Trần Bạch ÃÂằng (born Truong Gia Trieu) (1926 – April 16, 2007) was a key figure in planning the 1968 Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War, and was the leader of Communist forces in Saigon, the South Vietnamese capital, during that offensive. He was the leading Communist political officer in Saigon and a member of the National Liberation Front Central Committee.
ÃÂằng is the author of the novel Ván bài láºÂt ngá»Âa, which was about an intelligence figure in the Vietnam War - Colonel Phạm Ngá»Âc Thảo, under the pen name Nguyá» n Trðáng Thiên Lý.
His real name is Trðáng Gia Triá»Âu. He was born on July 15, 1926, in Hòa ThuáºÂn commune, Giá»Âng Riá»Âng District, Rạch Giá (now Kiên Giang province). He was one of the early students of Petrus Trðáng Vénh Ký High School (now Lê Há»Âng Phong High School For The Gifted).
ÃÂằng started participating in military activities at the age of 17. In 1946, he was assigned to be in charge of the "Chá»Âng Xâm LÃÂng" newspaper of the Saigon Party Committee. In 1951, he worked as the editor-in-chief of the "Nhân dân Miá»Ân Nam" newspaper.
In 1976, he became a member of the Vietnam Writers Association.
ÃÂằng died from lung cancer at the age of 81 - on April 16, 2007, at Cho Ray Hospital.