That historic milestone led to the Geneva Accords of 1954, which restored peace, ended the French military presence in Indochina, and officially ended French colonial rule on the peninsula. This milestone ushered in a new era for the revolutions in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, making a significant contribution to the national liberation movements and marking the beginning of the collapse of old colonialism worldwide .
As President Ho Chi Minh wrote: "Dien Bien Phu is a brilliant golden milestone in history. It clearly marks the point where colonialism began its decline and disintegration, while the national liberation movement throughout the world was rising to complete victory."
This victory of epochal significance is the culmination of many factors. Among them, besides the wise leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, and the will and strength of the Vietnamese people and army, fervent patriotism was an extremely important element. Thousands of years of nation-building and defense have shown that patriotism is the foundation of independence, self-reliance, indomitable will, and the soul, intellect, and character of Vietnam. This very factor contributed to the decisive decision of the Party Committee and the Campaign Command to change the operational strategy from "quick attack, quick victory" to "steady attack, steady advance" to counter the enemy's strong defensive capabilities.
Despite numerous difficulties and obstacles in implementing the change in combat strategy, with fervent patriotism, our army and people did not hesitate to make sacrifices and endure hardships, "pulling cannons in and then pulling them out again." And at Dien Bien Phu, 56 days and nights of "digging tunnels in the mountains, sleeping in bunkers, enduring torrential rain, eating dried rice, and blood mixed with mud" shone brightly with heroes who dared to sacrifice themselves for the Fatherland: To Vinh Dien used his own body to wedge a cannon; Be Van Dan used his body as a gun mount; Phan Dinh Giot used his body to seal a machine gun emplacement; Tran Can bravely fought back against the enemy, holding the position and creating a favorable situation for advancing into the center of Muong Thanh…
That "golden epic" that resonated across five continents not only undermined the aggressive will of French colonialism and American intervention, but also resonated through time and generations. Therefore, scholar and journalist Bernard B. Fall, Professor at Howard University, Washington, D.C., once wrote: "Whether we like it or not, that war will continue to affect us for decades to come."
In May 2023, Vietnam celebrated the 69th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. Looking back, our nation has witnessed new Dien Bien Phu battles in the war of national defense. There was the Dien Bien Phu over Hanoi in December 1972; and the spirit of comprehensive resistance that continued to develop at new levels, leading to the historic Spring of 1975. With reunification and peace, the country has overcome countless challenges and crises, including many perilous moments and difficult times. During that same period, the Dien Bien Phu basin – a land of rolling hills and dense forests, once riddled with bombs and bullets – has transformed into a bustling urban center. The dream of "Dien Bien Phu taking flight" is gradually becoming a reality.
But at this moment, I also remembered President Ho Chi Minh's admonition: "Although the victory is great, it is only the beginning. We should not become arrogant because of the victory, nor should we underestimate the enemy."
In his Testament, he also instructed on the plan to rebuild the country to be more beautiful and dignified than before the war. He wrote: “This is a struggle against the old and rotten, to create something new and better. To win this colossal struggle, it is necessary to mobilize the entire people, organize and educate the entire people, and rely on the great strength of the entire people.”
Sixty-nine years after the historic Dien Bien Phu victory, Vietnam is nurturing and determined to pursue its aspirations and goals: a prosperous life for its people and a strong, thriving nation. However, this is a monumental, arduous, and complex undertaking with countless challenges. The Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam clearly outlines the vision and development orientations for the country: “In the coming years, the global and domestic situations will present both opportunities and challenges; posing many new and more complex and demanding issues for the cause of national construction and defense; requiring the entire Party, the entire people, and the entire army to unite; to continue to strongly innovate thinking; to have high political determination; to accurately and promptly predict developments in the situation; and to proactively and promptly respond to all situations.”
Achieving that goal successfully requires many factors. As General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said: “The road ahead is fraught with difficulties and challenges, intertwined with new opportunities and advantages. Whether we can awaken our potential and transform it into a tremendous resource for building and defending the country depends on the will and determination of the entire Party, the entire people, and each and every Vietnamese person.”
Therefore, the lessons of the historic victory at Dien Bien Phu remain highly relevant today. These lessons remind us that, along with the wise leadership of the Party and the State, and the great unity of the entire Party, army, and people, fervent patriotism is an extremely important factor in realizing the aspirations of the era: "A prosperous people, a strong nation, a just, democratic, and civilized society." That aspiration is as sacred and powerful as the national will to achieve independence, peace, and national reunification in the 20th century.
Source
Comment (0)