 Where the French war ended: Photos 21 to 42 |
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Where the French war ended: Photos 21 to 42
Asia » Vietnam » Northwest » Dien Bien Phu
June 30th 2009 by theRedRiver
Điện Biên Phủ is a remote city inside the Mường Thanh valley in the north west of Vietnam, only 36.5km from the Lao border. The ethnic minority people living in this area are the Thai and H'mong. The city is famous for the site of the battle, where the French troops were defeated by Việt Minh (the League for the Independence of Vietnam - Việt Nam độc lập đồng minh hội) forces on 7 May 1954 after a 56-day siege, resulting in the end of the French rule in Vietnam (1858 - 1954) and its colonial control in Indochina.
To achieve this victory, the Viet Minh forces, under General Võ Nguyên Giáp, dug trenches and tunnels to reach the French positions without coming under fire. They also carried 105mm artillery pieces and anti-aircraft guns (pháo cao xạ) through jungles, across rivers, up and down passes and mountains, then emplaced them in secret positions overlooking the French positions. All 16,200 men of the French garrison were either killed or taken prisoner, while Vietnam's casualties were about 25,000.
The distance from Hanoi to Điện Biên Phủ is 420km and if you travel overland by car or bus, it often takes a
Full Text Entry: Where the French war ended
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June 30th 2009 - Batatawada: HAPPY Birthday....sorry a bit late....
HAPPY Birthday....sorry a bit late....
July 1st 2009 - Kob: The French War Ended
Dear Hong Ha
Thanks for all of your phtos, with which I visually noticed how Vietnamese fighted with French army.
I wonder why Majority of Vietmamese martyrs at the cementery are anoymous, or whether those martyrs are unidetified civilians.
It's much regrettable that the war expanded to the proxy war between capitalist countries and communist countries in the field of Vietnam, and ended up when N.Vietnam entered Saigon in April 30 1975, leaving behind the great number of irreparable victim.
Regards
Kob
July 2nd 2009 - larry dinh: Happy Birthday!!!
Better late than never. Happy Birthday! I have heard of the battle in Dien Bien Phu but never pictured what the place looks like until I read your entry. Thank you for sharing! Where is your next destination?
July 10th 2009 - Marcus Schuetz: Very interesting ...
... entry. Hope you are fine and enjoyed your birthday trip. Greetings, Marcus
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French artillery gun
The 155mm artillery gun near the French headquarters of Colonel De Castries (Pháo 155mm thuộc trận địa pháo phân khu trung tâm tập đoàn cứ điểm Đ... [more]
Old Mường Thanh bridge
This bridge across Nậm Rốm river leads to the major sites of the French headquarters.
At the center of the city
The board shows distance from the city to the Lao border on the right side is only 36.5km.
The French headquarters
The entrance gate to the former French headquarters of Colonel De Castries after walking down stairs.
The French headquarters
Inside the bunker, the steel material is original while sandy bags were replaced with concrete.
Inside the French headquarters
There are 4 rooms inside the bunker. Colonel De Castries used to live and work here.
Picture on the wall outside the cemetery
The Vietnamese leaders are discussing, while the soldiers are carrying artillery pieces to the battlefield.
View of the cemetery
There are more than 600 graves of Vietnamese martyrs at the cemetery and most of them are anonymous.
4 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message
June 30th 2009 - Batatawada: HAPPY Birthday....sorry a bit late....
HAPPY Birthday....sorry a bit late....
July 1st 2009 - Kob: The French War Ended
Dear Hong Ha
Thanks for all of your phtos, with which I visually noticed how Vietnamese fighted with French army.
I wonder why Majority of Vietmamese martyrs at the cementery are anoymous, or whether those martyrs are unidetified civilians.
It's much regrettable that the war expanded to the proxy war between capitalist countries and communist countries in the field of Vietnam, and ended up when N.Vietnam entered Saigon in April 30 1975, leaving behind the great number of irreparable victim.
Regards
Kob
July 2nd 2009 - larry dinh: Happy Birthday!!!
Better late than never. Happy Birthday! I have heard of the battle in Dien Bien Phu but never pictured what the place looks like until I read your entry. Thank you for sharing! Where is your next destination?
July 10th 2009 - Marcus Schuetz: Very interesting ...
... entry. Hope you are fine and enjoyed your birthday trip. Greetings, Marcus
All Comments
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