US photo journalist Catherine Karnow has said she felt sad as if she had lost a family’s friend with the news of General Giap’s decease though knowing that he was sick for a long time.

In an interview with the Voice of America (VOA), Catherine Karnow, the only Western reporter who was permitted to exclusively interview General Vo Nguyen Giap and follow him to Dien Bien Phu in 1994, said she was impressed by General Giap’s resilience, efforts, intelligence and intellectual.

She called him an outstanding person, who always respects and cares for other people.

Her father, Stanley Karnow, the acclaimed journalist and historian of the Vietnam war, wrote in his book titled “Vietnam: A History” that General Giap is a “unique” person, having been both a policy maker and a field officer, who was dubbed by the French the “snow covered volcano”.

Catherine said that her father had interviewed General Giap for the New York Times in 1990. A couple months later, she went to Vietnam , met with the General, photographed him and his family, and struck up a friendship with him.

Meanwhile French director Daniel Rousell told the Paris-based Vietnam News Agency reporters that General Giap believed in his ideal, which is striving for national liberation, independence and freedom for the Vietnamese people, and he succeeded.

He said that during the time working as a L’Humanite’s correspondent based in Vietnam from 1980 to 1986, he had met General Giap many times.

In his perspective, General Giap was greatly influenced by President Ho Chi Minh. “He was the excellent successor of President Ho Chi Minh’s struggle for national liberation and reunification,” the French director said.

Being the one who drove off the French colonialists away Vietnam in 1954, General Giap still received respect of the French people, including the commanders, he said.

Daniel Roussel made a film re-enacting the Dien Bien Phu battle field and highlighting General Giap’s image.

For his part, National Secretary of the French Communist Party (FCP) Pierre Laurent told VNA reporters that together with President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap is a symbol of Vietnam ’s struggle for independence.

In his speech at a ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in France on October 8, he praised General Giap as the one who devoted all his life to the nation, joined others to lead the Vietnamese people in the fight against forces which were technically far better equipped.

Vietnam's victories encouraged many nations in the world, he added.

FCP member former Chairman of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association Helene Luc, who once met General Giap in 1978, expressed her sorrow when learning he passed away on October 4.

She called him a talented person, an outstanding strategist who was recognised by the whole world.

The French people admire Vietnam’s Dien Bien Phu victory under General Giap’s leadership, she said, adding that he is a bright example of the humankind.

French historian Alain Ruscio, who first met General Giap in March 1979 said that he felt as if he had lost a close family member with the death of the Vietnamese General.

Meanwhile, Peter G. Achten, in his article on the Switzerland ’s news.ch dated October 8, said that General Giap is a well-educated person whom Vietnamese people love and respect.

The writer, who met General Giap in Hanoi in late 1990s described the Vietnamese general as a patriot, a historical figure, a national hero and a simple, intelligent and easy-going person.

In recent days, the Laos mass media posted news and articles on the death of General Giap, highlighting his revolutionary career and life.

The General made great contributions to building and fostering the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos , according to the articles.-VNA