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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A1 hill

A large hole was formed on this hill when Vietnamese soldiers detonated 960kg of explosives to start a general attack on the battlefield. (Hố bộc phá được tạo thành do 3 chiến sĩ của ta giật nổ khối bộc phá 960kg vào 20:30 ngày 6/5/1954. Sức nổ đã tiêu diệt một đại đội địch và ta đã chiếm được cứ điểm đồi A1 lúc 4:30 ngày 7/5/1954. Đây cũng là hiệu lệnh đợt tổng công kích đợt cuối cùng của chiến dịch Điện Biên Phủ)

A French tank on A1 hill

Explosive hole on A1 hill (Hố bộc phá)

This hole was formed because of 960kg of explosives that Vietnamese soldiers detonated on 6 May 1954 to start a general attack on the battlefield.

A1 hill

This post was to defend A1 hill of the French troops and was taken over by Vietnamese soldiers on 6 May 1954.

French trenches on A1 hill

Noong Nhai memorial

Noong Nhai was a Thai village where 444 people were killed by French bomb on 25 April 1954.

Noong Nhai memorial

The stupa was built in memory of 444 people at Noong Nhai village, who were killed by French bomb on 25 Apr 1954.

City view from D1 hill

I am walking up over 300 steps to the Statue of Victory on the top of D1 hill.

Propaganda for the 55th anniversary

On the way from city center to the airport.

Bas-relief at D1 hill

Next to 300 steps to the Statue of Victory on D1 hill is the bas-relief (phù điêu bằng đá), which describes the 56 day siege of Vietnamese people.

ATR72 at Điện Biên airport

The 65 seated ATR72 of Vietnam Airlines landed at the airport in the rain.

The Statue of Victory on D1 hill

This 20-ton bronze statue was built some years ago (Tượng đài chiến thắng Điện Biên Phủ trên đỉnh đồi D1).

Điện Biên Phủ airport

The old name of this airport was "Mường Thanh".

Thành Bản Phủ

The citadel outside Hoàng Công Chất temple, 11km from the city center.

At D1 hill

Bas-relief of the volunteers (ethnic minority people) carrying food for the siege. (Phù điêu dưới chân đồi D1)

A house of Thai ethnic minority people

View from the plane

I saw Nậm Rốm river, mountains, rice fields, houses and finally the run-way of the airport.

Horse meat restaurant

Hot pot of horse meat is served at this restaurant.

At A1 hill

The former defense position of the French troops is now covered with metal net. The gate is blocked too.

Noong Nhai memorial

Close up of the famous photo

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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