(VOVWORLD) - Throughout Vietnam’s history of national construction and defense, the great Dien Ben Phu victory of May 7, 1954 marked a brilliant climax, a glorious miracle of the Ho Chi Minh era. This great victory was a decisive blow and an historical turning point that completely changed the endless war situation. The victory directly led to the signing of the Geneva Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina. This one victory created conditions and will power for the Vietnamese people to win the war of resistance against the US, liberate the South, and finally reunify the country.
 Dien Bien Phu Victory – a golden milestone in Vietnam’s long history |
After 70 years, the Dien Bien Phu battlefield, now Dien Bien Province, has become a land of peace, friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and its former adversary France.
Dien Bien Phu Victory – a golden milestone in Vietnam’s long history
These days, war veterans, visitors, young people and foreigners, including the French, are flocking to Dien Bien province, 455 kilometers from Hanoi, to learn more about the battle of Dien Bien Phu and the ways that the Vietnamese army and people brought about such a victory. What they see and hear helps them better understand the great significance and value of the Dien Bien Phu victory.
A visitor to the province said: “In the context of the imbalance of forces between Vietnam and France, President Ho Chi Minh was determined to fight and encouraged the whole nation to fight with the spirit “We would rather sacrifice everything than lose our country, than become slavery.”
“By changing the tactics from “quick fight, quick victory” to “steady fight and advance”, we were confident to launch an attack on the enemy’s stronghold which was considered the strongest in Indochina at that time.” said another visitor.
 These days, a growing number of visitors have visited Dien Bien province |
The Dien Bien Phu victory played the vital role in successfully ending Vietnam’s struggle against the French colonialists, marking the collapse of colonialism, and paving the way for the forward development of national liberation revolutions throughout the world.
“The Dien Bien Phu victory is vivid evidence that even an oppressed nation or a smaller but united nation, brought into play their combined strength under the leadership of a righteous Party, can win. This is the greatest value of the victory,” said a visitor.
Another visitor said: “The Dien Bien Phu victory resounded over all the continents, shaking the globe. For the very first time, a small nation defeated a strong colonial country. Such an event had never been reported in human history. “Vietnam,”, “Ho Chi Minh”, “Dien Bien Phu”, and “General Vo Nguyen Giap” became slogans, faith, ideology and motivation for other oppressed nations in the world.”
Embracing the stature of the times, the Dien Bien Phu victory is of great significance, attributable to several factors including the wise leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh. The Dien Bien Phu victory promoted national pride, inspiring the whole Party, army and people to win victory after victory during the cause of national construction and defense.
Bui Viet Trung of the Party History Faculty of the Binh Phuoc provincial School of Politics said: “At that time, we completed the people’s democratic revolution in the north, firmly defended the fruits of the August Revolution, and established the first people’s democratic state in Southeast Asia. With the Dien Bien Phu victory, northern Vietnam was completely liberated and the democratic national revolution was completed.”
The vitality of the Dien Bien Phu victory will be forever the pride and the source of Vietnam’s internal strength to successfully implement national construction and defense.