1. Early Life and Education
Nguyễn Văn Vỹ was born on January 16, 1916, in Hanoi, then part of French Indochina, into a middle-class family. He attended the prestigious Albert Sarraut school in Hanoi, completing his secondary education with a full French Baccalauréat (Part II) in 1937. Following this, he pursued higher education, studying law at Hanoi University from 1937 to 1939.
2. Military Career under French Command
Nguyễn Văn Vỹ began his military career by enlisting in the French Army in late 1939, against his father's wishes. His early service involved training at French military academies and participation in key conflicts during the French Indochina War, as well as supporting allied efforts during the Korean War.
2.1. French Officer Training and Colonial Service
In late 1939, Vỹ enrolled in the first class of the Sơn Tây Military School. He graduated a year later as a Sub-lieutenant in the Infantry. By 1942, he was promoted to Lieutenant and served as a platoon leader in the 4th Tonkin Infantry Regiment. In 1945, he was promoted to Captain and transferred to serve as a platoon leader in the 19th Colonial Expeditionary Infantry Regiment.
Following the Japanese coup against the French in Indochina on March 9, 1945, Vỹ escaped to China, where he joined the exiled forces led by French General Marcel Alessandri. In 1946, he was appointed commander of the Viet-French Mixed Reconnaissance Commando Unit, which was stationed in Southern China.
After the French re-established control over Indochina in 1947, Vỹ returned to Vietnam. He was promoted to Captain and took command of the 4th Commando Company of the Indochina Mobile Battalion, operating in the Việt Bắc region. Subsequently, his entire company underwent parachute training and was renamed the North Vietnam Parachute Company. In early 1949, he became the company commander of the 3rd Indochina Parachute Company, part of the 3rd Parachute Commando Battalion, and participated in numerous campaigns across North Vietnam. By late 1950, he was promoted to Major and sent to Paris, France, for advanced staff training. Upon completing the six-month course, he returned to Vietnam and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
2.2. Korean War Service
In 1952, while still affiliated with the French forces, Nguyễn Văn Vỹ participated in the Korean War, supporting the allied landing operations. At this time, he held the rank of Colonel.
3. Military Career in the State of Vietnam
In early 1952, Nguyễn Văn Vỹ was transferred by the French Ministry of Defense to the newly established Vietnamese National Army (VNA) of the State of Vietnam. He quickly rose through its ranks, serving in significant roles directly under Emperor Bảo Đại.
3.1. Service in the Vietnamese National Army
Upon his transfer to the Vietnamese National Army in February 1952, Nguyễn Văn Vỹ was promoted to Colonel. He was then appointed as the Chief of Staff of Emperor Bảo Đại's Military Office, succeeding Major General Nguyễn Văn Hinh, who was designated as the Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnamese National Army.
In early March 1954, Vỹ was appointed Commander of the Coastal Region and concurrently served as the Military Assistant to the Chief of Central Vietnam. After the signing of the Geneva Accords on July 20, 1954, he was promoted to Major General and re-appointed as the Chief of Staff of Emperor Bảo Đại's Military Office.
3.2. Conflict over Chief of Staff Appointment and Exile
On November 19, 1954, Emperor Bảo Đại appointed Nguyễn Văn Vỹ as the acting Chief of the General Staff, replacing Lieutenant General Nguyễn Văn Hinh, who had been recalled to France. However, on December 1, 1954, Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm issued a decree appointing the newly promoted Major General Lê Văn Tỵ as the Chief of the General Staff, a decision not approved by Bảo Đại.
Despite the Emperor's preference, Vỹ was compelled to hand over the position to General Tỵ due to pressure from senior officers who supported Prime Minister Diệm. To mitigate the situation, Prime Minister Diệm appointed Vỹ as the Inspector General of the Army and concurrently as the Chief of Staff of Bảo Đại's Military Office. However, on April 28, 1955, Emperor Bảo Đại, from Cannes, sent a telegram to Prime Minister Diệm reiterating his nomination of General Vỹ as Chief of the General Staff.
On April 30, 1955, Vỹ, along with Colonel Nguyễn Tuyên, commander of Bảo Đại's Imperial Guard, traveled from Da Lat to Saigon to demand that General Tỵ relinquish the Chief of Staff position. During a meeting at the Independence Palace that afternoon, Vỹ was reportedly threatened with a gun by writer Nhị Lang. Following this incident, Vỹ quickly returned to Da Lat, then flew to Cambodia before ultimately going into exile in France. In Saigon, on May 12, 1955, Prime Minister Diệm officially dismissed Vỹ from his position as Inspector General of the Army and integrated the Imperial Guard into the Vietnamese National Army. On May 21, 1955, Vỹ and Colonel Nguyễn Tuyên were charged by the Military Court with undermining national security and treason, although they had already departed for France.
4. Military and Political Activities in the Republic of Vietnam
Nguyễn Văn Vỹ returned to South Vietnam following the 1963 South Vietnamese coup d'état that overthrew President Ngô Đình Diệm and led to his assassination. His return marked a new phase in his military and political career within the nascent Republic of Vietnam.
4.1. Coup Participation, Exile, and Return
After his return to South Vietnam, Vỹ was arrested during the January 1964 South Vietnamese coup for his alleged involvement as a member of the military committee command staff under General Dương Văn Minh. This coup, led by Nguyễn Khánh, aimed to consolidate power. However, like most military leaders implicated in the alleged plot, Vỹ was soon released.
He, along with other officers exiled in France, had returned to the country only after the 1963 coup. However, not long after, General Nguyễn Khánh carried out his "Chỉnh lý" (Rectification) coup. Vỹ, along with Generals Trần Văn Đôn, Tôn Thất Đính, Lê Văn Kim, and Mai Hữu Xuân, was placed under house arrest in Da Lat for a period, accused of having neutralist tendencies. After his release, he was reinstated into the army.
4.2. Appointment as Chief of Staff of the Army
In October 1964, Nguyễn Văn Vỹ was appointed Chief of Office of the Commander-in-Chief, a position equivalent to the former Chief of Staff of the General Staff, under Lieutenant General Nguyễn Khánh, who served as Commander-in-Chief.
In mid-February 1965, after General Nguyễn Khánh was forced into exile due to pressure from younger generals, the General Command reverted to the General Staff. Vỹ was then appointed Commander of the Quang Trung National Training Center, replacing Lieutenant Colonel Vũ Ngọc Tuấn. In June 1966, he was transferred to serve as the Director General of Military Training, succeeding Lieutenant General Tôn Thất Đính, after handing over the Quang Trung Training Center to Colonel Lê Ngọc Triển. In November of the same year, after transferring the General Department of Military Training to Major General Lữ Lan, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the General Staff, replacing Major General Bùi Hữu Nhơn. In October 1967, he was promoted to Lieutenant General.
4.3. Tenure as Minister of National Defense
On November 24, 1967, Lieutenant General Nguyễn Văn Vỹ handed over his position as Chief of Staff to Major General Trần Thanh Phong. On the same day, he entered the government cabinet, being appointed Minister of National Defense. This role was previously held concurrently by General Cao Văn Viên, the Chief of the General Staff. Vỹ served under a succession of Prime Ministers, including Nguyễn Văn Lộc (1967), Trần Văn Hương (1968), and Trần Thiện Khiêm (1969).
In February 1967, Prime Minister Nguyễn Cao Kỳ appointed Vỹ and then-Defense Minister General Cao Văn Viên to a committee tasked with rooting out corruption among senior military personnel. On May 25, 1968, President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu replaced Viên as Defense Minister with Vỹ. As Minister of National Defense, Vỹ was responsible for overseeing the Servicemen's Mutual Aid and Savings Fund (SMASF), a government-operated pension fund for South Vietnamese military personnel.
5. Controversy and Downfall
Nguyễn Văn Vỹ's political career as Minister of National Defense ended amidst significant controversy surrounding allegations of financial misconduct, which ultimately led to his dismissal and house arrest.
5.1. Allegations of Pension Fund Embezzlement
In 1971, Nguyễn Văn Vỹ was allegedly involved in a scandal concerning the embezzlement of millions of dollars from the Servicemen's Mutual Aid and Savings Fund (SMASF). These funds were reportedly diverted for personal investments, including the establishment or acquisition of several private companies. These included the Bank of Industry and Commerce, Vicco (a road and bridge construction company), Vi-navatco (a transportation firm), Icico (an insurance company), and Foproco (a food processing company).
5.2. Dismissal and House Arrest
The allegations of embezzlement led to a swift response from President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu's administration. On March 22, 1972, Thiệu dismissed five of Vỹ's senior aides in connection with the SMASF scandal. Ultimately, on August 6, 1972, President Thiệu removed Nguyễn Văn Vỹ from his position as Minister of National Defense. Following his dismissal, Vỹ was placed under house arrest. He was formally discharged from the military in March 1973, along with several other generals, on the grounds of having served over 20 years in the armed forces. He was officially fired in March 1974.
6. Later Life and Death
After the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, Nguyễn Văn Vỹ was summoned by the new government for re-education. However, at that time, he was suffering from a severe illness and had to be transported on a stretcher to Minh Mạng University Dormitory, where he was detained until late 1975. Subsequently, he was moved to Saint Paul Hospital for treatment, though still under house arrest.
In 1979, during a visit to Hanoi by General Marcel Bigeard, then French Deputy Minister of Defense, Bigeard intervened on Vỹ's behalf. This intervention led to Vỹ being permitted to travel to France for treatment of his chronic illness. However, his condition continued to worsen. Nguyễn Văn Vỹ died in 1981 at the Bégin Military Teaching Hospital in Saint-Mandé, France, at the age of 65.
7. Awards and Decorations
Nguyễn Văn Vỹ received several significant military and civilian awards and decorations from both South Vietnam and France throughout his career.
- South Vietnam:
- Grand Officer of the National Order of Vietnam
- Army Distinguished Service Order, First Class
- Air Force Distinguished Service Order, First Class
- France:
- Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honor)
- Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieurs (War Cross for Overseas Theatres of Operations)
- Médaille des blessés militaires (Medal for Military Wounded)