Re-enacting the legendary Dien Bien Phu bicycle troop

In the victory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign (1954), logistics played an extremely important role. Because before the campaign, the French colonialists believed that our army and people would not be able to overcome the problem of logistics supply for such a large campaign, far from the rear.

Dien Bien Phu was very far from the rear. With a transport route of hundreds of kilometers, on a vast and rugged mountainous terrain, damaged motor transport routes and no waterways, erratic weather, and rudimentary means of transport. Vietnamese history has proven that in the most dire circumstances, the bravery, intelligence, and strength of the Vietnamese people are more strongly promoted than ever.

The bicycle-packing force became a unique "army" in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign and has become legendary.

The bicycle is a flexible vehicle that can overcome many disadvantages of other vehicles. It is compact and more mobile than a car, so it can move on any mountainous terrain, even the most difficult, without having to refuel, easily camouflaged, and can go in all weather conditions. Using a bicycle for transportation is also much more productive than carrying it on foot.

Responding to Uncle Ho's call: "As long as we are Vietnamese, we must stand up to fight the French colonialists to save the Fatherland", 30 thousand young men and women volunteered to become frontline laborers to participate in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign with the determination "Though bombs and bullets shatter bones and flesh/ Do not lose heart, do not regret your youth..." to open roads, transport weapons, food, provisions, wounded soldiers, and achieve glorious feats.

At the recent scientific conference on the Dien Bien Phu Victory, its historical value and contemporary significance, Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Minh Tuyet (senior lecturer, Academy of Journalism and Communication) commented: “The rudimentary carts, the bare feet of the frontline laborers defeated the modern helicopters of the French. Nava was defeated by the ability to mobilize the strength of the entire people and the flexible and creative way of solving logistical problems of President Ho Chi Minh.”

In the parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory, the image of the legendary bicycles will be vividly recreated. This will be a special parade and will probably only appear in the parade celebrating the Dien Bien Phu Victory.

Division 3 (Military Region 1) was assigned the task of selecting and training officers and soldiers to participate in the parade.

Captain Nguyen Dai Ta, Deputy Battalion Commander of Battalion 2, Regiment 2, Division 3 (Military Region 1) said that the criteria for participating in the parade are soldiers who are 1.7m or taller, in good health, flexible, and have endurance; have clean and clear moral and political qualities...

In total, including reserve vehicles, the formation had 45 vehicles, corresponding to 45 soldiers selected to drive them, while the main parade formation had 41 vehicles.

The vehicles were modeled after the bicycles used in the campaign and are on display at the Dien Bien Phu Historical Victory Museum (Dien Bien Province). In the past, bicycles were carried by 2-3 frontline workers, carrying 200-300kg. In this parade, because there was only one soldier carrying the load, the weight of the sack was reduced to about 100kg.

Captain Ta shared that at first, there were some difficulties in preparing the vehicles and packing bags to make them as similar as possible to the bicycles used in the campaign. In addition, the vehicles were also equipped with two boxes at the front of the vehicle. During the war, these boxes were used to store oil lamps, drinking water, and food for the frontline workers.

The soldiers also had to go at the right distance, at the right pace and skillfully keep the vehicle balanced. The movements were simulated with the old supply and transportation process such as pushing uphill, going uphill, downhill, going straight on flat roads...

"We started training on February 19, then on March 18 we moved to National Military Training Center 4 to practice with other parades and marching groups," said Captain Nguyen Dai Ta.

After 2 months of training and practice, the young soldiers have now overcome difficulties, become familiar with the bicycle, and are able to carry out their duties in the spirit of the Dien Bien fire line workers of the past, because more than a task, this is a source of pride in continuing the spirit of overcoming difficulties of the previous generation.