The exhibition “Geneva Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Vietnam – A Historical Milestone of Vietnamese Revolutionary Diplomacy” (July 21, 1954 - July 21, 2024) will take place from July 15 to September 5 in Hanoi.
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| Closing plenary session of the Conference of Foreign Ministers in Geneva, July 1954. (Source: Russian State Film Archive) |
The Geneva Conference was a major multilateral international conference with the participation of the world's major powers. Along with the Dien Bien Phu victory on May 7, 1954, the signing of the Geneva Agreement ended the victory of our people's resistance war against French colonialism, opening up a new strategic situation for the Vietnamese revolution: building socialism in the North, while carrying out the people's national democratic revolution in the South to fully realize the goal of peace, national independence, and national unification.
Thereby, it not only affirms that Vietnam is an independent, sovereign and peace-loving nation, but also demonstrates the intelligence, mettle and character of a peaceful nation with thousands of years of civilization and an indomitable will to protect independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Geneva Agreement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, organized the exhibition "Geneva Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Vietnam - A Historical Milestone of Vietnamese Revolutionary Diplomacy" (July 21, 1954 - July 21, 2024).
The exhibition introduces more than 150 typical images, documents and artifacts to help visitors have an overview of the negotiation, signing and implementation of the 1954 Geneva Agreement. The exhibition consists of 3 parts:
Part I: Background before the Geneva Conference
During the period of 1945-1954, our people's resistance war for national salvation achieved many feats on battlefields throughout the country. The diplomatic struggle also recorded many achievements with agreements: the 1946 Preliminary Agreement and the 1954 Geneva Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina were signed, successfully ending the resistance war against French colonialism of the Vietnamese people.
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| Signing ceremony of the Preliminary Agreement on March 6, 1946 at 38 Ly Thai To, Hanoi. From left to right: President Ho Chi Minh, Deputy Minister of the Interior Hoang Minh Giam, Republican Commissioner Jean Sainteny, Political Advisor Leon Pignon, representative of the French Socialist Party Luis Caput. (Photo: Nguyen Ba Khoan) |
Typical documents and exhibits on display include: Photos of President Ho Chi Minh reading the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on September 2, 1945; President Ho Chi Minh, Deputy Minister of the Interior Hoang Minh Giam, Republican Commissioner Jean Sainteny, Political Advisor Leon Pignon, Representative of the French Socialist Party Luis Caput at the signing ceremony of the Preliminary Agreement at 38 Ly Thai To, Hanoi on March 6, 1946, in which President Ho Chi Minh and the Party Central Committee proposed the policy of "Peace for Progress"; President Ho Chi Minh and Party leaders meeting in Viet Bac to decide to launch the Dien Bien Phu campaign, December 1953; The "Determined to Fight - Determined to Win" flag flying on the roof of General De Castries' bunker at Dien Bien Phu on May 7, 1954...
With the Dien Bien Phu victory that resounded throughout the world and shook the world, Vietnam entered the negotiations at the Geneva Conference as a "victory".
Part 2: Developments, results of the conference and the struggle to implement the Geneva Agreement
The Geneva Conference opened on May 8, 1954 in Geneva (Switzerland) and began to resolve issues in Indochina.
Opening of the conference : The participating parties included the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, France, the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and China. Discussed the situation in Indochina and established a dialogue mechanism. There, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam delegation clearly stated its stance for Vietnam's national independence and sovereignty.
Discussion and formal negotiations: Negotiations on a temporary ceasefire and demarcation; France agrees to withdraw troops and demarcate the border at the 17th parallel; Agreement on free general elections within 2 years to unify the country.
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| The delegation of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam attending the Geneva Conference on Indochina takes a group photo at the delegation headquarters in Villa Cadre. (Photo: Archive) |
Signing of the Geneva Agreement: The parties officially signed the Agreement documents; Specific regulations on ceasefire, prisoner exchange and management of areas on both sides of the temporary border.
After 75 days and nights of negotiations with 31 sessions, on July 21, 1954, the Geneva Conference on peace in Indochina ended with 3 Agreements on the cessation of hostilities in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia; a final statement of the Conference; two separate statements of the American and French delegations and an exchange of notes between the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the French Republic.
For the first time, Vietnam's independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity were recognized and respected by other countries.
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| Deputy Prime Minister Pham Van Dong received journalists in the delegation's headquarters. (Source: Ho Chi Minh Museum) |
Typical documents and exhibits on display include: The red flag with a yellow star hanging at the Headquarters of the Delegation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in Geneva (Switzerland) in 1954; Panorama of the opening session of the Geneva Conference on Indochina on May 8, 1954; Delegation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam at the Geneva Conference; Deputy Prime Minister Pham Van Dong holding a press conference at the Headquarters of the Delegation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in Geneva, Switzerland to announce the issue of Vietnam's unification on July 19, 1954; Panorama of the Geneva Conference session on July 20, 1954; Deputy Minister of National Defense Ta Quang Buu, on behalf of the Government and the General Command of the Vietnam People's Army, signed the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Vietnam on July 21, 1954; Representative of the French government, Major General Henri Denteil, signed the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Vietnam in 1954.
Part 3: Unification, innovation and national development
After the victory day of April 30, 1975, the South was completely liberated, the country was unified, and the whole country entered a period of building socialism and international integration.
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| The Political Consultative Conference for National Reunification in Saigon from November 15 to 21, 1976. (Photo courtesy) |
Typical documents and exhibits on display include: The Political Consultative Conference for National Reunification in Saigon from November 15-21, 1976; The 6th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (December 1986) outlining the path of National Renovation; Vietnam joining the following organizations: the United Nations in 1977, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1995; the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) in 1998, the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2007; the National Foreign Affairs Conference on December 14, 2021.
The exhibition is open from July 15, 2024 to September 5, 2024. The exhibition helps the public, especially the younger generation, understand more fully and deeply the stature and historical significance of the Geneva Agreement for the cause of national liberation and reunification. From there, it arouses pride in the revolutionary tradition, determination to study and practice to build and protect the Fatherland, and fight for peace, independence, democracy and progress.
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