(VOVworld) – Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum is one of the many relic sites in Dien Bien province. The museum keeps many valuable documents and objects related to the historic Dien Bien Phu campaign.
Established in 1984, this history-society museum displays 270 objects and more than 200 paintings and photos of great historical value. The exhibits are categorized into 5 sections: Dien Bien Phu’s strategic position, the enemy garrison at Dien Bien Phu, the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam in the Dien Bien Phu campaign, the effect of the Dien Bien Phu victory, and Dien Bien Phu today.
The museum has been receiving many delegations of visitors ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory. Huge outdoor exhibits such as artillery guns, cannons, tanks, and machine guns impress visitors when they enter the museum.
The reception room features 2 statues of President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap in January, 1954 just before the launch of the campaign. The statues plus the narration of the tourist guide bring visitors back to that historic moment 60 years ago.
Next to the reception room is an area displaying photos and objects related to the Dien Bien Phu campaign. Rodney and his wife from the UK are observing the black and white photos without a tourist guide. Rodney explains to his wife the events captured in the photos with what he had read: “We arrived yesterday and today we’ve started here at the museum. We’re particularly interested in the photographs and because we’re from Europe we are interested in the translations giving the explanations of all the various displays.”
The museum has a big sand table detailing the positions of both Vietnamese and French forces during the Dien Bien Phu campaign. There is also a large screen featuring documentaries to help visitors understand more about the events related to the exhibits.
There is a corner that showcases the belongings of French soldiers. Didial, a French tourist is emotional to see the simple bicycles loaded with goods heading to the battlefield and the heavy weaponry used by French forces during the campaign. Didial says he admires the bravery and staunchness of the Vietnamese soldiers: “We’ve learned a lot about the Vietnamese people’s struggle for national independence through the exhibits. We watched a film in praise of the soldiers’ sacrifices. Here we can see with our own eyes what we have read and seen in movies in France 60 years ago. I’m very moved.”
Among the visitors are many war veterans. Tran Thi Xuan is one of them: “I also joined the army so I’m moved to remember the days we fought on the battlefield. Although I was not involved in the Dien Bien Phu campaign, I’m proud of the soldiers who created the resounding Dien Bien Phu victory.”
On this occasion, the museum has received hundreds of valuable objects donated by war veterans of the Dien Bien Phu campaign and researchers at home and abroad.