General Võ Nguyên Giáp, former member of the Politburo, former Secretary of the Central Military Commission, former Standing Deputy Prime Minister of the Government, former Minister of National Defense, Supreme Commander of the Vietnam People’s Army, and National Assembly Deputy from the 1st to the 7th tenure, due to old age and illness, despite receiving devoted care from the Party, State, Central Military Commission, Ministry of National Defense, as well as professors, doctors, medical staff inside and outside the military, and his family, passed away at 6:09 PM on October 4, 2013 (August 30, Year of the Snake), at Military Central Hospital 108; at the age of 103.
General Võ Nguyên Giáp, whose birth name was Võ Giáp and alias Văn, was born on August 25, 1911, in Lộc Thủy Commune, Lệ Thủy District, Quảng Bình Province.
As the first General and Supreme Commander of the Vietnam People’s Army, General Võ Nguyên Giáp directly commanded major operations during the Indochina War and the Vietnam War. He also directly led and participated in commanding many important campaigns such as the Border Campaign (Autumn–Winter 1950), the Battle of Điện Biên Phủ (1954), the Tet Offensive, the 1972 Offensive, and the Hồ Chí Minh Campaign. He was one of the most prominent military commanders alongside President Hồ Chí Minh throughout the war and led many major campaigns until the end of the conflict.
Originally a history teacher and journalist, he became a prominent politician and military leader in Vietnamese history, holding positions such as Politburo member, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, and Supreme Commander of the Vietnam People’s Army.
In recognition of his great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation, and his high prestige at home and abroad, he was awarded the Gold Star Order, the Hồ Chí Minh Order, the 70-year Party membership badge, and many other noble Vietnamese and international awards and decorations.
With deepest mourning, admiration, and profound respect for General – Supreme Commander Võ Nguyên Giáp, the elder brother of the Vietnam People’s Army, who devoted his entire life to the national liberation struggle and is regarded as one of the brightest cultural personalities of Vietnam, a symbol of the Hồ Chí Minh era’s culture, and one of the most outstanding military strategists of the 20th century and all time, he is respected and admired by the entire people, armed forces, and international friends for his comprehensive talents in military affairs, politics, history, culture, and science, as well as his exemplary moral character.
His life was as pure as a gem; fully virtuous and talented, General Võ Nguyên Giáp is truly an outstanding model of character and ethics for all generations of Vietnamese people to study and follow. He peacefully passed into eternity alongside the founding fathers of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, but his thoughts, feelings, and great contributions will live forever with the nation and its people.
We respectfully light incense and bow in solemn tribute before the spirit of General – Teacher – Supreme Commander – the elder brother of the heroic Vietnam People’s Army. We vow to strive throughout our lives to study and follow his shining moral example.
FOLLOWING ARE SOME IMAGES OF THE MEMORIAL CEREMONY FOR GENERAL VÕ NGUYÊN GIÁP HELD BY THE INTERNATIONAL LABOR AND CONSTRUCTION JOINT STOCK COMPANY (NIBELC)
- MEMORIAL CEREMONY FOR GENERAL VÕ NGUYÊN GIÁP AT THE HANOI OFFICE
2. MEMORIAL CEREMONY FOR GENERAL VÕ NGUYÊN GIÁP AT THE NINH BÌNH HEADQUARTERS
3. MEMORIAL CEREMONY FOR GENERAL VÕ NGUYÊN GIÁP AT THE HÀ TĨNH PROJECT OFFICE AND THE FINAL FAREWELL TO THE GENERAL AT HIS RESTING PLACE
