Hoang Van Thai (1 May 1915-2 July 1986) was the Viet Minh Chief of General Staff from 1945 to 1953 (preceding Van Tien Dung), in 1954 (interrupting Dung's terms), and in 1975, as well as Commander of the Viet Cong from 1967 to 1973 (interrupting Tran Van Tra's terms).
Biography[]
Hoang Van Thai was born in Tien Hai, Thai Binh Province, French Indochina in 1915, and he became a communist during his mineworking days at Hong Gai. In 1938, he joined the Indochinese Communist Party, and he fled to China in 1941 to avoid the French colonial authorities. He was given military training there before returning to Vietnam in 1944 and becoming a Viet Minh propaganda and intelligence officer. In December 1945, he became Chief of Staff of the Viet Minh forces, remaining so until 1953 (and them in 1954). He fought at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, and he was promoted to Lieutenant-General in 1959. From 1967 to 1973, he was assigned to South Vietnam as commander of the Viet Cong, fighting at the Battle of Loc Ninh and in the Tet Offensive. In 1980, he was promoted to General, and he died of a heart attack in 1986 at the age of 71.