(VOVworld) - Since early March, a number of activities to mark the 60^th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu victory have been launched. On March 1^st, the Battalion 11 of the Ministry of Defense launched an emulation movement “Continue in the Dien Bien soldiers’ steps” to mark the event. In Quang Binh, the home town of General Vo Nguyen Giap, the provincial Youth Union organized a seminar on emulating the General’s example.

To mark the occasion, the Union of Arts and Literature Associations also organized a ceremony in Hanoi on March 9 to launch a program “Art pilgrimage to Dien Bien Phu”. Under the program, more than 100 artists will travel and give performance along Highway 6, the bloodline to the former northwestern resistance. The 4-day program will tour Hoa Binh, Son La and Dien Bien provinces. Performances with traditional musical instruments, conical hats and xoe dances as well as songs in praise of President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap, the Dien Bien Phu campaign and Vietnamese soldiers and people will all feature. The program is expected to inspire other artists to compose more songs.

As part further of activities to mark the occasion, 50 public art troupes from across the country have started a mobile communication festival. The troupes will perform at different locations in the Central, Central Highlands and West-Northern regions and gather in Dien Bien Phu City on Sunday for the main celebration. The program includes trips to the A1 Cemetery, Independence Hill and other historic sites as well as performances at 8 spots in Dien Bien province.

The organizing board presented flowers and souvenir flags to representatives of the public art troupes (Photo: VNA)

At a press conference to publicize the 60^th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu victory, the head of the National Organization Committee emphasized the historic significance of the victory. He stressed the importance of highlighting Dien Bien province’s achievements, potential and prospects for integration.

Activities to mark the 60^th anniversary of the history victory are also underway overseas. In London, the Vietnamese Students’ Association at the London School of Economics and Political Science held a workshop on Dien Bien Phu and the Geneva Conference in 1954. Professor of History Matthew Jones, who has studied wars in Vietnam for several years, talked about Vietnam’s 9-year war of resistance against the French colonialists. He said the French had failed because the French government underestimated the strength and unity of the Vietnamese.