[1] He worked as an economist in Africa with the International Monetary Fund from 1966 to 1969,[1][2][3] before being appointed "special assistant" to President Thiệu and Commissioner of Planning in 1973.
[6] With Jerrold L. Schecter, former White House correspondent and diplomatic editor of Time magazine, Nguyễn wrote The Palace File in 1986, which published the Nixon-Thiệu letters and provided additional insight on America's relationship with South Vietnam from his perspective.
"[2] In 1991, he advocated unfreezing the American-held assets of the South Vietnamese government and using them as leverage in improving human rights in Vietnam.
[3] In 2005, he published (in Vietnamese) the book Khi Đồng Minh Tháo Chạy ("When Your Ally Cuts and Runs").
[9] He released his most recent book, Tâm Tư Tổng Thống Thiệu ("In the Mind of President Thieu"), in May 2010.