The Tourist Who Ran The Place

Los Angeles Times ^ | 24 JAN 2004 | By Mai Tran and Richard C. Paddock, Times Staff Writers

[onedoug]

HANOI — It took more than half a century of bloodshed and exile, but Nguyen Cao Ky, the ardent anticommunist and former ruler of South Vietnam, has finally come home to this communist capital.

A former air force pilot who flew bombing raids over North Vietnam, Ky arrived Friday in Hanoi on government-owned Vietnam Airlines. At 73, he has made peace with his former enemies and says he wants to help his homeland prosper. He hints that he may even move back.

"My heart is very clear," the former premier said. "What I am doing now, I am doing for my country...

[onedoug]

Didn't see this in any search.

'Thought Viet vets might find it interesting.

[Grut]

Gosh, I didn't know there was anything there worth stealing.

[Khurkris]

Nguyen Cao Ky,73, his current wife and his daughter are back in VN. Ky says that its time for the different factions to begin a healing process to work together for the future of Viet Nam. He was once one of the most strident voices against the Communist Govt of Viet Nam. He says he now thinks that with the majority of the population born since the VN War, he sees the need for bring education, technology and infrastructure improvement as the most important things for Viet Nam. It remains to be seen what part the current communist regieme will allow Ky to have.

Politics on an Eastern stage.