Vo Nguyen Giap, the first four-star general and the supreme chief commander of Vietnam, died at 6:09pm yesterday at the Army Hospital 108 in Hanoi, over a month after he celebrated his 103th birthday.
 |
| General Vo Nguyen Giap (1911-2013) |
General Vo Nguyen Giap, 103, has passed away in Ha Noi due to old age, said a special communiqué released by the Communist Party of Viet Nam's Central Committee (CPVCC), the National Assembly, the President, the Government, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee and the CPV CC's Military Commission on October 5.
The communiqué said the General died at the Central Military Hospital 108 at 6:09 PM on October 4.
General Giap, real name Vo Giap (alias Van), was born in Loc Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, the central province of Quang Binh on August 25, 1911.
He served as a Politburo member, Secretary of the CPVCC's Military Commission, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence, Commander-in-Chief of the Vietnamese People's Army and a National Assembly deputy from the first to seventh tenure.
During his revolutionary life spanning over 80 years, the General rendered significant services to the Party and the nation. As an eminent student close to President Ho Chi Minh, the first General and Commander-in-Chief of the Vietnamese People's Army, he was loved and respected by the people and international friends and a pride of generations of officers and soldiers nationwide.
General Giap was awarded the Party and State's Golden Star Order, the Ho Chi Minh Order, the 70-year Party membership badge and many other noble orders and medals both at home and abroad.
His death is a great loss to the Party, the State, people and army, the communiqué said, adding that a State funeral will be held for the General.
(Source:VNS)
