Impressive moments in the parade at Dien Bien Phu

The ceremony opened with a themed art puzzle.The epic of Dien Bien Phuperformed by artists and soldiers of the Army Ceremonial Corps, with the highlight being the image of the "Dien Bien baby". The performance was inspired by the victory monument located in the D Hill relic cluster in the center of Dien Bien Phu City.

From 6:30 a.m. on May 7, Dien Bien Phu had heavy rain, thousands of people still stood in the rain, crowded the streets of Hoang Van Thai, Vo Nguyen Giap... to watch the parades and marches pass by.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh awarded the First Class Independence Medal to the Party Committee, government and people of all ethnic groups in Dien Bien province.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Prime Minister affirmed that the Dien Bien Phu victory "was a momentous event, an epic that urged movements to fight for national liberation, marking the collapse of old colonialism. This victory further illuminates the truth that imperialist wars of aggression are bound to fail, and national liberation revolutions are bound to succeed."

The Dien Bien Phu victory left many valuable lessons of profound theoretical and practical significance. These were to determine the correct resistance path, to conduct a people's war, an all-people war, to both resist and build the nation; to promote the spirit of patriotism and the determination to fight and win of the entire Party, people and army.

At 8:30 a.m., the rain stopped, three squadrons of 11 helicopters of the Air Defense - Air Force carrying the national flag and the Party flag took off, heading to Dien Bien province stadium.

Today's parade force consists of 4 honor guard blocks, 24 army blocks, militia and self-defense forces, and police. 9 parade blocks include veterans, youth volunteers, frontline laborers, workers, farmers, intellectuals, youth, women, the Northwest ethnic group block, and the art block. A total of 12,000 people recreated the spirit of the victory that "resounded throughout the five continents and shook the world" 70 years ago.

The frontline laborers entered the stage. In response to President Ho's call that "all Vietnamese must stand up to fight the French colonialists to save the Fatherland", 30,000 young men and women volunteered to become frontline laborers to participate in the Dien Bien Phu campaign to open roads, transport weapons, food, provisions, and wounded soldiers.

The Southern Female Guerrilla Block entered the stage. The image of the "Brave Ladies" wearing scarves and conical hats, sticking to the hamlets and villages, fighting the enemy anytime, anywhere, stretching and dispersing the enemy to many places, contributing with the army and people of the whole country to makeDien Bien shook the world.

After leaving Dien Bien Provincial Stadium, the 40 groups led by the National Emblem model car, followed by the art group, marched one kilometer along Hoang Van Thai Street. At the intersection of Hoang Van Thai - Vo Nguyen Giap, the military branches divided into three groups.

One group turned right onto Vo Nguyen Giap Street, passing the A1 Hill relics, 7/5 Square, and the Dien Bien Phu Victory Monument. One group went straight to Muong Thanh Bridge. The other group turned left and passed the Dien Bien Phu Historical Victory Museum.

In the photo is Lieutenant General Nguyen Trong Binh, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, commanding and leading the groups representing the People's Army and the Militia and Self-Defense Forces to salute the people on both sides of the road.

People and tourists took photos and videos to record the moment the parade passed by.

The female military band marched on Hoang Van Thai Street. This was the first time the female military band appeared in a parade. Some female soldiers had to carry musical instruments such as trumpets weighing 14-18 kg.

The Dien Bien Phu soldiers marched on the road, with the following divisions: 308 - Vanguard Army, 312 - Victory, 316 - Bong Lau, 304 - Vinh Quang, 351 Artillery Division and 367 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, contributing to the Dien Bien Phu Victory; the core to build the main Corps, Artillery, Engineering and Air Defense forces of our Army.

Police and military groups paraded on Vo Nguyen Giap Street amid cheers and flags from people on both sides of the street.

Elderly women and veterans attentively watch the female traffic police force marching on Vo Nguyen Giap Street.

Closing about 2 hours of parade at the end of Vo Nguyen Giap street, the female military band group joined the people in holding hands and dancing the flower dance.