Vietnam celebrates 70 years since Dien Bien Phu battle that ended French colonial rule
DIEN BIEN PHU, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam on Tuesday celebrated the 70th anniversary of the battle of Dien Bien Phu in which the French colonial army was defeated by Vietnamese troops, marking the end of the French occupation of Indochina.
At Dien Bien Phu, Vietnamese troops led by General Vo Nguyen Giap, surprised French forces with heavy artillery fire at their mountainous garrison in northwestern Vietnam.
When Dien Bien Phu fell in 1954, it spelled the end of almost a century of French colonial rule.
“The historic Dien Bien Phu victory is a remarkable event, not only for the Vietnamese revolution,” Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said in a speech at the ceremony. “It is also a monumental saga that inspired countries rising up to fight for independence and freedom, marking the collapse of the colonialism all over the world.”
On Tuesday morning, the commemoration was held at a stadium in the center of Dien Bien Phu, once a village in a valley dense with trenches, barbed wires and bomb craters. It is now a city of more than 80,000 people.
Related articles
Women SLAM the skyrocketing price of professional lash extensions
Lash extensions have become a go-to for many women over the years - visiting a lash tech every few w2024-05-07Chlöe Swarbrick announces she will run for Greens co
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone2024-05-07Wastewater testing reveals alcohol consumption higher in smaller towns
Photo: 123rf2024-05-07The engineer designing needles to euthanise whales
By Angela Heathcote, ABCRescuing whales can be stressful, but having the right tools makes the proce2024-05-07Malaysian government defends presence of companies that supply weapons to Israel at defense show
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia will not interfere in business relations between arms manufac2024-05-07Christopher Luxon, Anthony Albanese to discuss defence and security at first official meeting
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's first official visit since taking office will be to Sydney, where2024-05-07
atest comment