He took part in revolutionary activities at an early age (when he was 11) and was twice imprisoned by the French (1939) and (1944). After his release, he actively participated in the revolutionary movement in the resistance war against the French. His revolutionary career was like the name he gave himself. "Trần" means having nothing but only love for revolution. “Trà” means Trà Khúc river, his hometown river full of memories. I chose such an alias as a way of expressing nostalgia for my homeland."

Photo: Comrade Trần Văn Trà in the resistance war against the French

In mid-1948, Comrade Trần Văn Trà led the South military-political delegation to Việt Bắc where they reported the situation of the resistance in the South to the Central Government. After nearly half a year of marching, the delegation finally arrived in Việt Bắc - the capital during the resistance war against the French. President Hồ Chí Minh gave a farewell party for the delegation and personally handed a sword over to the battlefield commander. The President recommended that : "I give you this precious sword, please bring it back to encourage the people of the South to destroy the enemy. Please tell everyone that the Party I and are always thinking about everyone there. If We are united, we will definitely win a victory." That mandate urged them to quicken their steps back to the battlefield.

Photo: Comrade Trần Văn Trà (Standing to the right of President Hồ Chí Minh) and the Southern Military Delegation had a photo taken with Uncle Hồ and comrade Võ Nguyên Giáp

After the Geneva Convention was signed, Comrade Trần Văn Trà got back to the North in a regrouping and was appointed as Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army. He was also one of the people who personally directed the construction of strategic transportation routes 559, 759 on land and at sea to transport forces and vehicles to the South

Photo: Comrade Trần Văn Trà on a business trip

In 1963, he returned to the battlefield in the South; He held the position of Member of the Central Bureau of the Southern Department and Deputy Secretary of the Regional Military Commission, Commander of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam. He implemented the guidelines of the Central Government to prepare for new struggles.

Photo: Comrade Trần Văn Trà (the second person from the left) and generals in the Southern Liberation Army Command in the Eastern forest, 1967.

Comrade Trần Văn Trà in the Southern Liberation Army Headquarters

After the Paris Agreement on Vietnam was signed, Comrade Trần Văn Trà was appointed as Head of the Military Delegation of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam at the Four-Party Joint Military Federation in Saigon to implement the Paris Agreement.

Photo: Lieutenant General Trần Văn Trà and representatives of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam at Camp Davis, March 15, 1973

After Saigon was liberated, Senior Lieutenant General Trần Văn Trà was appointed Chairman of the Military Management Committee of Saigon – Gia Định, from April to December 1975.
"Between us, there are no winners and losers, but only the Vietnamese nation has won over America". (Lieutenant General Trần Văn Trà, May 2, 1975)

Photo: The people of Saigon – Gia Định welcomed the city's Military Management Committee after the liberation day

Chairman of the Military Management Committee of Saigon – Gia Định, Senior Lieutenant General Trần Văn Trà (in the middle) attended the grand ceremony to celebrate the victory, May 1975