Published:  00:00 Tuesday - August 25, 2009

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan and other leaders from the Party, State and army visited General Vo Nguyen Giap on August 24 to wish him a happy 99th birthday.

The Party chief wished the General longevity and hoped that he would continue to contribute his valuable opinion on the national construction and renewal process.

Mr Manh said that the former commander-in-chief would forever remain a shining example for the Vietnam People’s Army as he has made many important contributions to the Party and people’s revolutionary cause.

General Giap, who led the Vietnamese forces at the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, expressed his thanks to the Party chief and the other visiting leaders and expressed his pleasure at the country’s recent socio-economic achievements.

He said he believed that all the country’s officials and soldiers would continue to develop the traditions of Uncle Ho’s soldier and hoped they would continue to practise, study and improve themselves to accomplish all the tasks assigned by the Party, State and people.