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Journalist Tran Tuan and General Vo Nguyen Giap.
Tuan said that he met with the legendary general the first time in Hue city in 1976. At that time he was a correspondent of the VNA at the Hue branch. Since then, he followed the general to the southern battlefield.
“The first time I took photo of the General, besides my admiration and my love to him, I knew that it was the destiny between me and him. I knew that I would take photos of his daily moments and preserve them,” Tuan said.
After a long trip to the southern battlefield with the General in 1976, he returned to Hanoi and had chance to see the General often. He will never forget the General’s statement when Tuan paid a visit to the General in Hanoi: “I appreciate Mr. Tuan. Wherever I go, I ask the office (his office) to inform Mr. Tuan so he can follow me.”
That statement opened Tuan’s period of 35 years following the General, with many valuable memories.
As the only correspondent escorting the General during many business trips, Tuan had opportunity to record unique moments of the general.
Tuan said that to pursue his passion of taking daily moments of the legendary general, he ignored many opportunities of promotion. He has taken thousands of photos of General Vo Nguyen Giap, which he has not made public yet.
“Besides my assignments, I followed the General to take photos of him for myself only. I spent my salary in purchasing films because it is my personal job,” he said.
“Some people commented that I took photos of the General as a son takes photos of his father. It is true!”
With thousands of photos about the legendary general, Tuan wished to open an exhibition and publish a photo book but until late 2010, he got the General’s permission.
“I asked for his permission many times, but he said it was unnecessary and I should open photo exhibitions of soldiers, war invalids and martyrs who have sacrificed for the country,” Tuan said.
Unique moments of General Vo Nguyen Giap:
One year after the country’s unification (1975), General Vo Nguyen Giap paid a visit to the
military command of Thua Thien-Hue province. In this photo Major general Le Nam
Khanh introduced officials of the military command of Thua Thien-Hue province to the General.
This picture was taken in 1976 at Thien My pagoda, in Hue city. Senior monk Thich
Don Hau, Chairman of the Committee for Peace, Unification and Democracy of the
National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam talks with Party Secretary General,
Le Duan (first from the right) and General, Commander-in-chief Vo Nguyen Giap.
General Vo Nguyen Giap visited the tea shop of Tran Thi Tinh, an artist of the
art troupe of Ha Tuyen province in 1990.
Senior lieutenant colonel--war-invalid painter, Le Duy Ung, portraited the
General in 1993. The work was completed within one hour. According
to Tran Tuan, this is one of the most beautiful portraits of General Vo Nguyen Giap.
General Vo Nguyen Giap received former US Secretary of Defense, Mc
Namara at the Government Guest House in June 1997.
The General paid a visit to an oil and gas work in Vung Tau city in 1996.
He listened to Dr. Nguyen Sy Hung (first from the right), Chairman of the Management
Board of Vietnam Airlines introduced a new aircraft model in 2004.
50 years after the Dien Bien Phu Victory, he told Senior Lieutenant General,
Tran Sam: “It is very good to see each others here!”
At the meeting to celebrate the 50th Dien Bien Phu Victory, the General could not
hold his tears when he talked about martyrs.
The General listened to the story of Nam Duoc, former Chairman of the War of Resistance
Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province in 1946-1952, about the hard fight during the war
of resistance against the French. General Vo Nguyen Giap took a siesta in Cu Chi, HCM City.
Journalist, photographer Tran Tuan and General Vo Nguyen Giap.
military command of Thua Thien-Hue province. In this photo Major general Le Nam
Khanh introduced officials of the military command of Thua Thien-Hue province to the General.
This picture was taken in 1976 at Thien My pagoda, in Hue city. Senior monk Thich
Don Hau, Chairman of the Committee for Peace, Unification and Democracy of the
National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam talks with Party Secretary General,
Le Duan (first from the right) and General, Commander-in-chief Vo Nguyen Giap.
General Vo Nguyen Giap visited the tea shop of Tran Thi Tinh, an artist of the
art troupe of Ha Tuyen province in 1990.
Senior lieutenant colonel--war-invalid painter, Le Duy Ung, portraited the
General in 1993. The work was completed within one hour. According
to Tran Tuan, this is one of the most beautiful portraits of General Vo Nguyen Giap.
General Vo Nguyen Giap received former US Secretary of Defense, Mc
Namara at the Government Guest House in June 1997.
The General paid a visit to an oil and gas work in Vung Tau city in 1996.
He listened to Dr. Nguyen Sy Hung (first from the right), Chairman of the Management
Board of Vietnam Airlines introduced a new aircraft model in 2004.
50 years after the Dien Bien Phu Victory, he told Senior Lieutenant General,
Tran Sam: “It is very good to see each others here!”
At the meeting to celebrate the 50th Dien Bien Phu Victory, the General could not
hold his tears when he talked about martyrs.
The General listened to the story of Nam Duoc, former Chairman of the War of Resistance
Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province in 1946-1952, about the hard fight during the war
of resistance against the French. General Vo Nguyen Giap took a siesta in Cu Chi, HCM City.
Journalist, photographer Tran Tuan and General Vo Nguyen Giap.
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