Văn Tiến Dũng was a Vietnamese general in the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), PAVN chief of staff (1954–74); PAVN commander in chief (1974–80); member of the Central Military–Party Committee (CMPC) (1984–86) and Socialist Republic of Vietnam defense minister (1980–87).

Võ Nguyên Giáp was a general of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), communist revolutionary and politician. Regarded as one of the greatest military strategists of the 20th century, Giáp led Vietnamese forces to victories in successive wars against Japan, France, and the United States. He served as military commander of the Việt Minh and later the PAVN from 1941 to 1972, as minister of defence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and later the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1946–1947 and from 1948 to 1980, and as deputy prime minister from 1955 to 1991. He was a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam.