Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh was the leader of the North Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War and is considered the first leader of unified, Communist Vietnam. His body is preserved and displayed by the Vietnamese government, despite Ho’s desire to be cremated. While he was a complex individual in reality, Nguyen argues that the Vietnamese government has reduced his memory to a flat character known as “Uncle Ho.” Uncle Ho embodies the ideals of the revolution and is used as a tool to maintain popular support for the government.

Duch

Duch was the head of the notorious S-21 prison in Cambodia, where he oversaw the torture and execution of thousands of citizens during the Khmer Rouge genocide. He is the only Khmer Rouge official to be convicted of crimes in connection to the genocide. As a result, he is widely derided in Cambodia. In interviews...