General Giap, peace-lover
General Vo Nguyen Giap is reputed as a fine military strategist and leader, not only in Vietnam but all over the world. He is also considered a true humanitarian.
Journalist Daniel Roussel visited Vietnam for the first time in 1980 as a resident reporter for a prestigious French newspaper. During his seven years in Vietnam, he met many historical figures, one of whom was General Giap.
The journalist says he got a very special feeling talking to the famous strategist.
“I was very lucky to have the chance to meet a key figure of the contemporary world history who made such a great contribution to the historic Dien Bien Phu victory,” said Roussel.
 |
Unlike most people, Roussel has more things than war and history to talk about with the general who has opened his heart to him about his private life, his personal interests and his memories of Uncle Ho.
His long and close relationship with General Giap has provided enough information to produce a documentary film entitled “The battle of the tiger and the elephant” describing the 55-day Dien Bien Phu campaign.
The Dien Bien Phu victory demonstrated Giap’s great military talent, says Roussel, adding that General Giap successfully applied the best of Chinese and the American military strategies in that battle.
As an outstanding military leader and a zealous politician, General Giap has devoted his entire life to his country. But he is also a very simple person, a peace-lover who has admitted to Roussel that he doesn’t like international reporters always asking him about the wars.
By the Lunar calendar, General Giap is 100 years old. We all hope he will remain healthy to welcome the millennial anniversary of the capital.