Solemn 70th Anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory

Uncle Ho's *photo* was carried across the stage.

Attending the ceremony were comrades: Pham Minh Chinh, Politburo member, Prime Minister; Nong Duc Manh, former Politburo member, former General Secretary; former Politburo members, former Presidents: Nguyen Minh Triet, Truong Tan Sang, Nguyen Xuan Phuc; former Politburo member, former National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An; former Politburo member, former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung; Truong Thi Mai, Politburo member, Standing member of the Party Central Committee Secretariat, Head of the Central Organization Committee, Head of the Central Steering Committee for Celebrating Major Holidays and Important Historical Events of the Country in the 2023 - 2025 period; Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Party Central Committee member, Acting President, along with other leaders and former leaders of the Party and State.

National emblem of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the ceremony.

The ceremony was also attended by 270 delegates, international guests and foreign press reporters. Among them were: Chan-sam-mon Chan-nha-lat, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense of the Lao PDR; Net-Sa-Vuon, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia; Zhang Qingwei, Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China; Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of National Defense of France.

The Dien Bien Phu soldier monument stood out during the ceremony.

On this occasion, Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, Politburo member, General Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam presented a congratulatory flower basket.

Comrade Vu Xuan Cuong, Standing Deputy Secretary of Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee (third from left in the first row) attended the solemn rally in Dien Bien Phu city. **Photo: Trung Kien (VNA in Dien Bien)**

On the side of Lao Cai province, attending the ceremony was comrade Vu Xuan Cuong, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee.

After the flag-raising ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered a speech commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. The speech emphasized: After “56 days and nights of digging mountains, sleeping in tunnels, pouring rain, eating rice balls. Blood mixed with mud. Unwavering courage. Unwavering will”, with “bare feet”, a spirit of steel and the indomitable, persistent, heroic fighting will of our army and people, the Dien Bien Phu Campaign won a resounding victory, dealing a decisive blow, defeating the final effort of the French colonialists in the war of aggression against Vietnam.

Representatives of ethnic women in the Northwest at the parade.

This was the pinnacle of victory of the “All-people, comprehensive, long-term, self-reliance” resistance war, the victory of the spirit “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom”, the crystallization of Vietnam’s strength in the Ho Chi Minh era. The victory forced the French colonialists to sign the Geneva Agreement (July 21, 1954) on the cessation of hostilities in Vietnam; creating the basis and premise for the liberation and construction of the North in transition to socialism and a solid foundation for the struggle to liberate the South and unify the country.

The Dien Bien Phu victory was a momentous event, not only significant for the Vietnamese Revolution, but also became an immortal heroic epic, urging movements to fight for national liberation, marking the collapse of old colonialism around the world, as President Ho Chi Minh affirmed: “It was a great victory of our people, but also a common victory of all oppressed peoples in the world. The Dien Bien Phu victory further illuminates the truth of Marxism-Leninism in today's era: The imperialists' war of aggression is bound to fail, the liberation revolution of the peoples is bound to succeed”.

Mounted police unit participates in the parade.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized: “Our entire Party, people and army continue to promote patriotism and the will to fight and win. Promote the spirit of independence, self-reliance, self-strengthening, proactiveness, flexibility and creativity, correctly identify the revolutionary war path and military art, the art of people's war of Vietnam. Build and consolidate the strength of the great national unity bloc, the core of which is the alliance of workers - farmers - intellectuals under the leadership of the glorious Communist Party of Vietnam. Closely, harmoniously and effectively combine national strength with the strength of the times, domestic strength with the support and assistance of international friends”.

Female soldiers participate in the parade.

On this occasion, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, 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.

After the speeches, the parade took place on a grand scale, with the participation of 12,000 people, including forces: Army, militia, police, departments, and social organizations.

Helicopters carrying the Party flag and the national flag flew across the stage.

The parade opened with 21 artillery rounds to the national anthem of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This was followed by a performance by nine helicopters carrying the Party and national flags flying over the stage. The parades were important highlights, demonstrating the grandeur, demonstrating force, affirming the significance, stature, and great historical value of the Dien Bien Phu Victory.

Source