VietNamNet Bridge - Vo Nguyen Giap, the first General of the Vietnam People’s Army and the highly talented Commander-in-Chief during the two resistance wars, against the French colonialists and the US imperialists, will be 100 years old on August 25.
General Giap is the longest-living person in the military history of Vietnam.

For many years, on special holidays of the nation and his birthday, representatives from all walks of life visit General Giap to pay tribute to the man who devoted his whole life for the cause of national liberation.

On August 22, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, Huynh Dam, visited General Giap and wished him a long life.

One day earlier, hundreds of military officers, intellectuals and entrepreneurs from all parts of the country gathered at General Giap’s house in Hanoi to congratulate him on this occasion of his 100th birthday.

They recalled unforgettable memories about the morals and talents of General Giap, who is informally known as “Eldest Brother of the Vietnam People’s Army”.

Numerous activities are held to celebrate General Giap’s birthday.

They include a meeting of Dien Bien war veterans in Ho Chi Minh City, exhibitions of photos and sand paintings and 3D animated film on General Giap.

The Kim Dong Publishing House launched the pictorial book, “General Vo Nguyen Giap, one century - two long marches”. Meanwhile, the Les Indes Savantes Pari publishing house of France issued the book “Vo Nguyen Giap - a life” by Alain Ruscio.

Vo Nguyen Giap is the most outstanding military leader beside President Ho Chi Minh. He became a general when he was 37. He commanded a series of important campaigns during the two resistance wars against the French colonialists and the US imperialists, including the Dien Bien Phu Campaign in 1954.
The “globe shaking” Dien Bien Phu Victory is considered as a brilliant milestone in the cause of national liberation, marking the end of the French imperialists’ power in Indochina after 83 years, inspiring national liberation movements in colonial countries and promoting General Giap as a world military figure.

American historian Cecil Curry affirmed that General Giap has become not only a legend, but also a military genius in the 20th century and is among the greatest military strategists of all time.

Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Military History, Ho Khang, said General Giap knew to develop the tradition of the elder generations in the new era, using the weak to fight the strong, using a few to fight a crowd, fighting firmly, and always winning. The moral aim of troop commander General Giap was to treasure each drop of soldiers’ blood and have close ties with team mates and people as if they were relatives.

After the country was united, General Giap took various important positions in different fields and made many contributions to society.

A veteran and a photo book of General Giap
A veteran living in the central province of Quang Binh has spent 4 years collecting photos and articles about the life of Vietnam’s military commander, General Vo Nguyen Giap, and compiled them into a book.

In Dao Thong’s book which he calls a diary, the 60-year-old man gathered more than 1,000 photos and articles from books, newspaper and the Internet.

The book arranged in chronological order gives a look at the legendary commander’s simple life, his humility and genius in military leadership.

Thong worked very hard. He even once rode a bike over 45 kilometers to Le Thuy town --- the General’s hometown -- to get to know about an event related to the commander.

“I used to be a soldier and I do respect our General, so I created this book and give it to him with all my love to him, especially on the occasion of his 100th birthday (August 25)”, Thong said.

The veteran also said he will continue his work and gather more books and photos about the General.

Activities to celebrate General Vo Nguyen Giap's 100th birthday
 
Photos of the legendary general have gone on display in Hanoi to mark his 100th birthday on Thursday, August 25.

The 200 photos were selected from 500 provided by Giap's family, individuals and military units.

The photos displayed at the exhibition are also printed in a pictorial on the general which will be released soon.

"In the 1,000-year history of the capital, the last 100 years were the most difficult but glorious with the devotion of heroes like President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap," Labor Hero Professor Vu Khieu wrote in the pictorial. "Among the great leaders of the time, Giap is the only one still living."

The photos are on display at Exhibition House, 45 Trang Tien Street, till September 3.

Many other activities have also been launched before to celebrate the two special events.

The Youth Publishing House has announced to publish a biography titled “Vo Nguyen Giap – the 100-year spirit” capturing the life of the General since he was a child.

The book includes photos and stories by people who are close to the General such as Tran Dai Nghia, the founder of Vietnam’s modern arms industry or Phung Chi Kien, one of his first comrades.

A very first Vietnamese 3D animated film, titled “A historical decision”, on the revolutionary war against French colonialists also features the legendary military commander. The movie has been finished after more than two years.

The 20-minute movie depicts the General and his internal struggle in a charismatic leadership that has scored the most significant victory in modern Vietnamese history, in the battle of Dien Bien Phu.

An exhibition recalling the commander’s life through a collection of paintings made of colored sand, by artist Y Lan, was held early this month at the Ho Chi Minh City Exhibition and Display House at 92 Le Thanh Ton in District 1.

The opening ceremony of the photo exhibition:


Photos feature General Vo Nguyen Giap:
VietNamNet/VNE/Tuoi Tre