General Vo Nguyen Giap - The most handsome soldier of Uncle Ho

From 34 soldiers in December 1944, with his organizational and training talents,General Vo Nguyen Giaphas gradually built the Vietnam People's Army into a powerful and strong army with glorious feats in the history of national liberation struggle in the Ho Chi Minh era.

Right from the first day of its establishment, the members of the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army Team revered and called comrade Vo Nguyen Giap “Big Brother”. On the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22, 1944 - December 22, 1949), Uncle Ho said:“Our army is used to calling General and Commander-in-Chief Vo Nguyen Giap “Big Brother”. This affectionate way of addressing him is very true to the spirit and history of our army.”

General Vo Nguyen Giap during his return visit to Dien Bien Phu in April 1994. Photo: Catherine Karnow

Indeed, history still records that after commanding the army and the entire Party and people to successfully carry out the August 1945 General Uprising, in 1947, under the command of comrade Vo Nguyen Giap, our army defeated the strategic attack on the Viet Bac base in the fall and winter of 1947, smashing the "quick strike, quick win" strategy of the invading French colonialists. After this important victory, on behalf of the Party and the Government, President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree 111/SL on January 20, 1948, conferring the first rank of General to the Commander-in-Chief of the Vietnamese armed forces, Vo Nguyen Giap.

Returning to the golden pages of history of the nation and of the Vietnam People's Army, we cannot forget Uncle Ho's words at the ceremony of awarding the rank of General to Commander-in-Chief Vo Nguyen Giap. He said:"On behalf of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Uncle Ho gave you the title of General to lead the army to defeat the French invaders.". Before saying those profound words, Uncle Ho was moved and wiped his tears with a handkerchief. At the age of 37, being awarded the rank of General, Commander-in-Chief Vo Nguyen Giap was very moved and honored and felt his responsibility to the Party, Government and people even heavier and greater.

The Dien Bien Phu Campaign Command under the direct command of General Vo Nguyen Giap is discussing the combat plan for each battle. Photo: VNA

Not letting down the trust of the Party, the Government, President Ho Chi Minh and also the people of the whole country, General Vo Nguyen Giap led and commanded our army and the people of the whole country to continuously achieve feats, gradually defeating the French colonialists, culminating in the victory of "Dien Bien Phu that shook the world". Moreover, after defeating the French army, General Vo Nguyen Giap continued to command our army to defeat the invading American imperialists and their lackeys, culminating in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, completely liberating the South and reunifying the country. The historic telegram with the content "Faster, faster, bolder, bolder, seize every minute, every hour, rush to the front, liberate the South. Determined to fight and win" that General, Commander-in-Chief Vo Nguyen Giap on behalf of the Standing Committee of the Military Commission sent to the entire front before the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign not only demonstrated the vision and qualities of a military genius but also was a call to encourage the spirit of determination to fight and win for the officers, soldiers of the Army and our people throughout the South.

The General's name is not only associated with the two resistance wars against the French and the Americans. After liberation, in different positions, General Vo Nguyen Giap still made great contributions to the building of the Vietnam People's Army, affirming its role as the core force and effective arm of the Party, State and people in the cause of building and defending the socialist Fatherland.

President Ho Chi Minh and comrades Truong Chinh and General Vo Nguyen Giap met to discuss opening the Dien Bien Phu campaign. Photo archive

The outstanding and outstanding contributions and contributions of General Vo Nguyen Giap to the Vietnamese revolution are very clear and extremely impressive. General Commander-in-Chief Vo Nguyen Giap is a genius military strategist who planned the strategy, tactics and military art, the unique national defense policy and people's war of the Vietnamese people in the Ho Chi Minh era.

The Vietnam People's Army with its noble qualities has been expressed most profoundly and concisely in the praise of President Ho Chi Minh: "Our army is loyal to the Party, filial to the people, ready to fight and sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for socialism. Every task is completed, every difficulty is overcome, every enemy is defeated." Our army with those noble qualities is a product created by the education and training of the Party, of President Ho Chi Minh and the love, care and support of the people.

General Vo Nguyen Giap and the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army study the combat plan for the campaign. Photo: Archive

But the person who had the first credit for creating the beautiful image of "Uncle Ho's Soldier" was the eldest brother - General Vo Nguyen Giap. Not only was he the most beautiful Uncle Ho's Soldier, but General Vo Nguyen Giap was the person who most directly organized the building, education and training of the Vietnam People's Army to be awarded the title "Uncle Ho's Soldier" by the people.

To have that simple, close, dear and noble title, our Army officers and soldiers have gone through a process of training, striving persistently, steadfastly, with a brave, resilient fighting spirit, not afraid of difficulties, hardships and sacrifices of generations. In fact, that is the process in which our officers and soldiers carry out the Ten Honor Oaths of the Vietnam People's Army. It was General Vo Nguyen Giap who drafted the Ten Honor Oaths of the Vietnam People's Army.

General Vo Nguyen Giap and General Nguyen Chi Thanh.

Throughout his life of revolutionary activities, General Vo Nguyen Giap has always been an exemplary leader, striving and training to best fulfill those Ten Honorary Oaths. On the occasion of the founding anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army, in the depths of our hearts, with all our trust and respect, all our officers and soldiers remember and follow the example of the eldest brother - the most beautiful Uncle Ho's soldier - General Vo Nguyen Giap./.