Comrade Lê Đức Thọ participated in revolutionary activities at his young age. He was twice imprisoned by the French colonialists (1930 - 1936; 1939 - 1944).

Photo: Comrade Phan Đình Khải (Lê Đức Thọ) was captured by the French colonialists in 1930

In 1948, Lê Đức Thọ was appointed as Deputy Secretary-cum-Head of the Organization Department of the Southern Party Committee, he worked here until the Geneva Convention was signed in 1954.

Photo: Comrade Lê Đức Thọ at the Southern Party Committee

During the resistance war against the US, he was elected as a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam; he held many important positions including Head of the Central Organization Committee, Head of the Central South Committee

Photo: Comrade Lê Đức Thọ

His special achievements and talent were demonstrated in his duties as Special Advisor of the Government Delegation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to the Paris Conference from 1968 to 1973.

Photo: Special Advisor Lê Đức Thọ met the White House Special Advisor on National Security in Paris

When selecting a person for the position of "Special Advisor" of the Government Delegation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam who would negotiate with the US Government Delegation, President Hồ Chí Minh and members of the Politburo were deeply aware that: Negotiating with professional, experienced and ingenious politicians of the United States (a powerful country with absolute superiority in military power over Vietnam) was extremely difficult and complicated. This was a very tense brain-power struggle in a center of the West, which is far away from the Central Government of Vietnam, so negotiators need not only a firm revolutionary spirit and sense of discipline but also strategic thinking, bravery, creativity and ingenuity. Comrade Lê Đức Thọ is the most suitable person.
In a handwritten letter to the Politburo, President Hồ Chí Minh clearly stated: "Brother Sáu (Lê Đức Thọ) should return immediately (before May 1968) to join our delegation to meet the American delegates"

Comrades Lê Đức Thọ, Nguyễn Duy Trinh, Xuân Thủy, the photo was taken after the signing ceremony of the Paris Agreement, January 1973

Advisor Lê Đức Thọ (in the middle) attended the negotiation with Henry Kissinger, January 13, 1973

Henry Kissinger - US National Security Advisor shook hands with Special Advisor Lê Đức Thọ after the signing ceremony of the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam, January 23, 1973

Prime Minister Phạm Văn Đồng and people welcomed the return of the Advisors after they had attended the signing ceremony of the Paris Agreement, January 1973

After the signing ceremony of the Paris Agreement, in 1973, Comrade Lê Đức Thọ, along with Henry Kissinger, was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1973, but he refused to receive the award for the reason that peace had not really been restored in Vietnam. In an interview with a reporter for UPI news agency (USA) in 1985, he explained: “The US has invaded my country for 20 years. It is we that have fought and defeated America and won independence and peace for my country and for the whole region. It is we that do everything for peace, not America (…) It is not fair to consider us equal to America; therefore, I cannot receive the Nobel Prize!”.