Where the French war ended

Asia » Vietnam » Northwest » Dien Bien » Dien Bien Phu
June 30th 2009

Published: June 30th 2009

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) force... Read Full Entry

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Hanoi_girl

theRedRiver

I am a Hanoi_girl who loves to travel. When working for a Japanese construction company in Hanoi, I had the chance to travel to 28 countries and to all the 63 provinces in Vietnam, including 25 trips to Huế city. Egypt, Mongolia and Italy are my love, and other favorite countries are Australia, France, New Zealand, Nepal, Fiji, Japan, India, Indonesia, Belgium, Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, China (8 trips, 15 cities), South Korea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Cambodia (3 trips), Brunei Darussalam, the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Laos (3 trips), Malaysia (4 trips), Singap... full info

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At the museum

Aircraft wreckage at the French weapon display area.

French jeep at the museum

French Colonel Pirote

On 15 Mar 1954, he committed suicide with generade after he failed to carry out his promise to muzzle Vietnam's artillery (Pirote - Đại tá tư lệnh pháo binh Pháp, tự tử vào ngày 15/3/1954 bằng lựu đạn sau hai ngày đêm không thực hiện được lời hứa bịt miệng họng pháo của Việt Nam).

At the museum

Models of the volunteers carrying food for Vietnamese soldiers.

At the museum

At the Vietnamese weapon display area, my motorbike driver is reading the words on the wheel of 105mm artillery gun. He found the words "Made in England" on the wheel.

At the museum

Two options for the general attacks on the French troops, however after consideration, General Võ Nguyên Giáp decided to change into option No. 2 (good preparation, certain attack and success - đánh chắc, tiến chắc).

At the museum

When deciding to change from option No. 1 (fast attack - đánh nhanh, thắng nhanh) into option No. 2 (certain attack and success - đánh chắc, tiến chắc), General Võ Nguyên Giáp said on that day he made the most difficult decision in his leading career. He was only 43 years old at that time.

At the museum

Vietnamese soldiers attacked Độc Lập hill fortification on 14 and 15 Mar 1954.

Model of Điện Biên Phủ battlefield

When I was a school girl, I was taken to the Military Museum in Hanoi where I also watched the same model. I like the final minute when Vietnam's flag appeared and flew on the roof top of the French headquarters. On this trip, I saw the same model at the Điện Biên Phủ museum.

Desk and chair from France

The desk and chair of French Colonel De Castries used inside his bunker headquarters.

Hand written instructions

The hand written instructions from General Võ Nguyên Giáp fixed the attack time 8:30am in the important positions. He also requested exact time for good coordination.

At the museum

Bath tube of French Colonel De Castries which was found at his bunker headquarters.

At the museum

At the Vietnamese weapon display area of the museum.

At the museum

Uniforms and other accessories of French soldiers.

At the museum

President Hồ Chí Minh and General Võ Nguyên Giáp were the two leaders of the siege.

French trenches on A1 hill

At the museum

After the Điện Biên Phủ victory, French soldiers surrendered in An Khê and folded their flag to leave Vietnam.

Cemetery for Vietnamese martyrs

Near the French headquarters

Oxen are eating grass next to the French artillery pieces (bãi pháo gần hầm chỉ huy của De Castries).

Memorial stupa for French soldiers

This memorial stupa is placed inside a beautiful garden near the French headquarters of Colonel De Castries. The fund was donated by the French veterans. (Đài tưởng niệm binh sĩ Pháp)

At the museum

After the Điện Biên Phủ victory, Hanoi capital was liberated and on 10 October 1954, the soldiers entered the city.

30th June 2009

Batatawada
non-member comment

HAPPY Birthday....sorry a bit late....
HAPPY Birthday....sorry a bit late....

1st July 2009

Kob
non-member comment

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

2nd July 2009

larry dinh
non-member comment

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?

10th July 2009

Marcus Schuetz
non-member comment

Very interesting ...
... entry. Hope you are fine and enjoyed your birthday trip. Greetings, Marcus

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Where the French war ended

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