DIEN BIEN PHU VICTORY “RESONATING THROUGHOUT FIVE CONTINENTS AND WORLD-SHAKING

On December 6, 1953, the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, led by President Ho Chi Minh, decided to launch the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. The decision is of great historical significance, demonstrating the Party’s correct and wise strategic vision.

After 56 days and nights of heroic and resilient fighting, the Vietnamese soldiers and people smashed the Dien Bien Phu stronghold on May 7, 1954, creating a historical turning point that led to a great change in the situation on the battlefield. The victory forced the French government to sign the Geneva Accord on ending the war and restore the peace in Indochina, successfully finishing the nine-year enduring and arduous resistance struggle of the Vietnamese nation against the French colonial empire.

The Dien Bien Phu victory, which "resounded throughout five continents and shattered the world", is a glorious and epoch-making milestone in Vietnamese history, contributing to the national liberation movement and signaling the collapse of old-style colonialism on a global scale.

President Ho Chi Minh and the Party Central Committee's Standing Committee meet to decide the launching of the 1953-1954 Winter-Spring Strategic Offensive and the Dien Bien Phu Campaign with a determination to destroy the Dien Bien Phu fortress cluster of the French army. Photo: VNA archives
President Ho Chi Minh directly assigns General Vo Nguyen Giap to the task of drawing out a battle plan and starting the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Photo: VNA archives
21,000 pack-bikes, along with 261,500 civilian workers and a variety of other vehicles, boats, mules, and horses, work tirelessly to transport food, weapons, and ammunition to the Dien Bien Phu front. Photo: VNA archives
The Vietnamese troops navigate through mountains, streams, and rivers to advance into the Northwest to take part in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Photo: VNA archives
The Vietnamese soldiers haul heavy artillery over mountains and forests to the Dien Bien Phu battlefield. Photo: VNA archives
For the first time, artillery forces are mobilized at the highest level for the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Photo: VNA archives
President Ho Chi Minh visits and talks with the Vietnamese soldiers participating in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Photo: VNA archives
General Vo Nguyen Giap has the latest observation of the battlefield before giving an order to open fire to start the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Photo: VNA archives
The captain of the main attack company of the 312th Brigade receives the Quyet Chien Quyet Thang flag (the national flag with the inscription “Quyet Chien Quyet Thang” – “Determination to Fight, Determination to Win”) before the battle at the Him Lam (Beatrice) base that opens the Dien Bien Phu campaign on March 13, 1954. Photo: VNA archives
On the afternoon of March 13, 1954, the Vietnamese army open fire to attack the Him Lam base, starting the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, and by 23:30 the same day, they crush one of the strongest fortress of the cluster. Photo: VNA archives
The Vietnamese assault force follow the trenches to approach and smash up enemy positions on Him Lam (Beatrice) Hill on March 13, 1954. Photo: VNA archives
The Vietnamese assault force take the advantage of the terrain to advance close to the enemy positions on Him Lam Hill and knock down the fortress right on March 13, 1954 - the opening day of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Photo: VNA archives
Military medical forces are available at the battlefield to promptly cure injured cases. Photo: VNA archives
The Vietnamese soldiers raise high the Quyet Chien Quyet Thang flag (the national flag with the inscription “Quyet Chien Quyet Thang” – “Determination to Fight, Determination to Win”) on the top of Doc Lap (Gabrielle) Hill after completely crushing this fortress on March 14, 1954 in the first phase of the campaign. Photo: VNA archives
The Vietnamese artillery troop fiercely fire to hit enemy aircrafts at Dien Bien Phu battlefield. Photo: VNA archives
The Vietnamese soldiers have a break after a fighting. Photo: VNA archives
The assault force cut the barbed wire to launch an attack on enemy bases in Hill C in the second phase of the campaign, lasting from March 30 to April 30, 1954. Photo: VNA archives
The second phase of the campaign is the longest, fiercest and the most intense fight between the Vietnamese and the French armies. The two sides contend for every inch of land, every meter of trench. Photo: VNA archives
The Vietnamese soldiers hiding in the trenches use riffles to snip the enemies, crushing their counterattacks. Photo: VNA archives
Vietnamese soldiers capture the enemy's tank and take French soldiers prisoner. Photo: VNA archives
French soldiers surrender at base 206 - the final base protecting Muong Thanh airfield on April 22, 1954. Photo: VNA archives
Vietnamese soldiers attack and seize control of Muong Thanh airfield on April 22, 1954, disrupting enemy’s supply to the Dien Bien Phu fortress cluster. Photo: VNA archive
Hero Nguyen Quoc Tri (right) and other Vietnamese soldiers open fire to attack Muong Thanh airfield on the morning of April 22, 1954. Photo: VNA archives
Under the strategy “steady attack, steady advance”, Vietnamese soldiers siege Dien Bien Phu fortress cluster from outside in, slowly destroying individual bases and the entire cluster. Photo: VNA archives
On May 6, 1954, the sound of an one-tonne bomb going off on A1 Hill is the signal for the beginning of the third wave of attack of the Vietnamese army on Dien Bien Phu fortress cluster. Photo: VNA archives
Vietnamese army attack enemy soldiers on A1 Hill after an one-tonne bomb goes off, obliterating the bunker and most of the enemy's No. 2 parachute battalion entrenched on the hill. Photo: VNA archives
At 5:00pm on May 7, 1954, Vietnamese soldiers March 7, 1954 on Muong Thanh bridge, attacking directly on the command tunnel of Dien Bien Phu fortress cluster. Photo: VNA archives
At 5:30pm on May 7, 1954, the “Determined to fight, determined to win” flag of the Vietnamese army is raised on top of the command tunnel of French General De Castries. Photo: VNA archives
French General De Castries and military advisors of Dien Bien Phu fortress cluster surrender. Photo: VNA archives
French soldiers in Dien Bien Phu line up to surrender. Photo: VNA archives
French prisoners in Dien Bien Phu are escorted by Vietnamese soldiers. Photo: VNA archives
President Ho Chi Minh awards the medal “Soldier of Dien Bien Phu” to soldiers who accomplished great feats during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Photo: VNA archives

DIEN BIEN ASPIRATION

Nowadays, Dien Bien province has been developing and innovating, becoming an attractive tourist destination and a historical destination to educate young generations about revolutionary tradition. The province develops heritage and cultural tourism in a modern, professional manner as a spearheaded economic sector, creating momentum to turn Dien Bien into an attractive tourist destination of the northwestern region and Viet Nam.

General Vo Nguyen Giap meets soldiers who fought on the Dien Bien Phu ground 50 years ago on his visit to Dien Bien province in 2004. Photo: Tung Lam – VNA
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong meets former soldiers of Dien Bien Phu Campaign at a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 - May 7, 2014). Photo: Tri Dung – VNA
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets students from the Boarding High School for Ethnic Minority of Dien Bien province on April 8, 2023. Photo: Duong Giang – VNA
Dien Bien airport marks a special milestone as it welcomes the large and modern Airbus A321 aircraft for the first time on December 1, 2023. Photo: Trung Kien – VNA
Thanh Binh bridge (Dien Bien Phu city) crossing over the Nam Rom river officially openes to traffic on November 1, 2023 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory. Photo: Trung Kiên – VNA
A village of the Kho Mu ethnic people on the mountains of Dien Bien province. Photo: Phan Tuan Anh – VNA
A Shan Tuyet tea tree - Dien Bien province’s specialty, mainly grown in the province’s Tua Chua district. Photo: Phan Tuan Anh – VNA
Border officers and soldiers of Muong Muon Border Guard Station in Muong Cha district help locals harvest rice. Photo by courtesy/VNA
The border patrol team of A Pa Chai Border Guard Station performs a salutation at Milestone No. 0 - Viet Nam’s westernmost point which marks the junction of the Viet Nam - Laos - China border. Photo: Minh Duc – VNA
Tay Trang International Border Gate Border Guard Station strengthens its control of the area, mobilises people in Na U commune to quit drug addiction and eliminate drug abuse, ensuring security and order in villages. Photo: Tran Viet – VNA
An island of cherry blossom (Japanese sakura) in the middle of Pa Khoang reservoir, possessing clean air and diverse vegetation, a potential tourist destination in Dien Bien province. Photo: Xuan Tu - VNA
Ban (Bauhinia) flowers bloom in mountainous villages in Dien Bien province. Photo: Xuan Tu – VNA
Paragliding performance to welcome 2024 year on Nam Na river, Muong Lay town. Photo: Trung Kien – VNA
Muong Pon border commune, Dien Bien district at the moment. The land keeps hallmarks of the resilient spirit of the Vietnamese army during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Photo: Xuan Tu – VNA
Muong Thanh field is famous in the historical Dien Bien Phu Campaign. It now plays a significant economic role, turning out famous delicious rice varieties. Photo: Phan Tuan Anh – VNA
A1 Hill historical relic in Dien Bien Phu battlefield is located in the heart of Dien Bien Phu city. Photo: Xuan Tu – VNA
Dien Bien Phu Victory Monument is located in the city’s center. Photo: Xuan Tu – VNA
Him Lam - the place where the Dien Bien Phu Campaign began - is seen changes, prosperes and keeps pace with the resilience of a young city. Photo: Xuan Tien – VNA
Doc Lap (Independence) Martyrs Cemetery is located in Dien Bien district, opposite the Doc Lap Hill. Photo: Xuan Tu – VNA
A ceremony is held at Doc Lap (Independence) Martyrs Cemetery in Dien Bien district to rebury remains of Vietnamese soldiers who laid down their lives in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Photo: Xuan Tu: VNA
Members of the Ho Chi Minh Vanguard Children's Union care for graves of Vietnamese soldiers who laid down their lives at the Dien Bien Phu battlefield. Photo: Xuan Tu – VNA
During the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, Pha Din Pass is an important traffic artery for supplying weapons, ammunition and food for the campaign. Photo: Huy Hung-TTXVN
A1 Hill Historical Relic Site within the Special National Relic Complex of Dien Bien Phu Battlefield. Photo: Xuan Tu – VNA
Dien Bien Phu Historical Victory Museum is in the centre of Dien Bien Phu city. Photo: Xuan Tu – VNA
Tourists visit the Muong Phang relic site, the headquarters of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Photo: Phan Tuan Anh – VNA
Tourists visit relic site of the headquarters of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Photo: Phan Tuan Anh – VNA
Young generations learn about the history at the Muong Phang Victory Monument in the Muong Phang relic site in Dien Bien Phu city. Photo: Quy Trung – VNA
Tourists visit the A1 Hill Historical Site. Photo: Quy Trung – VNA
Tourists visit the panorama painting at the Dien Bien Phu Historical Victory Museum. Photo: Xuan Tu – VNA
Students at Boarding High School for Ethnic Minority of Dien Bien province learn Thai language through the website "Hochuthai.com" on tablets. Photo: Phan Tuan Anh – VNA
Digital transformation helps ethnic minorities in Dien Bien province improve their ability to apply information technology in promoting of traditional cultural tradition and developing economy. Photo: Xuan Tien – VNA
A performance of the Xoe dance in the Thai ethnic people’s cultural space at the Ban Flower Festival on March 16, 2024 within the National Tourism Year – Dien Bien. Photo: Trung Kien –VNA
Girls of the Ha Nhi ethnic people in Muong Nhe district. Photo: Trung Kien – VNA
The Water Festival (Bun Huot Nam) of the Lao ethnic people in Na Sang 1 village, Nua Ngam commune, Dien Bien district is recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. Photo: Van Dung – VNA
Gau Tao Festival, a traditional culture of the Mong ethnic community in the border area of Na Bung, Nam Po district. Photo: Xuan Tien – VNA
Girls of the Ha Nhi ethnic minority group in Muong Nhe district play a folk games of their community. Photo: Trung Kien – VNA
Artisan Ly A Lenh in Chan 2 village, Muong Dang commune, Muong Ang district is one of the few persons in Dien Bien province making flutes of the Mong ethnic people. Photo: Phan Tuan Anh – VNA
Dien Bien takes off. Photo: Huy Hung – VNA