The life and career of General Vo Nguyen Giap, former Commander-in-chief of the Viet Nam People’s Army, earned him a place amongst history’s greatest military leaders.

Giap, the Viet Nam People’s Army’s first general, was born on August 25, 1911, in An Xa village, Loc Thuy commune in the Le Thuy district of Quang Binh. He worked as a teacher, a journalist, a historian, a revolutionary activist, before becoming the renowned Commander-in-Chief and military strategist

The founding of the 34-member Viet Nam Liberatoration Propaganda team in Cao Bang on December 22, 1944, led by Vo Nguyen Giap

General Giap working in Viet Bac war zone in 1949

General Giap inspecting the newly liberated Cao Bang town in 1950

General Giap at a meeting in March, 1954 ahead of the Dien Bien Phu campaign that ended French colonial rule in Indonchina

President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap

General Giap at the Ha Noi air defence headquarters in 1972, approving defensive measures against American B52 raids

General Giap inspecting Quang Ninh after mine clearance campaigns in 1973

General Vo Nguyen Giap meeting General Van Tien Dung in May, 1975

General Giap visiting Thua Thien-Hue military headquarters in April 1976

State Council President Vo Chi Cong awarding General Vo Nguyen Giap the Gold Star Order on August 20, 1992

General Giap revisiting Dien Bien Phu in 1994

General Giap receiving former US Secretary of Defence Robert McNamara in 1995

General Giap visiting 108-year-old Nguyen Thi Vinh in Vinh Phuc province in 1996

General Giap exercising in Vung Tau

General Giap—a legend of Vietnamese history with a legacy that will live long into the future

(Source: VOV)