PANO – The celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory solemnly took place at the Dien Bien provincial Stadium, Dien Bien province, on May 7th.
Present at the event were General Party Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, former General Party Secretaries Le Kha Phieu and Nong Duc Manh, President Truong Tan Sang, former President Tran Duc Luong, Politburo member Le Hong Anh, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Minister of National Defence General Phung Quang Thanh, international friends, former Dien Bien troops and local people.
The celebration was a chance for people and troops across the country to recall the magnanimous tradition of those in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, affirming the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap, praising the strength of great national unity and Vietnam People’s Army, paying gratitude to those who had sacrificed for the national liberation cause, and consolidating people’s trust in the leadership of the Party.
It was also to educate young generations the national tradition of patriotism, arousing their pride for the nation, promoting their “Determine to think, determine to act” spirit, activeness, creativeness and solidarity. Besides, the celebration helped international friends and overseas Vietnamese learn more about the glorious history of Vietnam, affirming the Party’s and people’s determination to well carry out socio-economy, defence and security missions in 2014 and the years to come.
Addressing the celebration, President Truong Tan Sang showed deep gratitude to late President Ho Chi Minh, the great leader of Vietnam, General Vo Nguyen Giap, the eldest brother of the Vietnam People’s Army, and those who had sacrificed for the national independence and freedom.
He affirmed that the success of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign was achieved by the glorious historic tradition of the nation, sound leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, the strength of the great national unity, Vietnamese people’s and troops’ determination to gain independence and freedom, as well as the wholehearted assistance of international friends.
The Dien Bien Phu victory, Vietnam’s pride, showed that a small country could win any war and defeat any stronger enemy if it was led by a party, had sound political and military guidelines, promoted the strength of the whole nation, and was assisted by people around the world.
President Sang stressed that the Dien Bien Phu victory with many invaluable lessons was the great encouragement and driving force for the whole Party, people and army to successfully carry out the national construction and defence cause. He called Vietnamese troops and citizens inside and outside the country to work together to overcome difficulty to bring prosperity to the country.
On behalf of former Dien Bien troops, Hero of People’s Armed Forces, Colonel Phung Van Khau recalled the battle of his nine-member company on Hill E1 on April 23rd, 1954. In the battle, all his comrades were killed or injured. Khau continued fighting, destroying many enemy weapons and vehicles and killing hundreds of enemy troops. After the war, he was honoured with many noble tittles, such as Dien Bien Troop and Hero of the People’s Armed Forces.
The cerebration was followed by a parade of troops of all forces, people and ethnic minority people.
Earlier, a delegation of Vietnamese leaders, war veterans, and former volunteer soldiers laid wreaths and offered incense in gratitude and commemoration of fallen solders who sacrificed during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, at the Hill A1 Cemetery in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien.
Here are photos of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory:
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| Photo: qdnd.vn |
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| Flag-saluting ceremony. Photo: VnExpress.net |
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| President Truong Tan Sang addressing the celebration. Photo: VNA |
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| Photo: qdnd.vn |
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| Army officers. Photo: qdnd.vn |
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| Infantry troops. Photo: qdnd.vn |
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| Commandos. Photo: VnExpress.net |
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| Vietnam marine police troops. Photo: VnExpress.net |
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| Naval officers. Photo: qdnd.vn |
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| Troops in uniform of Dien Bien soldiers. Photo: qdnd.vn |
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| Female signal officers. Photo: VnExpress.net |
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| Mobile policemen. Photo: VnExpress.net |
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| Southern guerrillas. Photo: VnExpress.net |
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| Thai ethnic minority girls at the celebration. Photo: qdnd.vn |
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| Forces parading through streets of Dien Bien Phu City. Photo: VnExpress.net |
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Translated by Tran Hoai