Phung Quang Thanh

Military career Phùng Quang Thanh was born on 2 February 1948 in Thạch Đà commune, Mê Linh district, Hanoi. In 1967, he joined the army at the age of 18 and was admitted to the People’s Revolutionary Party.

In June 1971 he was ordered to leave combat to study in the School for Infantry Officers, later in the Academy of Infantry, he was also appointed commander of the 9th Battalion, 320th Division, 1st Army Corps (Vietnam People's Army) (Quân đoàn 1) from 1972. During the war, he received total three Liberation Distinguished Service Medals, 1st Order (Huân chương Chiến công Giải phóng hạng nhất), three Brave Soldier Titles (Danh hiệu Dũng sĩ) and other awards.

Health rumors and Death General Thanh visited France for medical care on 24 June 2015, due to complications from a wartime lung injury. The month-long absence sparked rumors of an assassination attempt; he was reported dead on 19 July by a German newspaper but this later was found to be false; he made a full return to Hanoi on 25 July.

On the morning of September 11, 2021, according to information from the Central Committee for Protection and Care of Health for Senior Officials, General Phùng Quang Thanh died at 3:45 AM on September 11, 2021 (corresponding to the 5th day of the 8th lunar month, Year of the Ox) at his private residence. He succumbed to his illness after a prolonged period of severe health decline, leaving behind a son.

Despite the efforts of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vietnamese government, a team of dedicated professors and doctors, and his family’s devoted care, he succumbed to his illness after a prolonged period of severe health decline.

Rank Phùng Quang Thanh was promoted to major general in 1996, lieutenant general in 1998, colonel general in 2003 and army general in 2006.