General Vo Nguyen Giap
lives forever in the hearts of Vietnamese people
General Vo Nguyen Giap, who commanded the Vietnam People's Army to gain victories over two great powers in the 20th century, will live forever in the hearts of the people as a symbol of talent and virtue.
The legendary general (real name Vo Giap, alias Van) was born in 1911 in the north central province of Quang Binh into a family with a rich tradition of practicing Confucianism. From a very young age, Vo Nguyen Giap was educated by his parents in patriotism and hatred for foreign invaders as his home country was placed under the yoke of French colonial rule.
If I had not become a soldier, I probably would have remained a teacher, maybe of philosophy or history.
General Vo Nguyen Giap
If I had not become a soldier, I probably would have remained a teacher, maybe of philosophy or history.
General Vo Nguyen Giap
Between 1925 and 1926, he joined a students’ movement at Quoc Hoc Hue School in Hue. In 1927, he participated in the Tan Viet (New Vietnam) Revolutionary Party - the predecessor of the Dong Duong Communist Party and now the Communist Party of Vietnam.
During this period, Vo Nguyen Giap became acquainted with documents on revolution and Marxism, including lectures by Nguyen Ai Quoc, the then name of President Ho Chi Minh.
In 1930, he was arrested and imprisoned for two years by the enemy. After being released, he continued his involvement in revolutionary activities and developing revolutionary bases among the youth.
From 1934 to 1940, he worked as a history teacher at a private school in Hanoi and also penned articles for revolutionary newspapers, including Lao Dong (Labour), Tieng noi chung ta (Our Voice), Tien len (Advance), and Thoi bao Co Giai phong (Liberation Flag Times).
In June 1940, he was admitted to the Dong Duong Communist Party and sent abroad to meet Nguyen Ai Quoc.
In 1941, he returned to Vietnam, and took part in activities to prepare for an armed uprising at the Cao-Bac-Lang revolutionary base.
In December 1944, Nguyen Ai Quoc assigned him the task of setting up the Vietnam Liberation Army Team, the first major unit of the revolutionary armed forces and predecessor of the Vietnam People's Army.
After the August Revolution 1945, he held many important positions, including Minister of Defence and Commander in Chief of the Vietnam People’s Army and Militia.
In January 1948, he was conferred the highest military rank of General and Commander in Chief of the Vietnam People’s Army.
During the nine-year national resistance war against the French colonialism, Vo Nguyen Giap was the commander of major campaigns, with the most prominent among them being the Dien Bien Phu Campaign - a historic turning point leading to the signing of the Geneva Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina.
Later, in the 21-year anti-US resistance war, his strategic plans and military operational plans contributed to defeating the US military's tactics in their "local war" in the South and the destructive war in North Vietnam.
When the US sent troops to South Vietnam, friends in many foreign countries advised Vietnam to give up its intention to directly confront the US. However, Vo Nguyen Giap asserted that Vietnamese people would win in the battle by fighting in Vietnamese style rather than following common military strategies.
During the two resistance wars against the French and the US, Vo Nguyen Giap often noted and reminded leaders of fronts and localities that it would prefer to temporarily lose land to the enemies than lose people’s trust. For him, the people play an indispensable role in any military activity.
The general also paid much care and attention to his soldiers regardless of their positions and military rank. He was like a father, elder brother, and close comrade of his junior colleagues. He used to write letters of encouragement to his soldiers before major battles.
I am a general who fought for peace. I wanted peace - but not peace at any price.
General Vo Nguyen Giap
I am a general who fought for peace. I wanted peace - but not peace at any price.
General Vo Nguyen Giap
After his retirement, General Vo Nguyen Giap still kept a close watch on the domestic and world situations and contributed opinions to the Party and State on issues related to the issues of great importance.
In recognition of his great contributions to the Party and country’s revolutionary cause, he was awarded with the Gold Star Order, the Ho Chi Minh Order, the 70-year Party membership insignia, and other noble orders and medals of Vietnam and foreign countries and organisations.
The “Eldest Brother of the Vietnam People's Army” left the world in October 2013 at the age of 103. His passing triggered public mourning among millions of Vietnamese people as a sea of mourners gathered in the streets during the two-day State funeral to bid farewell to the national hero.
In his eulogy at the memorial service for General Vo Nguyen Giap, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasised: “Comrade [General Vo Nguyen Giap's] person, personality and great contributions are deeply imprinted in the hearts of the People, as a great leader. General of the People, forever inscribed in the nation's history.”
If a nation is determined to stand up, it is very strong.
General Vo Nguyen Giap
If a nation is determined to stand up, it is very strong.
General Vo Nguyen Giap
In his notes for the deceased, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong called General Giap “Anh Van” (Brother Van), describing him as a highly prestigious leader of the Vietnamese Party, State and people; an outstanding and close disciple of President Ho Chi Minh; a staunch revolutionary fighter; a brilliant military commander, General and Commander-in-Chief; and the eldest brother of the Vietnam People’s Army who rendered great service to the revolution of the Vietnamese Party and people.
“Your great name, career, humanity and contributions leave a deep imprint in the hearts of the people and the nation's history. We pledge to learn from your ideology, morality, style and example forever.”
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong
“Your great name, career, humanity and contributions leave a deep imprint in the hearts of the people and the nation’s history. We pledge to learn from your ideology, morality, style and example forever,” the Party leader wrote.
Senior Lieutenant-General, Professor Hoang Minh Thao once said: “Vo Nguyen Giap was a master of fighting. He always found a unique and creative way to win the battle while minimising casualties among his soldiers. He was a marshal with extraordinary tactical skill”.
“Vo Nguyen Giap is one of the most talented generals of the twentieth century and the greatest living expert on people's warfare.”
Cecil Currey
American historian
In his book “Victory at Any Cost: The Genius of Viet Nam's Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap", American historian Cecil Currey wrote “During that time he became not only a legend, but perhaps the single greatest military genius of the twentieth century and one of the greatest of all time.”
He added that “Giap is the only general in modern history to launch battle against his foes from a position of grave weakness, lacking equipment and financial resources, beginning with no troops, yet still able to defeat in succession the remnants of the Japanese empire; the armies of France, the second-ranking colonial empire; and the United States, one of the world's two superpowers, despite the lengthy and enormous U.S. commitment of energy, resources, manpower, and technology...”
“He was not only an outstanding general but also a culturist, an intellectual who had keen and profound understanding and critical thinking.”
Daniel Roussel
French director
French director Daniel Roussel said “People can see that Vo Nguyen Giap was an army general, but from my perspective, he was not only an outstanding general but also a culturist, an intellectual who had keen and profound understanding and critical thinking. I was impressed by the General's courteousness and sense of humour.”
“…During my talks with the General, I felt the very special relationship between him and President Ho Chi Minh. The wonderful collaboration between these two wise men contributed to the success of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, which opened a new page for Vietnam and gained the world’s admiration. Vo Nguyen Giap once said he treasured peace and never wanted war, that made me see him as a great man, a hero”.
Gallery on General Vo Nguyen Giap and the people