Pham Van Dong

Pham Van Dong (1906-2000), prime minister of North Vietnam (1955-1976) and of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (1976-1987). Active in the nationalist cause in the 1920s, he became a close aide of Ho Chi Minh and was imprisoned (1929) by the French for seven years. During World War II, he helped found the Viet Minh, which after the war fought the restoration of French rule. When the country was divided in 1954, Dong became foreign minister of North Vietnam and prime minister the following year; he was its leading spokesman during the long Vietnam War. Continuing as prime minister of a united country after the fall of South Vietnam, he announced his retirement in December 1986 and was replaced by Pham Hung in 1987.