne University Paris 1.

The young historian is a researcher at the Institute for Strategic Research of the French Ministry of Defence and a member of the modern Asian History Centre of Pantheon Sorbonne University Paris 1.