A local colonel/journalist has published a book in six languages which showcases over 100 photos of legendary Vietnamese general Vo Nguyen Giap and plans to release it in other countries in the near future, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism reported on Wednesday.

The book, “Dai Tuong Vo Nguyen Giap – Nhung Khoanh Khac Binh Di” (roughly translated as “General Vo Nguyen Giap – Ordinary Moments”), is the first complete photo book by Col. Tran Hong, who was considered “the photographer on Gen. Giap.”

The book, released in early July, is written in Vietnamese and has been translated into English, French, Russian, Chinese, and Spanish.

“Dai Tuong Vo Nguyen Giap – Nhung Khoanh Khac Binh Di” includes 117 of Col. Hong’s photos of the general, which depict the late general’s everyday moments, like playing the piano and practicing meditation.

The photos also capture the general’s intimate moments spent with his family, soldiers, and casual talks with leaders of other countries.

The author gives detailed annotations, some of which fill a whole page, for all of his photos, which offer viewers in-depth information on when, where, and how the photos were taken.

Col. Hong took roughly 2,000 photos of Gen. Giap, including those taken while he was alive and during his funeral.

He has held several collective and individual exhibitions on the revered general, but wishes to keep a number of photos to himself, and shared that he will never publish them.

Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap, the first four-star general and the former commander-in-chief of the Vietnam Army, passed away on October 4 of last year in Hanoi, more than a month after he celebrated his 102nd birthday.

Born in 1911 in Quang Binh Province, in the central region, he started his career as a history teacher before joining the army, eventually becoming the legendary general who led the Vietnam Army to victory against the French and U.S. forces in 1954 and 1975, respectively.

He commanded several major operations, including at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and Saigon (the former name of Ho Chi Minh City) in 1975.

General Giap served as Deputy Prime Minister and National Defense Minister from 1975 to 1980. From 1981 to 1991, he was Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers. His funeral attracted thousands of locals who queued for hours to pay tribute to the general.

People still visit his resting place in Quang Binh today.

Representatives of the border soldier unit in the province’s Vung Chua Commune, where the general was laid to rest, said that over 1.3 million visits have been made to the respected general so far.

A large number of locals left burning candles around his house in the province on Monday night to commemorate his first death anniversary, which fell on the following day in the lunar calendar.

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