Dien Bien Phu - Going through historical days

Part 5: Vietnam's strength in the Ho Chi Minh era

70 years ago, after 56 days and nights of heroic fighting, our army and people completely destroyed the Dien Bien Phu stronghold group, successfully implementing President Ho Chi Minh's instructions: "This battle is very important. It's important, so we have to win. If we're sure to win, then you have to fight. If we're not sure of winning, don't fight". The Dien Bien Phu victory is one of the brilliant milestones in our nation's history of fighting foreign invaders, becoming a symbol of the strength of the Vietnamese people in the Ho Chi Minh era.

Heroic nation

These days, on the battlefield of Dien Bien Phu in the past, Dien Bien soldiers, young volunteers, frontline workers... gathered to review unforgettable memories. "The historic night of Dien Bien shines brightly/ In the country, like a medal on the chest/ Our people are heroic people"! 70 years have passed, but the meaning and historical lessons of the Dien Bien Phu victory are still a strong driving force, empowering the entire Party, people and the entire army to promote revolutionary heroism in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

Veterans, young volunteers and frontline workers take souvenir photos at the Dien Bien Phu Victory Monument

Returning to Dien Bien Phu in order to relive the country's epic, to never forget examples like heroes To Vinh Dien, Be Van Dan, Phan Dinh Giot, Tran Can... along with thousands of soldiers and companions who were resilient and courageous, not being afraid of sacrifice or hardship, with the spirit of "determination to fight, determination to win", "determination to die for the birth of the country". And, how could we forget the image of our people from rural to urban areas, from mountainous areas to lowland areas, from islands to mainland, old, young, girls and boys all listening to the call of the Party and President Ho. Chi Minh. It was also the image of soldiers with  backpacking bicycles, climbing passes to transport food and weapons to the front lines until the day of victory...

Dien Bien soldier Bui Kim Dieu (born in 1930, currently living in Dien Bien province), talked about his emotional memories: "After General Vo Nguyen Giap's signal, 40 75mm-120mm caliber guns simultaneously opened fire on French positions in the Him Lam base. Our troops launched the opening battle of the Dien Bien Phu campaign with unexpected success. After that, the unit continued surrounding, capturing Doc Lap Hill and was destroyed by bombs and bullets, causing the loss of communication. In order to promptly deliver the urgent dispatch to the battalions, we had to weave through the trenches in the fog of artillery fire. Two comrades were injured, leaving me alone. At that time, my only thought was to quickly deliver the urgent dispatch at all costs and I successfully completed the task...".

Vietnamese bravery and intelligence

At the national scientific conference commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory taking place in mid-April in Dien Bien province, many extremely touching-but-proud stories of Dien Bien soldiers spoke of their spirit of "determination to fight, determination to win", with everything for the front line, everything for the Fatherland. Many presentations, summaries, assessments and experience drawn from experts have also affirmed: "The Dien Bien Phu victory is the pinnacle victory with the correct political and military policies of the Party and Uncle Ho; the unique military thinking, strategy and decisiveness of General Vo Nguyen Giap and other army generals; close coordination of battlefields; the ingenuity and courage of the soldiers on the front and the support of all classes of Vietnamese people.

General Luong Cuong, Member of the Politburo, Member of the Central Military Standing Commission, Chairman of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army emphasized: "The Dien Bien Phu victory is one of the brilliant milestones in the nation's history of fighting foreign invaders, becoming a symbol of the strength of the Vietnamese people in the Ho Chi Minh era, leaving extremely valuable lessons for the Vietnamese revolution. The 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory is an opportunity for the entire Party, people and army to review the tradition of resilient and indomitable struggle of generations of ancestors, to remember the compatriots and comrades who fought and heroically sacrificed their lives in the resistance war against the French colonialists while contributing to fostering the spirit of patriotism, pride, national self-respect, will for independence, self-reliance and desire for peace...".

According to Nguyen Trong Nghia, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Commission for Propaganda and Education, 70 years have passed, but the great stature and historical significance of the Dien Bien Phu victory still remains intact, which is considered as a great resource of encouragement for all our people in the current cause of building and protecting the Fatherland. Especially, the spirit of solidarity, self-reliance and determination to fight, determination to win and historical lessons from the Dien Bien Phu victory remain intact, forever giving strength to our nation to move forward on the path of building and protecting the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam, for the goal of wealthy people, a strong country and a fair, democratic and civilized society.

Reported by a group of correspondents-Translated by Kim Tin

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