On the heroic land of Dien Bien Phu

Tonight (March 16), thousands of people from all over the country will gather at May 7 Square in Dien Bien Phu City, Dien Bien Province, to witness and feel the heroic people and land of Dien Bien Phu.
On the ground of the ancient battlefield, Dien Bien Phu today is changing every day. (Photo: THANH DAT)
On the ground of the ancient battlefield, Dien Bien Phu today is changing every day. (Photo: THANH DAT)

Passing through the many historical changes over the past 70 years, under the leadership of the Party, the authorities and people of Dien Bien Province have always been united and faithful in overcoming hardships to develop their homeland towards becoming more beautiful and prosperous. Today, on the ground of the old battlefield, Dien Bien still "embraces" tradition and heroic memories.

Since the end of February 2024, there have been many convoys carrying veterans to Dien Bien from various localities around the country, including Hai Phong, Hanoi, Hung Yen, Vinh Phuc, Thai Binh, and Thanh Hoa, with the desire to see Hills A1, D and E and the Campaign Command in Muong Phang Commune.

Before arriving at the places marking the heroic deeds of the Vietnamese army and people during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, each group of veterans went to A1, Him Lam, Doc Lap, and Tong Khao Martyrs' Cemetery to pay tribute to heroic fallen soldiers. Each veteran's heart is filled with emotions that are difficult to describe in words.

Passing through the many historical changes over the past 70 years, under the leadership of the Party, the authorities and people of Dien Bien Province have always been united and faithful in overcoming hardships to develop their homeland towards becoming more beautiful and prosperous.

Major General Luu Xuan Cai, Chairman of the Hai Phong Veterans Association, has returned to Dien Bien so many times that he cannot remember the details of each visit, but his feelings about the transformation of the historical land are very clear.

He said: “I follow information and images of Dien Bien in newspapers and mass media every day; however, returning to Dien Bien this time, I am truly surprised to see the changes with my own eyes.”

Dien Bien today has more modern traffic routes, more new construction projects, especially the upgrade and expansion of Dien Bien Airport bringing a new look, shape, and attraction to the land of ancient battlefields.

During their return to Dien Bien, in addition to visiting and encouraging some soldiers of the ancient Dien Bien Phu Campaign, each member of the Hai Phong Veterans’ Association delegation was also responsible for building programmes towards connecting and guiding grassroots veteran groups to Dien Bien in the near future. In every soldier's heart, the three words of "Dien Bien Phu" are very sacred.

As a member of the Hai Phong Veterans’ Association delegation to Dien Bien, veteran and businessman Pham Hong Diep has his own emotions.

He said: “With the admiration to the will of the officers and soldiers of Dien Bien and General Vo Nguyen Giap, the eldest brother of the Vietnam People's Army, I made a model of the Dien Bien Phu battle at Nam Cau Kien Industrial Park in Hai Phong”.

Hai Phong’s veterans are moved by their visit to Dien Bien Phuc Victory Museum.

Hai Phong’s veterans are moved by their visit to Dien Bien Phuc Victory Museum.

This veteran has also built a memorial garden and house dedicated to General Vo Nguyen Giap on the campus of Nam Cau Kien Industrial Park, with the hope that the workers in the industrial park, as well as the young generation of Hai Phong in general, will learn more about the Dien Bien Phu battle and the example of General Vo Nguyen Giap, the legendary general of the Vietnamese people.

In the early days of March, the Vietnam Women's Union (VWU) Central Committee and the Border Guard Command jointly held a series of activities of showing gratitude to the land and people of Dien Bien.

In addition to respectfully offering incense on each grave at martyrs' cemeteries in the heart of Dien Bien Phu City, hundreds of members and women officials at all levels from 63 provinces and cities nationwide also gave gifts to policy beneficiary families and poor students in Dien Bien Province.

Visiting Dien Bien on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory, Chairwoman of the VWU Central Committee Ha Thi Nga noted that all female officers and union’s members are deeply aware of their responsibilities and duties in the cause of national construction and defence.

Giving sincere thanks to people from across the country for their heartfelt sentiments to Dien Bien, Chairman of Dien Bien Provincial People’s Committee Le Thanh Do said that the Party Committee, government, and people of Dien Bien Province have made their best efforts and determination to fulfil the goals and tasks set by the 14th Provincial Party Congress for the 2020-2025 tenure, including the cross-cutting goals of political stability, maintenance of security and order, protection of the integrity of borders and boundary markers, implementation of socio-economic development projects, and improvement of the local people’s material and spiritual lives.

In preparation for the 70th anniversary of the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 2024), Dien Bien has been determined to gather all resources to carry out two programmes of “Home of gratitude” and “Bringing electricity to the highlands”, aiming to pay tribute to policy beneficiary families and poor people in the mountainous area so that they can live in solid houses and access to electricity to make life less difficult.

Thanks to the special attention from the Party, Government, ministries, agencies, and people nationwide, Dien Bien completed the renovation and repair of 5,000 houses for poor household and policy beneficiaries in 2023. The “Bringing electricity to the highlands” programme has also received support from many agencies at all levels. As a result, thousands of additional families of Thai, H’Mong, Kho Mu, etc., in the districts of Nam Po, Muong Nhe, Dien Bien Dong, Tuan Giao, and Tua Chua are now able to use electricity from the national grid.

Dien Bien Dong District alone received the donation of 50 billion VND from Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee for the investment in power projects and the district will complete the target of brining electricity to all villages in the near future.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued a letter calling on ministries, departments, agencies, Party committees and authorities of all localities, associations, businesses, investors, and people from all walks of life nationwide to unite and join hands to care for, support, and help Dien Bien with specific and practical actions, thus contributing to the further development of the northern mountainous province.