Dien Bien Phu victory – a turning point

On seeing the famous landscape dotted with relics from the victory at Dien Bien Phu with their own eyes, the current generation gain a better understanding about the glorious past of the older generation.

In early May, many people from across the country visited Dien Bien Phu to look at the historic items left over from the Dien Bien Phu victory.

Dao Thi Quy from Hanoi says that she admired older generation’s spirit suffering from severe hardships but still defeating the French colonialists. “We will never forget their sacrifices and always tell our children to study and follow their examples,” she adds.

“I know about the Dien Bien Phu victory from reading books and newspapers. Today, I see with my own eyes items from the war and many historic sites, such as the Muong Phang relics – which was the army’s headquarters during the Dien Bien Phu campaign, as well as Hill A1, C1, C2, D1, Hong Cum fortification, Him Lam, Doc Lap , Muong Thanh Bridge and Airport and De Castries’ trench,” says Tran Ngoc Phuong, a student from the National Economics University. The items on display help us to understand more about the Vietnamese army’s bravery during the 55 days and nights of fighting.

One of the most popular destinations is the Dien Bien Phu museum. Its vice director Duong Thi Than says the items look simple but are of great significance as part of the glorious victory.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has drawn up plans to protect and maintain the historic items at Dien Bien. Its vice director Nguyen Dang Quang says the restoration also needs eye witness accounts from those who took part in the Dien Bien Phu battle. Restored sites, such as General Vo Nguyen Giap’s trench in Muong Phang or Hill A1 with its barbed wires and tunnels have helped visitors get a better understanding of the past struggle.

To attract more visitors to Dien Bien, we need to make Dien Bien more prosperous so it will become the destination of every Vietnamese at this time of year.