THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST!
We're excited to welcome 𝐓𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐬, the author of the book "𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞" to The Old Compass Cafe on Sep 4th, 2025 at 7.30PM for a talk about the journey of "America's Reconciliation with Vietnam".
Today Vietnam is one of America’s strongest international partners, with a thriving economy and a population that welcomes American visitors. How that relationship was formed is a twenty-year story of daring diplomacy and a careful thawing of tensions between the two countries after a lengthy war that cost nearly 60,000 American and more than two million Vietnamese lives.
Ted Osius, former ambassador during the Obama administration, offers a vivid account, starting in the 1990s, of the various forms of diplomacy that made this reconciliation possible. He considers the leaders who put aside past traumas to work on creating a brighter future, including senators John McCain and John Kerry, two Vietnam veterans and ideological opponents who set aside their differences for a greater cause, and Pete Peterson—the former POW who became the first U.S. ambassador to a new Vietnam. Osius also draws upon his own experiences working first-hand with various Vietnamese leaders and traveling the country on bicycle to spotlight the ordinary Vietnamese people who have helped bring about their nation’s extraordinary renaissance.
TED OSIUS was a diplomat for thirty years, serving from 2014 to 2017 as U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, a country he has known and loved since 1995. Only the second out gay career diplomat in U.S. history to achieve the rank of ambassador, Osius went to Vietnam with his husband and children.
Ted offers a vivid first-hand account of the various forms of diplomacy that brought about the reconciliation between two former enemies and helped bring new prosperity to Vietnam. Nothing is Impossible – with a foreword by John Kerry -- tells an inspiring story of how international diplomacy can create a better world.
For more information of the author and the book:
www.tedosius.com
https://tedosiusnothingisimpossible.com
https://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Impossible-Americas-Reconciliation-Vietnam/dp/1978825161
𝐵𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑠 / 𝐸𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠
“This is a lot more than a first-rate memoir. It is a brilliantly organized account of a decades-long struggle towards reconciliation, not just on the part of two governments but on the part of two nations bearing the physical and emotional scars of a protracted war. As U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, Ted was far more than merely diligent. He was intensely creative in finding ways, both moral and material, to soften bitter memories with new hope. In the process, he served the strategic interests of the United States by stressing common interests and building mutual respect. His work in Vietnam is a reminder of something often overlooked in our country: the extraordinary value of its professional Foreign Service -- which I personally saw every day as Vice President, and which is clear as day on the pages of this book.”
--𝐀𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬
“Ambassador Ted Osius tells a remarkable story of how the United States and Vietnam overcame the tragedy of war to build an enduring new relationship. My husband John played a part, along with so many Americans, including principled Democrats and Republicans in Congress, successive U.S. presidents of different political parties, and civic leaders -- including proud veterans -- determined to chart a new course for our peoples that is about the future, not the past. I recommend Ted’s book as both an authoritative history and a colorful account of an ambassador’s life in a country of strategic importance to the United States.”
--𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲
𝐴𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑁𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐼𝑠 𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒
“From his direct engagement in the establishment of the U.S. embassy to his 2014–2017 ambassadorship in Hà Nội, Ted Osius has demonstrated outstanding commitment and perseverance in the complex and difficult journey toward his stated goal of Vietnam–U.S. reconciliation. I applaud Ambassador Osius’s remarkable contribution to this worthy cause. His memoir provides us a needed American perspective from a top U.S. diplomat. Let us hope that in the near future there will also be Vietnamese perspectives offered on the topic of Vietnam–U.S. reconciliation.”
—𝐓𝐨̂𝐧 𝐍𝐮̛̃ 𝐓𝐡𝐢̣ 𝐍𝐢𝐧𝐡, 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧
“Ted Osius and I started our ambassadorship in each other country’s capital, Hanoi and Washington, DC, almost at the same time in late 2014. We committed ourselves to working together and we witnessed remarkable achievements: President Obama visiting Vietnam and Party General Secretary Trọng’s first-ever historic visit to the United States, among others. Ted has been much appreciated by leaders of both countries for his dedication and wise counseling. And, featured as the title of his new book, Nothing Is Impossible has been, not only Ted’s famous remarks, but more uniquely, an attribute of the U.S.–Vietnam relationship.”
—𝐏𝐡𝐚̣𝐦 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐡, 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬
“How do countries move from war to peace to friendship to cooperation to partnership? The dynamic is exceedingly, and unfortunately, rare. But Ted Osius had the good fortune to be engaged in America’s reconciliation with Vietnam from its earliest days. In the finest tradition of diplomatic memoirs, he effortlessly synthesizes grand strategy and humanitarian affairs, tense negotiations and touching bicycle rides, to definitively document the course—and the enormous potential—of one of America’s most vital partnerships in Asia.”
—𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚, 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐬 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧
“Warriors and prisoners turned diplomats, revolutionaries and political activists turned statesmen, soldiers and draft dodgers turned national leaders: such are the extraordinary people whose unimaginable determination and resilience helped to overcome the impossible aftermath of war—and succeeded at a magnificent act of reconciliation. As brilliantly told by former ambassador Ted Osius, two former deadly enemies become bound into a reflection of one another through a desire for peace. Nothing Is Impossible deserves to be read for generations.”
—𝐍𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐞̂̃𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐢́ Đ𝐮̛́𝐜, 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐝𝐲𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲
“Despite a tortured history, America’s relationship with Vietnam is now evolving into a strategic partnership as Southeast Asia becomes a testing ground for China’s rise and the epicenter of U.S.–China rivalry in the world. This illuminating book by Ted Osius tells the dramatic story—through the people who lived it—of how the two countries transitioned from implacable enemies to cooperative partners on the regional stage. As a central player in this transition, Osius has written the rare volume that is both important diplomatic history and an engrossing and enjoyable read.”
—𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐡, 𝐋𝐞𝐞 𝐊𝐮𝐚𝐧 𝐘𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞’𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟.
Join us for a special Saigon evening - 7.30PM SEP 4TH, 2025
35 SEATS ONLY. Entrance tickets purchased in advance directly from The Old Compass Cafe only:
TICKET ONLY - 300,000VND - Entrance tickets at the door (if available) 350,000VND.
TICKET AND DINNER - 650,000VND Vietnamese set dinner including a glass of red or white house wine
(Please note that this is an intimate venue and most talks sell out).
CHILDREN UNDER 12 YEARS OLD NOT PERMITTED. GROUP REQUESTS HANDLED BASED ON AVAILABILITY.
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE OLD COMPASS CAFE - 3rd Floor, 63/11 Pasteur St., District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (The alley right next to Liberty Citypoint Hotel).
Also check out other Arts events in Ho Chi Minh City, Workshops in Ho Chi Minh City, Literary Art events in Ho Chi Minh City.
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