Meeting and paying tribute to Dien Bien soldiers

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits delegates attending the conference. Photo: QUANG PHUC

Previously, on the afternoon of April 16, delegates offered incense at the Dien Bien Phu Martyrs' Temple, A1 Cemetery.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, leaders of ministries, branches, localities and Dien Bien province. In particular, the meeting and gratitude program in Dien Bien province was attended by 139 delegates who are Dien Bien soldiers, youth volunteers, and frontline workers who directly participated in the Dien Bien Phu campaign from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and many provinces and cities. Also attending were veteran revolutionaries, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, heroes of the armed forces, heroes of labor, and relatives of Dien Bien martyrs.

Organizing the meeting program right in Dien Bien is a tribute and gratitude to those who devoted their youth to the country, contributing to the Dien Bien Phu victory "famous in five continents, shaking the earth".

This is one of a series of activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu.

Photos at the meeting on the morning of April 17: Photo: QUANG PHUC

Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien emphasized that 70 years ago, having a firm grasp of the enemy's situation, plots and tricks, in early December 1953, the Politburo decided to launch the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. General Vo Nguyen Giap, Politburo member and Minister of National Defense, directly served as Party Secretary and commander of the front.

At the same time, the Front Supply Council was established with comrade Pham Van Dong as Chairman.

President Ho Chi Minh instructed: “This campaign is a very important campaign, not only militarily but also politically, not only domestically but also internationally. Therefore, the entire army, the entire people, and the entire Party must concentrate on completing it successfully.”

He advised General Vo Nguyen Giap “must win, only fight if sure of victory, not fight if not sure of victory”. The whole country focused its strength on the Dien Bien Phu front, with the slogan “All for the front, all for victory”.

On March 13, 1954, our army opened fire to attack Dien Bien Phu. Under the skillful command of General Vo Nguyen Giap, with the steadfast will, intelligence and courage of a heroic nation, our army and people fought tenaciously, "fighting firmly", "advancing firmly", smashing the defense lines in all directions. At 5:30 p.m. on May 7, 1954, General De Castries and the General Staff of the Dien Bien Phu stronghold surrendered and were captured alive.

After 56 days and nights of “digging mountains, sleeping in tunnels, enduring rain, eating rice balls/ Blood mixed with mud, unwavering courage, unwavering will”, the Dien Bien Phu Campaign achieved complete victory. It is an immortal heroic epic, a brilliant milestone in the history of our nation’s struggle to build and defend the country.

Dien Bien soldiers at the meeting. Photo: QUANG PHUC

The historic victory of Dien Bien Phu created the decisive basis for the signing of the Geneva Agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Vietnam. The North transitioned to socialism, creating a solid rear for the cause of struggle, liberation of the South, and national reunification.

The historic victory of Dien Bien Phu affirmed the correct and creative resistance line of the Party and the growth of the Vietnam People's Army. It can be affirmed that the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu was a victory of justice for a heroic Vietnamese nation. That victory was crystallized by the tradition of ardent patriotism, the strength of great national unity, "rather sacrifice everything, but never lose the country, never become slaves".

Comrade Do Van Chien emphasized that the Fatherland and the people will forever remember the heroes, martyrs, and the nation's outstanding sons who sacrificed their youth, "determined to die for the Fatherland and determined to live". After 70 years of victory, there are still many martyrs whose information and identities have not been identified. The blood and bones of these brothers and sisters have been turned into the sacred land of the Northwest, Dien Bien, so that today the country can blossom with independence and bear the fruit of freedom; the people can live in peace, prosperity, and happiness.

Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien speaks at the event

Comrade Do Van Chien also emphasized: "How can we forget the more than 30,000 bicycles in the campaign that transported more than 23,000 tons of rice, 266 tons of salt, and nearly 2,000 tons of food to the battlefield. With ardent patriotism and deep hatred for the enemy, the young volunteers and frontline workers were able to do extraordinary things."

That is Mr. Ma Van Thang in Thanh Son, Phu Tho with a slim figure, but a bicycle trip can carry 325kg of goods to serve the campaign. Mr. Trinh Dinh Bam in Dinh Lien commune, Yen Dinh district, Thanh Hoa province is poor, does not have a bicycle, so he builds a wheelbarrow to go to work; still missing a wheel, he respectfully informed his ancestors, removed the altar to complete the wheelbarrow.

"There are thousands, tens of thousands of people whose names cannot be mentioned who sacrificed their blood and bones, contributed their efforts and efforts to the Dien Bien Phu victory, for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. Their names have become the name of the country of Vietnam," comrade Do Van Chien emphasized.

Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien said that on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the historic Dien Bien Phu victory, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front chaired and coordinated with central departments, ministries, branches, agencies and 54 provinces and cities to organize meetings, present gifts and express gratitude to 13,836 war invalids, sick soldiers, youth volunteers and frontline workers who directly participated in the Dien Bien Phu campaign, to remind each other of the significance, stature and great historical value of the Dien Bien Phu victory.

Speaking at the conference, Secretary of the Dien Bien Provincial Party Committee Tran Quoc Cuong also emphasized that 70 years have passed, the Fatherland and people of Vietnam, including the ethnic minorities of Dien Bien and the Northwest provinces, will forever remember the contributions of the Party, Uncle Ho, the heroic martyrs, Dien Bien Phu soldiers, youth volunteers, and frontline workers who fought, sacrificed, and continued to make great contributions to the cause of building Dien Bien province to become more and more developed.

“The Party Committee, government and people of all ethnic groups in Dien Bien province continue to strive to build Dien Bien province more and more prosperous, contributing to the cause of innovation, construction and protection of the Fatherland, worthy of the trust of the Party, State and the sacrifices and noble contributions of the heroic martyrs, Dien Bien Phu soldiers, youth volunteers, and frontline laborers who directly participated in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign,” said the Secretary of the Dien Bien Provincial Party Committee.

>>>Images at the emotional meeting with the participation of the Prime Minister. Photo: QUANG PHUC