In May 1968, President Thieu appointed Huong to the post of prime minister, replacing Nguyen Van Loc. After a week of negotiations with Thieu, Ky, various military officers and civilians, Huong assembled a cabinet with representation from a variety of interests but not members of the nationalist Dai Viet Quoc Dan Dang (Nationalist Party of Greater Vietnam). Huong mostly favoured technocrats, keeping six of Loc's ministers in his 18-man cabinet. Huong also appointed himself the minister for Rural Development and Pacification, and stated upon taking office that "The life and death of this country depend on this government... We will do all we can to safeguard it."