General Vo Nguyen Giap’s wife passes away

Dang Bich Ha, the wife of late General Vo Nguyen Giap, passed away early Tuesday morning, at the age of 96.

Ha, born in the central province of Nghe An, was the daughter of Professor Dang Thai Mai, former Minister of Education and Director of the Vietnam Institute of Literature. She formed a close bond with General Giap during her childhood when he lived in her father’s home from 1931 to 1941.

In 1943, Ha evacuated to Thanh Hoa but returned to Hanoi two years later. She recalled that as a child, Giap would often take her to Hang Day Stadium, then known as Septo, to practice sports. The two reunited in 1945 when Giap was mourning the loss of his first wife, Nguyen Thi Quang Thai, who had died in Hoa Lo Prison in early 1944 after being arrested. Giap and Thai had married in 1934 and had one child, Vo Hong Anh (1941-2009).

In late 1946, Giap and Ha were married in a simple ceremony, remaining devoted to each other until his passing in 2013.

Despite his demanding career, General Giap always made time for family, especially on special occasions. Every year on their wedding anniversary, Nov. 27, he would ask his daughter to buy a bouquet of flowers for Ha. In his final years, as Giap’s health declined and he spent much of his time in hospital, Ha provided him with dedicated care.

General Giap, born in 1911 in the central province of Quang Binh, was a history teacher before rising to prominence as a skilled military leader. As the first general and supreme commander of the Vietnam People’s Army, he played a pivotal role in the nation’s fight for liberation.

During the wars against the French and Americans, he directly commanded major campaigns, including the historic victories at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and the Ho Chi Minh Campaign in 1975 – both milestones in the nation’s history.

After the country was unified, he served as deputy prime minister and minister of national defense until 1980, and later as vice chairman of the council of ministers from 1981 to 1991. He was also a National Assembly delegate for the first seven terms.

Giap and Ha are survived by their four children: Vo Hoa Binh, Vo Hanh Phuc, Vo Dien Bien, and Vo Hong Nam.

By Viet Tuan – VnExpress.net – September 17, 2024