A ceremony and parade marking the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory, a victory for the Vietnamese people and army in their nine-year resistance war against French colonialists and leading to the Geneva Accords returning peace to Indochina, took place on May 7, 2024 in Dien Bien province.

The ceremony was a critically important political event designed to promote the country’s patriotic and revolutionary traditions.

The event was participated by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Acting State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Permanent member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat and chairwoman of its Organization Commission Truong Thi Mai, National Assembly Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien, along with former government officials.

International guests included Lao Deputy PM and Minister of National Defense Chansamone Chanyalath, Cambodian Deputy PM Neth Savoeun, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Zhang Qingwei, French Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu, delegates of foreign representative bodies in Vietnam, defense attaches of other countries and representatives of overseas Vietnamese.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong sent his regards and flowers to the event.

PM Chinh, on behalf of the Party and State, expressed endless gratitude to late President Ho Chi Minh and late General Vo Nguyen Giap - the commander-in-chief of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, as well as soldiers, Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, the heroes of the people's armed forces, revived youths, frontline workers, war invalids, martyrs' families, along with the entire armed forces and people nationally for their utmost dedications, bravery and sacrifice for the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory that “resounded across the five continents and shakes the globe.”

He also appreciated the precious and wholehearted assistance from China, the countries of the former Soviet Union, Socialist nations, international friends, progressive and peace advocacy forces worldwide, especially Laos and Cambodia, in the combatant alliance of the three Indochinese countries, for the Dien Bien Phu Campaign and the Vietnamese people's fight for national liberation.

Looking back on the resistance war full of hardships but also bravery and unyieldingness against the French colonialists, he said the Dien Bien Phu Campaign secured a resounding triumph, beating colonial France’s final effort in its invasion of Vietnam.

The PM described this triumph as the peak victory of the resistance war and the essence of Vietnam's strength under the leadership of late President Ho Chi Minh, noting that it forced the French colonialists to sign the Geneva Accords on the cessation of hostilities in Vietnam on July 21, 1954.

This accomplishment also paved the way for the liberation and construction of Vietnam's northern region to enter a transitional period towards socialism and form a solid foundation for the fight to liberate the southern region and reunify the country two decades later.

The historic victory was not only significant to the Vietnamese revolution but also became a source of support for national liberation movements and marked the beginning of the collapse of colonialism around the world, he remarked.

Upholding the spirit of the Dien Bien Phu victory, Vietnam has obtained numerous successes and glorious feats of arms such as the “Dien Bien Phu in the air” victory in 1972 and the great victory in the spring of 1975.

After its reunification, the country concurrently made socio-economic reconstruction, fought to defend its borders and fulfill the noble international mission of helping the Cambodian people topple and get rid of the genocidal regime.

PM Chinh added that after nearly 40 years of Doi Moi (reforms) and integration into the world under the Party's leadership, Vietnam has made considerable and historic achievements and “has never witnessed such a fortune, strength, stature and reputation in the world as it has today”, in the words of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

From a poor, war-torn country coming out of World War II, Vietnam has become a middle-income developing country with a GDP per capita of US$4,300 in 2023, or 58-fold the figure at the beginning of Doi Moi.

From a country that suffers from embargoes, Vietnam is now also among the 40 largest economies in the world and the top 20 economies with the largest trade scale globally.

In addition to being a model of reconciliation after the war, Vietnam now has diplomatic relations with 193 countries and is expanding trade and economic partnerships with 230 countries and territories.

The country is also recognized by the United Nations as one of the pioneers in carrying out the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as well as its efforts for the Sustainable Development Goals.

The government leader voiced his belief that the country will continue strongly promoting the spirit of 'being determined to fight and to win' of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, surmount difficulties and challenges, and exert all efforts to make new 'Dien Bien Phu miracles' in the building and preservationing of the socialist fatherland.

Veteran Pham Duc Cu, who represented Dien Bien soldiers and the forces that contributed to the Dien Bien Phu Campaign at the ceremony, said he was proud to contribute to the victory, the development of Dien Bien as well as the country as a whole.

He hoped that future generations share this pride, always remember and continue the nation's glorious history to create new achievements in building and protect their socialist homeland.

On behalf of Party and State leaders, PM Chinh presented the first-class Independence Order to the Party organization, administration and people of Dien Bien Province in recognition of their remarkable attainments and contributions to the Party and the nation’s revolutionary cause.

Following the ceremony, a military parade and a procession of civil forces gathering over 12,000 people took place to celebrate the anniversary.

Earlier the same day, a delegation of the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly, the State President, the Government, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee led by PM Chinh offered incense and flowers at the temple dedicated to the fallen soldiers on the Dien Bien Phu battlefield.

Party General Secretary Trong also sent a wreath in commemoration of the martyrs.

Photo: Hoang Ha - Pham Hai - Thach Thao - Chi Hieu - Trong Tung

VNN/VNS