2nd Corps (Vietnam People's Army)
Encyclopedia
2nd Corps or Hương Giang Corps ' onMouseout='HidePop("79979")' href="/topics/Perfume_River">Perfume River
) is one of the four regular army corps of the Vietnam People's Army
. First organized in 1974 during the Vietnam War
, 2nd Corps had a major role in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign
that ended the war. Today the corps is stationed in Lạng Giang District, Bắc Giang
.
after its 21st conference issued a resolution of strengthening the armed forces in order to unify the country. In executing the issue, three months later the Ministry of Defence
and the Military Commission of the Central Committee approved the plan of organizing regular army corps for the Vietnam People's Army. On May 17, 1974, General Võ Nguyên Giáp
, Minister of Defence, signed the edict that led to the establishment of the 2nd Corps in Thua Thien, now Thua Thien-Hue Province
, where is located the Perfume River
(Sông Hương or Hương Giang), that came the name Hương Giang Corps of the unit. The first headquarters of the corps consisted of party committee secretary (bí thư) Lê Linh and commander (tư lệnh) Hoàng Văn Thái.
In early 1975, 2nd Corps was a major force of the Vietnam People's Army in Hue-Da Nang and Tây Nguyên Campaign. During the Ho Chi Minh Campaign
, it was 2nd Corps that first advanced in the city of Saigon and captured the Independence Palace
, which was the workplace of the president Duong Van Minh
of South Vietnam. Colonel Bùi Quang Thận, an officer of the corps, was the person who raised the flag of Liberation Army in the roof of the Independence Palace and marked the end of the Vietnam War
. After the war, 2nd Corps continued to engage in Laos
(1976–1979) and Cambodian–Vietnamese War (1978–1979). The corps was awarded the title Hero of the People's Armed Forces (Anh hùng Lực lượng vũ trang nhân dân) in 1985.
Perfume River
The Perfume River is a river that crosses the city of Huế, in the central Vietnamese province of Thừa Thiên Huế.-Etymology:In the autumn, flowers from orchards upriver from Huế fall into the water, giving the river a perfume-like aroma....
) is one of the four regular army corps of the Vietnam People's Army
Vietnam People's Army
The Vietnam People's Army is the armed forces of Vietnam. The VPA includes: the Vietnamese People's Ground Forces , the Vietnam People's Navy , the Vietnam People's Air Force, and the Vietnam Marine Police.During the French Indochina War , the VPA was often referred to as the Việt...
. First organized in 1974 during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, 2nd Corps had a major role in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign
Ho Chi Minh Campaign
The Hồ Chí Minh Campaign was the final title applied to a series of increasingly large-scale and ambitious offensive operations by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam which began on 13 December 1974...
that ended the war. Today the corps is stationed in Lạng Giang District, Bắc Giang
Bac Giang
Bắc Giang is a city in Vietnam. It is the capital of the Bac Giang province. Its name, deriving from Sino-Vietnamese, means "north of the river." Bac Giang was formerly a sister city with Madison, Wisconsin, United States....
.
History
In July 1973, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of VietnamCentral Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam established 1930, is the highest authority within the Communist Party of Vietnam elected by the Party National Congresses...
after its 21st conference issued a resolution of strengthening the armed forces in order to unify the country. In executing the issue, three months later the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (Vietnam)
Ministry of Defence is the governmental ministry of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam that manages, coordinates and supervises military affairs, including all military units, paramilitary units, and similar agencies in the country. The major office of the Ministry of Defence is located within the...
and the Military Commission of the Central Committee approved the plan of organizing regular army corps for the Vietnam People's Army. On May 17, 1974, General Võ Nguyên Giáp
Vo Nguyen Giap
Võ Nguyên Giáp is a retired Vietnamese officer in the Vietnam People’s Army and a politician. He was a principal commander in two wars: the First Indochina War and the Vietnam War...
, Minister of Defence, signed the edict that led to the establishment of the 2nd Corps in Thua Thien, now Thua Thien-Hue Province
Thua Thien-Hue Province
Thừa Thiên-Huế is a province in the North Central Coast of Vietnam, approximately in the center of the country. It borders Quang Tri Provice to the north and Da Nang City to the south, Laos to the west and the South China Sea to the east. The province has 128 km of coastline, 22,000 ha of...
, where is located the Perfume River
Perfume River
The Perfume River is a river that crosses the city of Huế, in the central Vietnamese province of Thừa Thiên Huế.-Etymology:In the autumn, flowers from orchards upriver from Huế fall into the water, giving the river a perfume-like aroma....
(Sông Hương or Hương Giang), that came the name Hương Giang Corps of the unit. The first headquarters of the corps consisted of party committee secretary (bí thư) Lê Linh and commander (tư lệnh) Hoàng Văn Thái.
In early 1975, 2nd Corps was a major force of the Vietnam People's Army in Hue-Da Nang and Tây Nguyên Campaign. During the Ho Chi Minh Campaign
Ho Chi Minh Campaign
The Hồ Chí Minh Campaign was the final title applied to a series of increasingly large-scale and ambitious offensive operations by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam which began on 13 December 1974...
, it was 2nd Corps that first advanced in the city of Saigon and captured the Independence Palace
Reunification Palace
Reunification Palace formerly known as Independence Palace , built on the site of the former Norodom Palace, is a landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It was designed by architect Ngô Viết Thụ and was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War...
, which was the workplace of the president Duong Van Minh
Duong Van Minh
Minh was born on 16 February 1916 in Mỹ Tho Province in the Mekong Delta, the son of a wealthy landowner who served in a prominent position in the Finance Ministry of the French colonial administration...
of South Vietnam. Colonel Bùi Quang Thận, an officer of the corps, was the person who raised the flag of Liberation Army in the roof of the Independence Palace and marked the end of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. After the war, 2nd Corps continued to engage in Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
(1976–1979) and Cambodian–Vietnamese War (1978–1979). The corps was awarded the title Hero of the People's Armed Forces (Anh hùng Lực lượng vũ trang nhân dân) in 1985.
Organization
The command structure of 2nd Corps consists of the High Command (Bộ tư lệnh), the Staff of 2nd Corps (Bộ tham mưu), the Political Department (Cục chính trị), the Department of Logistics (Cục hậu cần) and the Department of Technique (Cục kỹ thuật). The combat forces of the corps include the 304th Infantry Division, 306th Infantry Division, 325th Infantry Division, 673rd Division of Air Defence, 203rd Tank Brigade, 164th Artillery Brigade and 219th Brigade of Engineers.Commanders
| Time | Commander | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1974–1975 | Maj. Gen. Hoàng Văn Thái | Later promoted to Lieutenant General and Director of the General Department of Technique. |
| 1975–1979 | Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Hữu An | Later promoted to Colonel General and Director of the Advanced Military Academy. |
| 1979–1982 | Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Chơn | |
| 1983–1988 | Maj. Gen. Bùi Công Ái | |
| 1988–1992 | Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Phúc Thanh | Later promoted to Lieutenant General, Deputy Minister of Defence of Vietnam and Deputy President of the National Assembly of Vietnam National Assembly of Vietnam The Constitution of Vietnam recognizes the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as "the highest organ of state power." The National Assembly, a 493-member unicameral body elected to a five-year term, meets twice a year... . |
| 1992–1994 | Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Văn Rinh | Later promoted to Colonel General and Deputy Minister of Defence. |
| 1995–2000 | Maj. Gen. Phạm Xuân Thệ | Later promoted to Lieutenant General and Commander of the 1st Military Region. |
| 2000–2004 | Maj. Gen. Phạm Ngọc Khóa | Later promoted to Lieutenant General and Director of the Department of Operation, General Staff. |
| 2004–2007 | Maj. Gen. Thiều Chí Định | |
| 2007–present | Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Đức Thận |