"Our villagers will always remember you!"

(Baonghean) - These days, all over the country, everywhere is filled with sadness and great regret at the passing of General Vo Nguyen Giap, who was respected by all Vietnamese people and admired by the world!

Cu Giap, General Giap has long been a familiar name for General Vo Nguyen Giap among the highlanders, like a fairy tale, a legend of the Muong people. The elderly teach their children and grandchildren not to forget the merits of the national hero, the young men who join the army tell themselves to constantly strive to improve their talents and virtues to live up to the name of soldiers of the next generation of General Giap. Although they know that everyone will eventually return to their ancestors, like a stream flowing to a big river, no one can help but be surprised by the bad news!

Turning on the TV, watching the news program like every day, there was a shocking news from the sad voice of the announcer: "The General passed away at 6:09 pm, October 4th...", everyone could not believe their ears! The stilt house roof seemed to sway, tears flowed silently, the forest and grass seemed to be silent before an infinite sadness, the eldest brother of the Vietnam People's Army had passed away.

For Mr. Vi Duc Cuong - a highland general of Nghe An, Hero of the People's Armed Forces, General Giap still lives forever. In his house in Lam Bong hamlet - Bong Khe commune - Con Cuong, he emotionally shared: "Vo Nguyen Giap will forever stand side by side with our cause of protecting the Fatherland. General Giap's spirit has been, is and will be a great source of encouragement for all generations in preserving peace on the border!".

Since his youth, Mr. Cuong has considered General Vo Nguyen Giap as an idol, the inspiration for the young Vi Duc Cuong to volunteer to join the army. In the most fierce battles, when his comrades were wounded and sacrificed, surrounded by enemy troops, he was always steadfast, calm, and resourceful to relieve his comrades. In the battle against the Vang Pao bandit's lair, a location surrounded by steep cliffs on three sides, but with the intelligence of a commander, he planned and successfully destroyed the bandit group in Laos in just one night. In the most difficult times, he always thought of General Vo Nguyen Giap, and always tried to overcome, to become a good commander. An unforgettable memory in Mr. Cuong's life was the only meeting with General Vo Nguyen Giap in 1992, at a resort organized by the Central. That time, he sat down to eat with General Giap and took a souvenir photo.

General Vo Nguyen Giap met with Thai ethnic people in Dien Bien. Photo: TTVH.

Growing up in the peacefulness of the country, the village has long been quiet from the sound of bombs, but for Mr. Truong Van May, in Khe Ngau village (Xa Luong - Tuong Duong), through the stories of the elderly, through the media, books and newspapers, he understands General Giap, as closely as the respected old people in the village. By chance, opening the phone to the internet, reading the news of the General's death, the phone fell out of his hand without realizing it! He said: "I have never met Mr. Giap, but I will never forget his battle stories during the resistance war against the French and Americans. For us to have peace like today, it is thanks to the great contribution of the General!".

As a native of the mountainous region of Nghe An, currently working in Hanoi, Mr. Luong Van Thiet (Museum of Ethnology) shared: "These days, Hanoians also go to entertainment spots less. Everyone wants to come and burn incense to pay respect to Mr. Giap". He himself had to wait almost an afternoon to visit Mr. Giap at house number 30 - Hoang Dieu - Hanoi, because the number of people coming was so large, the line was several kilometers long.

As a Thai folk singer, who greatly respected and admired the talent and virtue of General Giap, Mr. Lang Van Cuong, in Mong village (Cam Muon - Que Phong) was moved to write a poem in Thai, expressing his infinite sorrow at the passing of General Vo Nguyen Giap:

Lost property can be found again one day.

There are days when there is still a full barn of grain in a bad harvest.

There are still stories of mourning parents day and night.

Mourning Mr. Vo Nguyen Giap, the whole country cried and mourned.

Tribute to the national hero who led the army to fight the French and American invaders for peace in the Fatherland.

Descendants vow to never forget your kindness forever!

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