HCM CITY—  Dozens of old and new books featuring Vietnamese soldiers are on display at HCM City Book Street on Nguyễn Văn Bình Street in District 1.

The event, titled Theo Chân Bộ Đội Cụ Hồ (Following the Footsteps of Uncle Hồ’s Soldiers), is part of the city’s cultural activities to mark the 74^th founding anniversary of the Việt Nam People’s Army (December 22).

Seventy-four titles from leading publishers in Hà Nội and HCM City, with books from collections by authors and collectors, will be on display.       

Each book represents reports on the founding and development of the People’s Army.

One of the highlighted books features late General Võ Nguyên Giáp, who is considered one of the greatest military strategists of the 20th century.

Giáp was the military leader of Việt Minh resistance against the Japanese occupation of Việt Nam and was a crucial military commander in the French Resistance War (1946-54) and the American War (1955-75).

He also made great contributions in a number of historically significant battles, including Lạng Sơn (1950), Hòa Bình (1951–52), Điện Biên Phủ (1954), Mậu Thân Offensive in Huế (1968), Easter Offensive in Hà Nội (1972) and the final Hồ Chí Minh Campaign to liberate Sài Gòn (1975).

Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng and HCM City all have a street named after him.

Visitors have been enjoying a photo and painting exhibition portraying Vietnamese generals of different periods. Talk shows featuring soldiers and generals are also included during the four-day event.

The event, organised by the city’s Department of Information and Communication, will close on December 23.— VNS