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‘It is our pleasure to serve General Vo Nguyen Giap’
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VietNamNet Bridge – “His birthdays were always simple and cozy. We didn’t organize birthday celebrations, but we were prepared to welcome guests,” said Major Le Van Hai, who has been General Vo Nguyen Giap’s assistant for over 20 years.

In the 1990s, when Hai began serving the General, his health was very good. The General used to get up early to do morning exercises and have breakfast with his family before working at his office.

Even though he was over 80 years old, he worked very hard. The General’s doctor advised him on many occasions to not work so hard. In 1990-1991, General Giap worked until midnight to write his memoirs and to prepare documents for the seminar on President Ho Chi Minh’s 100th birthday.

Working for the General since he was 21 years old, Major Le Van Hai clearly understands General Giap’s careful style of work. For example, even though speeches and documents had already been brought to publishing houses, General Giap still needed to correct some sentences.

According to Hai, General Giap used his assistants very efficiently and effectively. Each of them was assigned a certain field to cover. He also asked for information from officials of various ministries and agencies. He used various sources of information at work.

Though he has been working for General Giap for more than 20 years, Major Hai said that he is not the most senior assistant. Colonel Nguyen Huyen and Major Trinh Nguyen Huan have been working for General Giap since the mid-1970s. The “youngest” assistant has served the General for nearly ten years.

All the assistants said they serve the General with great pleasure, although their responsibility is great.

In the late days of August, the General’s house at 30 Hoang Dieu was always crowded with guests who came to congratulate him on his 100th birthday. Flowers and keepsakes were placed everywhere. Though General Giap is now in Army Hospital 108, guests still came to see his wife.

According to Major Hai, the General is still in full possession of his senses. “When the Party Secretary General paid a visit on August 23 or when the Hanoi Party Secretary came on August 24, the General said thank you. In recent days, when I came to make reports, he immediately expressed his consent or not,” Hai said.


He said that General Giap’s birthdays were always simple and cozy. Assistants didn’t organize birthday celebrations but were prepared to welcome guests.

“Moments with [General Giap] were extremely valuable times in my life. I’m so lucky to have had access to a great man, a great personality, a person who has met the fullest character of Vietnam,” said Colonel Tran Hong, who has taken photos of General Giap since 1994.

On August 24 Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, Minister of Defense Phung Quang Thanh, Hanoi Party Secretary Pham Quang Nghi, and many top officials visited the General at Hanoi-based Army Hospital 108.

The Prime Minister wished General Giap a long, healthy life and for his continued contribution of valuable opinions to the country’s development. He said the government always remembers and appreciates the General’s great contributions to the country.

Nghi presented the General a special gift – the Thang Long Dragon, numbered 100, which is one of 1,000 gemstone-inlaid dragons for the capital city’s 1,000th birthday.

Also on August 24, many representatives of social organizations paid a visit to General Giap’s house.

PV