Millions of hearts turn to Dien Bien Phu

Today marks 70 years since the day our army's "Determination to Fight, Determination to Win" flag flew over the enemy's command bunker, marking the complete victory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign (May 7, 1954). The victory of the resistance war against the French colonialists, culminating in the Dien Bien Phu Victory, was a victory of the passionate patriotism, indomitable will, and resilience of the Vietnamese people, forged over thousands of years of history; a victory of the independent, correct, and creative resistance and military lines of our Party, headed by President Ho Chi Minh.

With great determination, on Muong Thanh field, our army and people achieved one of the most glorious and resounding victories in the history of the Vietnamese people's struggle against foreign invaders, contributing to the successful end of the resistance war against the French colonialists, opening a new revolutionary period, building socialism in the North, fighting for liberation in the South, unifying the Fatherland, and bringing the country to socialism.

To create the miracle that "resounded throughout the five continents and shook the world" under the leadership of the Party, our army and people were of one mind, regardless of the terrain, for 56 days and nights "digging mountains, sleeping in tunnels, enduring heavy rains, eating rice balls", with "determination higher than mountains", overcoming all difficulties and challenges, resiliently and courageously achieving many feats, destroying the entire Dien Bien Phu stronghold of the enemy.

Many typical examples such as To Vinh Dien, Phan Dinh Giot, Tran Can, Ta Quoc Luat, Dang Dinh Ho, Hoang Khac Duoc and many other heroic martyrs and soldiers have further glorified the patriotic tradition of the heroic Vietnamese people.

Together with the army and people of the whole country, more than 4,000 Hai Duong soldiers directly contributed to the Dien Bien Phu Victory, 402 of whom remained, becoming heroic martyrs. Most of the martyrs died in 1954, at locations where fierce clashes took place between our troops and the French army such as A1 hill, Dien Bien airport, Doc Lap hill, Hong Cum, Muong Thanh, Xam Nam hill...

With the slogan “Non-stop gunfire, non-stop mines on Route 5 to coordinate with Dien Bien Phu”, the army and people of Hai Duong also organized many mine attacks, creating “thunder on Route 5” contributing to the depletion of enemy forces, weapons and vehicles, preventing enemy support for the Dien Bien Phu battlefield. As President Ho Chi Minh assessed: “Thanks to the close solidarity and heroic sacrifice of our entire army and people, we won a great victory at Dien Bien Phu”.

The spirit of Dien Bien Phu has since then encouraged the Party Committee and people of Hai Duong in the struggle for national liberation and the building of a new life. During the resistance war against the US, Hai Duong was a typical example of "not a pound of rice missing, not a soldier missing", "all for the beloved South", "all for the frontline". In peace and unity, especially in the period of innovation and integration, Hai Duong has always been a fairly good province, leading in attracting investment, building new rural areas, improving people's lives and is building an industrial province in a modern direction.

These days, Hai Duong has many meaningful and practical activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. The province has dozens of delegations returning to the heroic land of Dien Bien with activities of offering incense, flowers, and gifts to commemorate and express gratitude to the heroic martyrs, veterans, former youth volunteers, and frontline laborers who have devoted their blood and efforts to make the glorious victory of the nation.

Many places in the province have information and propaganda activities about the stature and significance of the Dien Bien Phu Victory; gratitude, gift giving, and health check-ups for the children of Hai Duong who directly participated in the fight and victory.

70 years have passed, the Dien Bien Phu Victory will forever be "a brilliant golden milestone of history", a source of pride and strength for our entire Party, army and people to move forward to gain new victories in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.