Vietnam and France are increasingly embracing their shared historical memories, transforming a wartime past into a foundation for cooperation, dialogue and the promotion of peace. VietNamNet spoke with Vu Thi Tuyet Nga, Director of the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum, about one of the most notable examples of this collaboration.

In recent years, how have visitor numbers at the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum changed?

Visitor numbers have grown steadily in recent years, particularly during major national holidays and political and cultural events held by both the country and Dien Bien Province. In 2024, marking the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory and Vietnam's National Tourism Year hosted by Dien Bien, the museum welcomed more than 500,000 visitors. This is an encouraging sign that confirms the museum's growing appeal as one of the province's leading cultural and historical destinations.

Our visitors are highly diverse, including schoolchildren, university students, youth organizations, war veterans, government officials, members of the armed forces, and domestic and international tourists. Students and tourists account for the largest share, while groups of veterans and historical witnesses typically visit during anniversaries and major commemorative events.

Unlike many museums, in addition to displaying historical documents and artifacts, we are entrusted with preserving an unprecedented historical artwork. The panoramic painting is the largest of its kind in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, and one of only three giant circular panoramic paintings in the world. We are proud to manage, preserve and showcase such a unique cultural asset.

Before the panoramic painting opened, the museum attracted only around 50,000 to 100,000 visitors annually. Since its installation, visitor numbers have doubled and even tripled, averaging between 150,000 and 200,000 visitors each year. During major anniversary years, attendance reaches as high as 500,000.

Vietnamese visitors often express deep pride in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign and the courage of previous generations. International visitors are frequently surprised to discover such an extraordinary cultural work in Dien Bien. They highly appreciate both the creativity of the artists and the exhibition's artistic presentation.

The museum considers young people its primary audience. We are gradually renewing our exhibitions, expanding heritage education activities, offering more interactive experiences and applying digital technologies to make history more engaging and accessible.

Among the recommendations from the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy in Caen, France, which ideas about engaging young audiences impressed you the most?

The cooperation between the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy in Caen and the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum is part of a partnership launched during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Vietnam in May 2025. The agreement focuses on support from experts representing one of the world's leading and most modern museums.

French historians and museum specialists have visited Vietnam on multiple occasions to conduct research and provide professional support to Dien Bien Province in general and the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum in particular.

Their expertise has broadened our perspective and created opportunities for our museum staff to study and adapt their recommendations in ways that best suit local conditions. What impressed me most was their philosophy of placing visitors at the center, especially by studying the interests, needs and learning styles of young audiences in order to design suitable programs.

This experience is extremely valuable as we continue modernizing the museum and expanding our audience.

I was particularly impressed by their proposals to reorganize exhibition layouts in a more scientific and visitor-friendly manner while enriching the content of thematic displays. These suggestions not only enhance the appeal of the exhibition space but also help communicate the historical significance of the Dien Bien Phu Victory more effectively.

Our exchanges with international experts have provided more than practical professional knowledge. They have also reshaped our understanding of the role museums should play in modern society. Museums should not only preserve and present heritage but also actively create educational, cultural and community values.

The experience of the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy demonstrates that a successful museum does more than preserve history. It also creates meaningful emotional connections and memorable experiences for its visitors.

Following your collaboration with French experts, how do you see the role of the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum in reaching today's younger generation?

We fully recognize the museum's role in education, experiential learning and inspiring young people. This is also the direction we are gradually pursuing to bring history closer to younger generations through more engaging and accessible approaches.

One of our greatest challenges is narrowing the gap between a historical event that took place more than 70 years ago and a generation that consumes information in very different ways. While historical accuracy must always be maintained, museums also need to innovate in how stories are presented by increasing interaction and creating immersive experiences that make history easier to understand.

We hope that every student who visits the museum leaves with a deeper understanding of the significance of the Dien Bien Phu Victory and, in turn, develops a stronger sense of responsibility toward learning, self-improvement and contributing to the country's future development.

Our museum will not become a rigid historical attraction. Instead, it aims to be a place where young people and international visitors alike can explore the Dien Bien Phu Victory and understand the heritage values that support peace.

We believe digital transformation and improving visitor experiences are inevitable trends. Based on recommendations from the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy, we will carefully evaluate and gradually adopt ideas that fit our practical conditions. The French experts have also encouraged our staff to visit and study the exhibition spaces at the museum in Caen firsthand.

In the near future, we will continue selecting appropriate initiatives for practical implementation, focusing on renewing exhibitions, improving visitor services and expanding heritage education programs.

Over the longer term, we aim to develop the museum into a modern institution with greater interactivity, a visitor-centered approach and broader international cooperation.

We hope these innovations will enable visitors to experience history in ways that are more vivid, engaging and easier to understand.

Tran Thuong