Võ Nguyên Giáp was born on August 25th, 1911 in the An Xá hamlet, Lộc Thủy village, Lệ Thủy district, Quảng Bình province.
In 1925, he became an active revolutionary at the age of 14. In 1929, he joined the Union of Indochinese Communism. In 1930, he was arrested by the French colonialist for participating in anti-French demonstrations. Due to no evidence, the French released him. He then continued to play a part in cultural front, writing in public newspapers such as Tin tức (News), Nhân dân (People), Tiếng nói của chúng ta (Our Voice) and Lao động (Labour) as well as editing Party’s magazines, teaching history, and geography at Thăng Long private school. In 1934, he married Nguyễn Thị Quang Thái (1915-1943), a communist, who then became his efficient partner. During the clandestine period, the married couple lived in House No. 46, Nam Ngư street, Hanoi city. Later, Nguyễn Thị Quang Thái was arrested by French colonialists. They took her life in Hỏa Lò jail. In the period of 1936-1939, Võ Nguyên Giáp engaged in the movement of Indochinese Democratic Front. While in addition acting as editor of Party’s magazines and Chairman of Tonkin Press Committee. In 1939, he and Phạm Văn Đồng went to China and met Nguyễn Ái Quốc. Under Nguyễn Ái Quốc’s leadership, he was admitted to the Communist Party. On May of 1941, he came back to Cao Bằng, participated in founding the revolutionary base, the Việt Minh movement, and in the preparations for the armed uprising in the base of Cao-Bắc-Lạng. In 1942, he was in charge of Southward march movement, adopted armed activities for propaganda thus linking the mountainous areas and Tonkin delta.
On December of 1944, Nguyễn Ái Quốc entrusted him with the establishment of the Vietnam Propaganda and Liberation Army Unit. Given Nguyễn Ái Quốc’s assignment, on December 22th, 1944, at a forest in Nguyên Bình district, Cao Bằng province, Võ Nguyên Giáp proclaimed the birth of the Vietnam Propaganda and Liberation Army Unit - the predecessor of present Vietnam People’s Army. He was assigned to be its commander-in-chief. On April of 1945, he was Commissioner of Tonkin Revolutionary Military Committee, Commander-in-chief of the united armed forces re-named as Vietnamese Liberation Army, and member of Provisional Steering Committee for the liberated area of Việt Bắc. In the 2nd Conference of the Central Committee of the Indochinese Communist Party, he was appointed as standing commissioner of the Committee, taking part in the National Insurrection Committee, the National Liberation Committee, and as Minister of the Interior in the provisional government. On January of 1946, he was appointed as military chairman, commissioner in the coalition government, and assistant chief of the delegation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam negotiation with France at the Conference in Đà Lạt. In 1946, he got married to Đặng Thị Bích Hà (daughter of professor Đặng Thai Mai).
On January 20th, 1948, President Ho Chi Minh issued Decree 110/SL, promoting him as the first four-star of the Vietnam People’s Army. Since 1946 to 1992, he continuously performed important tasks: Commander-in-chief (1946-1975), Minister of Defense (1946-1980), Secretary of the Central Military Party Committee of the Vietnam People’s Army (1946-1977), Deputy Prime Minister (1955-1992). In 1992, he retire at 81 ages. In late 1993, he became Honorary chairman of the Vietnam Veteran Association. Võ Nguyên Giáp was continuously appointed as commissioner of Party Central Committee from term II (1951) to term VI (1986), commissioner of Politburo from term II to term IV (1976). He was member of National Assembly from term I (1946) to term VI (1986).
In the resistance war against the French colonialists, he directly commanded Biên Giới Campaign (Frontier Campaign) in 1950, and the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign in 1954. In the resistance against the U.S, he and the Politburo commanded big campaigns in the South, including the Hồ Chí Minh Campaign in 1975, and the People’s War against the US aerial and naval wars of devastation in North Vietnam.
He was author of a number of military manuals published both home and abroad. From 1948 onward, he wrote 70 books regarding literature, science, technique, and economics. Some his books have been republished in five or six editions. In addition there are 21 collections of call-up papers, reports, discourses, recommendations, instructions.
The Communist Party of Vietnam and State of Viet Nam awarded him with: Gold Star Order, 2 Ho Chi Minh Orders and various noble Orders. He was awarded with Laos Gold Order by Laos State, Angkor Order by Cambodian State. He was also awared with various noble Orders by other Parties and governments worldwild. He was respected as “an Eldest Brother of the Vietnam People’s Army” by Vietnamese people.
