Soon after the death of General Vo Nguyen was officially announced, the world media simultaneously had articles praising Vietnam’s legendary General and continuously updated information about his life and military career as well as the state funeral and emotions of the Vietnamese for their beloved General. In many articles, the General’s death was described as a great loss, not only for the Vietnamese people but for millions of people who admire him around the world. The General was called “an outstanding military tactician”, “Vietnam’s military mastermind”, “a national war hero”, “the world’s eminent military leader”, and “the most outstanding military tactician of the 20th century”. In newspapers and other forms of the media, many foreign statesmen, experts, scholars and friends also shared their feelings and talked about General Vo Nguyen Giap. Vietnam Pictorial would like to introduce readers to perspectives of the foreign media of General Vo Nguyen Giap.
Le Monde in France published an article by Jean-Claude Pomonti, stating that General Giap’s name will go down in history as one of the greatest generals of the 20th century, the only general who defeated the French and then the Americans. The attack on Dien Bien Phu Military Base in May 1954 and the collapse of the Saigon regime in April 1975 are the most resounding feats of arms of the military genius who had great merit in preventing France from returning to Vietnam and found many ways not to allow the US to replace France.
The online Xinhua Newspaper, China, also continuously updated information, posts and photos of General Vo Nguyen Giap and praised him as a hero, a legacy of Vietnam and a military genius of the world and the founder of the Vietnamese People’s Army who defeated two powerful military nations in the world.
The Cuban news agency Prensa Latina reported and praised the dedication of General Vo Nguyen Giap and emphasized that the guerilla tactics of General Vo Nguyen Giap are the inspiration for soldiers who fight for national independence all over the world and his books on military strategy serve as valuable documents for military experts.
The online Xinhua Newspaper, China, also continuously updated information, posts and photos of General Vo Nguyen Giap and praised him as a hero, a legacy of Vietnam and a military genius of the world and the founder of the Vietnamese People’s Army who defeated two powerful military nations in the world.
The Cuban news agency Prensa Latina reported and praised the dedication of General Vo Nguyen Giap and emphasized that the guerilla tactics of General Vo Nguyen Giap are the inspiration for soldiers who fight for national independence all over the world and his books on military strategy serve as valuable documents for military experts.
Photos of General Vo Nguyen Giap and Foreign Statesmen 
General Vo Nguyen Giap and Cuban President Fidel Castro (September 1973). Photo: VNA
General Vo Nguyen Giap and Lao Party General Secretary and State President Chummaly Sayasone (April 2009). Photo: VNA
General Vo Nguyen Giap and French President Jacques Chirac (1997). Photo: File
General Vo Nguyen Giap and Cuban President Fidel Castro (September 1973). Photo: VNA
General Vo Nguyen Giap and Lao Party General Secretary and State President Chummaly Sayasone (April 2009). Photo: VNA
General Vo Nguyen Giap and French President Jacques Chirac (1997). Photo: File
General Vo Nguyen Giap and former US Secretary of Defence Robert McNamara (June 1997). Photo: VNA
General Vo Nguyen Giap and Venezuela President Hugo Chavez (August 2006). Photo: VNA
General Vo Nguyen Giap and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet (November 2006). Photo: VNA
General Vo Nguyen Giap and Cambodian King Samdech Norodom Sihanouk (1972). Photo: VNA
General Vo Nguyen Giap and State President of Mozambique Samora Machel (November 1980). Photo: VNA
President of Benin Mathieu Kerekou and people in Cotonou welcome General Vo Nguyen Giap (November 1980). Photo: VNA
General Vo Nguyen Giap and Venezuela President Hugo Chavez (August 2006). Photo: VNA
General Vo Nguyen Giap and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet (November 2006). Photo: VNA
General Vo Nguyen Giap and Cambodian King Samdech Norodom Sihanouk (1972). Photo: VNA
General Vo Nguyen Giap and State President of Mozambique Samora Machel (November 1980). Photo: VNA
President of Benin Mathieu Kerekou and people in Cotonou welcome General Vo Nguyen Giap (November 1980). Photo: VNA
The media in Laos, including Laos National Television, Pasason, PathetLao, KPL News, Vientiane Times and Laos Phatthana reported extensively and very solemnly about General Vo Nguyen Giap. In all the articles, authors respectfully wrote about the talented General of Vietnam. They also published a formal message of condolence from the Laos People’s Revolutionary Party, National Assembly and Government, the Laos National Construction Front and the Central Defence-Security Committee to the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC), National Assembly, Government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the CPVCC’s Military Commission. It stated that General Vo Nguyen Giap was a revolutionary who was brave, resilient and faithful to the revolutionary cause of the state and people of Vietnam. He was an eminent and close disciple of President Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam’s first General and supreme Commander-in-Chief of the heroic Vietnam People’s Army. He is esteemed and respected by the Vietnamese people and international friends for his sound leadership in the fights against invaders, winning complete independence for the Vietnamese people.
The messages highlighted General Vo Nguyen Giap’s great contributions to the revolution over the 80 years of his revolutionary activities for national liberation, as well as building and fostering the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.
In the US, the article titled “Legendary Vietnam General Vo Nguyen Giap dies at 102” by the AP described General Vo Nguyen Giap as a brilliant commander who led the outgunned Vietnamese to victory first over the French and then over the Americans.
The New York Times wrote that General Vo Nguyen Giap was charming and volatile, an erudite military historian and an intense nationalist who used his personal magnetism to motivate his troops and fire their devotion for their country.
In the UK, The Independent published an article entitled” General Vo Nguyen Giap: A soldier who led Vietnamese forces against France and the US”, the Guardian used the word “legacy” to describe the General who led the young Vietnamese forces to victory over France and then the US and the Financial Times considered General Vo Nguyen Giap one of the most outstanding military leaders of the 20th century.
The messages highlighted General Vo Nguyen Giap’s great contributions to the revolution over the 80 years of his revolutionary activities for national liberation, as well as building and fostering the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.
In the US, the article titled “Legendary Vietnam General Vo Nguyen Giap dies at 102” by the AP described General Vo Nguyen Giap as a brilliant commander who led the outgunned Vietnamese to victory first over the French and then over the Americans.
The New York Times wrote that General Vo Nguyen Giap was charming and volatile, an erudite military historian and an intense nationalist who used his personal magnetism to motivate his troops and fire their devotion for their country.
In the UK, The Independent published an article entitled” General Vo Nguyen Giap: A soldier who led Vietnamese forces against France and the US”, the Guardian used the word “legacy” to describe the General who led the young Vietnamese forces to victory over France and then the US and the Financial Times considered General Vo Nguyen Giap one of the most outstanding military leaders of the 20th century.
Photos of Foreign Delegations and Friends Pay Respects to General Vo Nguyen Giap
The delegation of the Party and State of Laos, led by Chummaly Sayasone,
Lao Party General Secretary and State President pays tribute to General Vo Nguyen Giap. Photo: VNA
Lao Party General Secretary and State President Chummaly Sayasone by the General’s coffin. Photo: VNA
Lao Prime Minister Thongsinh Thammavong leads the delegation of the Lao Government to burn incense to pay tribute to
General Vo Nguyen Giap at the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos. Photo: VNA
The Cambodian delegation, led by NA Chairman Heng Samrin, offers condolences to the General's family. Photo: VNA
Labour Party General Secretary of Mexico and President of Vietnam-Mexico Friendship Group, Alberto Anaya Gutierrez writes
in the book of funeral memories at the Vietnamese Embassy in Mexico. Photo: VNA
Military attaché of countries in Vietnam write in the book of funeral memories. Photo: VNA
The delegates of foreign diplomatic delegations pay respects to General Vo Nguyen Giap. Photo: VNA
Many foreign scholars and statesmen also praised General Vo Nguyen Giap. Prof. Fredrik Logevall from Cornell University in the U.S., said that although Vo Nguyen Giap was a self-taught general, no one can deny that he defeated the French and then the Americans.
Senator John McCain expressed grief on Twitter. He wrote: “General Vo Nguyen Giap dies. He was a brilliant military strategist who once told me that we were an honourable enemy.”
In the message of condolences extended to State President Truong Tan Sang, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika described General Giap’s death as a great loss not only to the Vietnamese but also the Algerian people while General Secretary of the Dominica United left-wing Movement Party Miguel Mejia emphasized that the General’s death left great grief for not only the Vietnamese people but also the revolutionary movement in the world. Chia Teck Keng, Vice President of the Singapore Veteran Association, expressed his respect to the deceased, calling him an iconic general for all military strategists.
Senator John McCain expressed grief on Twitter. He wrote: “General Vo Nguyen Giap dies. He was a brilliant military strategist who once told me that we were an honourable enemy.”
In the message of condolences extended to State President Truong Tan Sang, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika described General Giap’s death as a great loss not only to the Vietnamese but also the Algerian people while General Secretary of the Dominica United left-wing Movement Party Miguel Mejia emphasized that the General’s death left great grief for not only the Vietnamese people but also the revolutionary movement in the world. Chia Teck Keng, Vice President of the Singapore Veteran Association, expressed his respect to the deceased, calling him an iconic general for all military strategists.
 News Agency Xinhua (China).
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 The New York Times (the US). |
 KPL (Laos)
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 Prensa Latina (Cuba)
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 BBC (the UK).
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 Bloomberg (the US).
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 Bangkok Post (Thailand).
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 CNN (the US). |
 Fox News (the US) |
 The Independent (the UK). |
The Japan Times News (Japan)
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The Journal (France).
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Reuters (the UK)
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The Guardian (the UK).
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The Telegraph (the UK)
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The Washington Post (the US)
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Photos and information about General Vo Nguyen Giap were in the news papers of many news agencies around the world.
Reuters stated: “Vietnamese people poured into the capital on Sunday (October 13) to bid farewell to Vo Nguyen Giap, the general who masterminded the historic defeats of France and the United States to become one of the 20th century's most important military commanders. Crowds lined the streets of Hanoi cheering, crying and holding up pictures of "Red Napoleon". Bloomberg described the hundreds of thousands of people carrying yellow daisies lined up outside the General’s home to honor him.
The life and revolutionary career of General Vo Nguyen Giap has a strange gravity for many people and many countries in the world, including those who were his rivals. That gravity is not because he was “a great military tactician”, “a genius military leader of the 20th century” or “a snow-covered volcano” as described by the foreign media, but also he is an icon of bravery, staunchness, modesty, simplicity and full of humanity.
By VNP/VNA
