Born into a homeland full of patriotism General Giap soon followed the revolutionary path when he was only 14. He became a member of the Party when he was 29 and was promoted to General Commander-in-Chief of Vietnam People’s Army when he was only 37.
He held various important positions, including Politburo member, Secretary of the Military Commission of the Central Party Committee, Standing Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, Commander- in-Chief of Vietnam People’s Army, Member of National Assembly. For all his life, he has devoted himself to the Party, the people and the revolution.
His life was inextricably linked to the glorious and brave revolution of the Party and people. Many historical landmarks of the country bear the mark of General Vo Nguyen Giap. In December 1944, he was assigned by President Ho Chi Minh to establish the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army and he led the team to win the first two battles against the French in Phai Khat and Na Ngan just a few days later.
Under the leadership of the Party, with an earth-shocking Dien Bien Phu Victory, General Vo Nguyen Giap earned the reputation of being a magical architect and a legendary general, “one of the few who shifted the flow of history”.
In the war against the US, the General and the Politburo directed many major military campaigns , the biggest one being the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, and many defense efforts against the US’s air force and navy in the north.
With the turn of the history, on April 7, 1975, in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign he signed an order that read, “quicker, even quicker, daring, and even more daring, make use of every minute, every hour to advance to the south. Determine to fight and win.” The order served as a proclamation that energised the entire military during the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign.
Being not only a strategist and organiser of major battles, that defeated various leading reputed generals from France, US, General Vo Nguyen Giap also contributed to forming the Vietnam military theory – military of the people, justice over cruelty – during the Ho Chi Minh era. The theory inherits and brings into play the historical lessons of our ancestors into the new era of fighting invaders.
Being an outstanding student of and close to the late President Ho Chi Minh, during all his revolutionary life, General Vo Nguyen Giap contributed a great deal and was loved and respected by the Party and people and international friends. He is an exemplary figure, a great personality with his intelligence, virtue and humanity. He is a pride of the Vietnamese nation, and of the generations of the heroic army.
An outstanding child of the nation has passed away, leaving the Party and people with a great sense of appreciation and grief. Mother earth is opening her hand to welcome the General to eternity. The Party, people, armed forces are left to turn grief into strength, to unite to successfully implement the Resolutions of the Party’s 11th Congress, to advance the reforms of industrialisation and modernisation for a prosperous population, strong country, democracy, equality and civilisation.
We should, with great fortitude and dedication, move forward to implement the Resolution of the 4th Plenum of the Party Central Committee on Party building, with the campaign to learn from Ho Chi Minh.
Farewell General Vo Nguyen Giap, the loyal and exemplary communist, a military genius. We are committed to live and work according to the bright example that you set, a person beloved, trusted and respected by the Party, military, and people.
