General Vo Nguyen Giap reviewing the liberation troops in 1945.

An informal meal between President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap (middle), and Truong Chinh (who was Party Secretary General later) at Viet Bac base in 1947.

On December 6, 1953, at Viet Bac base, President Ho Chi Minh and party leaders decided to launch the Dien Bien Phu campaign.

General Vo Nguyen Giap and the High Command met to discuss plans for the Dien Bien Phu campaign. From the left: General Van Tien Dung, Tran Dang Ninh, General Vo Nguyen Giap, and General Nguyen Chi Thanh.

General Vo Nguyen Giap listened to reports about Dien Bien Phu.

Dien Bien Phu soldiers celebrated President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday in 1954.

President Ho and General Giap at the Vietnam People’s Army anniversary in 1962.

General Vo Nguyen Giap visiting the southern battlefield in 1968.

He welcomed Cambodian King Norodom Shihanuk on the day President Ho passed away in 1969.

The General checked a strategic road in the dry season 1972-1973.

General Giap at the mathematics conference in Hanoi in 1977.

He visited his father’s tomb, martyr Vo Quang Nghiem, in 1985.

He shook hand with former US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara at the Government Guesthouse on June 23, 1997 (photo AFP).

He returned to Dien Bien Phu in April 2004, on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory.

General Giap at the age of 94.