**Lê Văn Viễn**
**Definition:**
Lê Văn Viễn (1904–1972) was a prominent Vietnamese military leader and influential figure in the mid-20th century, known for his role in the Bình Xuyên, an independent military and criminal organization in Vietnam.
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**Lê Văn Viễn**
Lê Văn Viễn was born in 1904 in southern Vietnam and became a significant military and political figure during the turbulent period of French colonial rule and the subsequent conflicts in Vietnam. He rose to prominence as the leader of the Bình Xuyên, a powerful paramilitary group that operated both as a criminal syndicate and a quasi-independent army. Under his leadership, the Bình Xuyên controlled parts of Saigon and engaged in various activities, including protection rackets and smuggling.
Viễn initially collaborated with the French colonial authorities, leveraging his influence to maintain control over his territories. However, his relationship with the Vietnamese government was complex, as the Bình Xuyên often clashed with other nationalist and communist forces. After the defeat of the Bình Xuyên in 1955 by the Vietnamese National Army, Viễn fled to France, where he lived until his death in 1972.
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**Meta Description:**
Lê Văn Viễn was a Vietnamese military leader and head of the Bình Xuyên, known for his role in mid-20th century Vietnam as both a paramilitary commander and criminal figure.