Documented study of the life and career of the head of the North Vietnamese armed forces by an Australian veteran of the Vietnam war and military college instructor.

The making of a propagandist -- Military beginnings -- The fortunes of politics -- Winning the initiative -- The misdirected offensive -- Winning back the iniative -- The Navarre Plan -- Dien Bien Phu, the battle -- Reformer and author -- The Second Indo-China War.