Home »

Grand ceremony marks Dien Bien Phu victory

Friday, May 9, 2014
A grand ceremony saluting the 60th anniversary of Viet Nam's victory at Dien Bien Phu, which ended French colonial rule in the country, was held in Dien Bien Phu city in the northwestern province of Dien Bien yesterday morning.
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, former Party General Secretaries Le Kha Phieu and Nong Duc Manh, State President Truong Tan Sang and former State President Tran Duc Luong were present at the celebration, among other distinguished guests.

President Truong Tan Sang delivers a speech at the grand ceremony saluting the 60th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory

Foreign guests included Lao Deputy Prime Minister Asang Laoly, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An and Mexican Labour Party National Coordinator Alberto Anaya Gutierrez. Representatives from diplomatic corps and international organisations in Viet Nam were also present.


Flower baskets were sent to the ceremony by former Party General Secretary Do Muoi, former State President Le Duc Anh, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.
In his speech, President Sang expressed gratitude to late President Ho Chi Minh and late General Vo Nguyen Giap, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Viet Nam People's Army, for their roles in the triumph at Dien Bien Phu. He also offered heartfelt thanks to the war heroes who sacrificed their lives for victory at Dien Bien Phu.

The President stated that the victory was an epic that had become part of the nation's glorious history due to the sound leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President Ho Chi Minh and the aggregated strength of national unity and the people's and army's determination to fight for national independence and freedom.


He said that the campaign, which lasted for 56 days and nights, was launched after a decision by the Politburo, President Ho Chi Minh and the Party's Military Commission.
Sang said the triumph of the resistance war against the French demonstrated the nation's undaunted spirit, the Party's sound leadership, the nation's great unity and international support.

Sang said the Dien Bien Phu triumph was a victory for armies and peoples of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia. He said valuable assistance was also provided by the peoples from the former Soviet Union and China, socialist countries and oppressed nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He said the victory was a triumph for oppressed nations around the world.

Sang said the spirit of the Dien Bien Phu victory could help Viet Nam achieve new successes in national development, defence and reform. He called for soldiers and citizens in and outside the country to work together to bring prosperity to the country.

A grand parade takes place in northern Dien Bien Phu City to celebrate the important historical event. 
One of the thousands of soldiers and volunteers who served in the campaign, former Artillery Colonel Phung Van Khau, made a speech recalling the difficult struggle to defeat the French.

He bravely fought on till the end of the battle after all the other members of his battery were killed or seriously injured. He hoped that the past would be remembered by younger generations, who would in turn be inspired to make new achievements in national construction and defence.

The ceremony was followed by a military parade and ended with an artistic performance by 500 artists, featuring folk songs and dances from ethnic groups.

Meanwhile yesterday, a delegation of Vietnamese leaders led by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong offered incense to war heroes resting at the A1 Hill Cemetery in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien.
Tags: ,

Comments[ 0 ]


Post a Comment