Being the Director of the Political, Cultural and Social Research Agency, Tran Kim Tuyen was the third highest official of the Sai Gon regime after Ngo Dinh Diem and Ngo Dinh Nhu. After the coup d’etat that toppled Ngo Dinh Diem, Tuyen was arrested but then released. Although he was an official of Sai Gon regime, he was in close cooperation with the CIA and British intelligence service. Tuyen devoted much time and energy to work for Nguyen Van Thieu when he was President of the National Leadership Committee. However, after that, Tuyen switched sides and opposed him. He was an important political figure to whom the American, the British and the French paid much attention. That Pham Xuan An helped Tran Kim Tuyen when soldiers were about to liberate Sai Gon in 1975 is a strange story that Western  journalists hardly understand.

After the signing of the Paris Agreement in 1973, Nguyen Van Thieu’s government stubbornly refused to able by the agreement, and the implemented the policy of “Four Nos”. He feverishly expanded military operations unto the liberated zone, and suppressed political movements. However, remembering the prolonged political chaos after Ngo Dinh Diem was toppled, this time, the U.S was determined to protect Nguyen Van Thieu in order to preserve stability after their withdrawal, seeking all means to head off a possible coup the liberation fighters in co-ordination with the masses’ patriot movements, the U.S failed to maintain the Sai Gon administration.

Pham Xuan An recalled: “Tuyen should have left Vietnam earlier. However, after our solders liberated Da Nang on March 29th, he still hoped to topple Nguyen Van Thieu so as to form a coalition government to save the Sai Gon regime. On April 1st, he met superior Buddhist monk Thich Tri Quang 1 at An Quang pagoda to negotiate, but to no avail. Tuyen’s moves were closely watched by Nguyen van Thieu’s men. On the night of April 3rd and at the dawn of the 4th, Thieu ordered the arrest of all people suspected of plotting to oust him, including Tuyen’s men. Tran Kim Tuyen was not arrested, thanks to the intervention of Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Hao. The reason for his delay in leaving the country was that Tuyen wanted to save his colleages. When Thieu was removed, Tuyen hoped that Tran Van Huong would release his men, but he refused to do so. It was until Duong Van Minh 1 took power that Tuyen’s men were set free. However, it was too late.

At this time, Pham Xuan An was also in danger. Although Nguyen Van Thieu did not order his arrest, all people who had a close relationship with Tuyen might be arrested at any time. The end of the war wa comin abd he was waiting for new orders. IT would be terrible if he were arrested. Pham Xuan An did not dare to go home but stayed in his office. It was another close shave.

“Why didn’t the U.S help Tuyen flee?” We asked.

He answered: “The CIA had arranged for a man to help him. However, this man suffered setbacks, and was unable to stay in Viet Nam. Furthermore, Tuyen wanted to see all of his men be released before leaving. At this time, the situation was chaotic. Tuyen phoned the American embassy in  Sai Gon, who told him that the person in charge of his evacuation had gone. No one was able to bring him in the embassy. Tuyen asked an American journalists to help him, but Tuyen was not named in the evacuation list. As a last resort, tuyen went to the TIME representative office to meet me. In my office, there were separate telephones used for international, domestic, civilian and military calls. Tuyen phoned everywhere, but to no avail.

“At last, he asked me to drive him to the American embassy. Outside the embassy, there was general confusion. Many ministers and generals tried desperately, but still failed to get in. I drove Tuyen back to my office. Then I phoned an American contact in the embassy. Receiving my phone call, he immediately, asked about situation outside. I interrupted him, the saying: “Don’t waste your time. A friend of mine is still stuck here. He needs your help. You also used to ask him for information. He is Tran Kim Tuyen. Please, inform CIA officials immediately so that they could find a way to save him.” I gave him my phone number. After a while, he called back, saying:

“The CIA is running its last flight. Bring him here quickly. Take him to the helipad”He told me signal codes to guide Tuyen to the helicopter. However, when we arrived, the guard refused to open the door.”