[4] During his tenure as archbishop, he kept the Roman Catholic community together facing government efforts to control the church after Vietnam's reunification.

[1] During his house arrest, he continued to circulate letters among parishioners “and the authorities apparently made no serious attempt to replace him”.

He was never a fervent anti-communist; he was a "priest of the people" who embraced the social reforms that came as a result of Vatican II.

He was, however, critical of the government's policies and denounced the restrictions on Mass and other religious ceremonies, the anti-Catholic message children received in school, and the fact that Catholics were discriminated against when seeking employment.

[6] Being under house arrest prevented him from attending the 1986 Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; this prohibition would merit a formal protest from cardinals and bishops from 40 countries.