Memories of Dien Bien

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu has been in history for 70 years. But the memories of a time of "digging tunnels in the mountains, sleeping in bunkers, enduring torrential rain, and eating dried rice rations," the fierce battles fought to seize every inch of land and every section of trench on the strongholds, and the joyful emotions of the victory day still remain deeply etched in the hearts of those who participated in the fighting and served in the war.

Ms. Vu Thi Kim Lan, from Phu Son ward ( Thanh Hoa City), reminisces about her experiences serving in the Dien Bien Phu campaign.

History books have said much about the victory at Dien Bien Phu, but I wanted to hear the stories of those who lived through those years so I could feel the spirit of a generation of heroes. With that wish in mind, I traveled down the Ma River, along National Highway 1A, to Hoang Son commune (Hoang Hoa district) to meet Mr. Hoang Tien Luc. At 93 years old, his health has somewhat declined, but when he spoke of the historic battles on the heroic land of Dien Bien Phu, his vitality shone brightly, his face showing excitement and his eyes suddenly gleaming with intelligence. I started by talking about the war, and Mr. Luc recounted his experiences of being immersed in the rain of bombs and bullets, sharing all the memories and emotions of someone who had faced life and death firsthand.

Recalling the events, Mr. Luc said: “In the history of the Dien Bien Phu campaign, the battle to annihilate the enemy on Hill A1 was one of the fiercest and most resounding victories. During attacks and defenses, we fought for every inch of land; as one fell, another rose up, steadfastly and resolutely eliminating the enemy. At that time, I belonged to Company 506, Regiment 174, so I participated in all three phases of the campaign. I was in the casualty transport unit, so I always had to stay close to the fighting units. During that time in Dien Bien Phu, it rained heavily, making the trenches muddy. We had to carry the wounded and the fallen on stretchers to transport them to the rear of the front. The mud and blood of the wounded falling on the faces and heads of those carrying them was heartbreaking.” At this point, Mr. Luc's face clouded over, his voice became pensive, and then he continued: "Although there were many casualties, after the second offensive by the combat units, the central area of ​​Dien Bien Phu fell into a passive state, with a high degree of demoralization. Entering the third offensive, after discovering the enemy had an underground bunker on Hill A1, my unit, along with another engineering unit, was assigned the task of digging an underground tunnel close to the enemy's bunker. When we reached the enemy's bunker, our troops prepared nearly a ton of explosives. At exactly 8:30 PM on May 6, 1954, the explosives placed at the end of the tunnel on Hill A1 exploded. Our troops from all directions successively captured the remaining targets, breaking the enemy's counterattacks and creating a springboard for our soldiers to attack the De Castries bunker. On May 7, 1954, our troops advanced straight into the enemy's command post, raising the flag of victory."

Mr. Phung Sy Cac, from Dong Tho ward (Thanh Hoa City) – a person who supplied food and transported ammunition during the Dien Bien Phu campaign.

As the whole country commemorates the momentous 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory, the "porters and carriers" of Thanh Hoa province joyfully journey back in time to that sacred moment, reliving the atmosphere of those arduous but heroic days of supplying food and ammunition. At 88 years old, Mr. Phung Sy Cac, from Dong Tho ward (Thanh Hoa city), sometimes forgets a few distant memories, but the emotions of his time serving in the war remain vivid in his mind. Mr. Cac excitedly recounted: “In the beginning, our task was to carry rice supplies to our soldiers fighting the enemy. One person followed another, a continuous stream of people crossing high mountains and deep passes to bring supplies to the front lines. The supply route for the campaign became a fierce battleground as soon as the French colonialists discovered it. Due to the urgent demands of the battlefield, I was transferred to the task of ensuring traffic flow from Tuan Giao to Dien Bien Phu. Where it was narrow, we widened it; where it was muddy, we leveled it; where it was slippery, we carried stones to wedge it; where it was deep, we pulled the vehicles across. When we were about 15km from the artillery positions, I was assigned the important task of carrying ammunition for the soldiers fighting the enemy. Despite the enemy's constant bombing raids, we overcame all dangers and successfully completed our mission. After the campaign's complete victory, I stayed on to clear mines and unexploded ordnance until August 1954, when I finally left the heroic land of Dien Bien Phu.”

In those days, in preparation for the Dien Bien Phu campaign, the whole country rushed to the battlefield. In Thanh Hoa, people volunteered to join the army, and others volunteered to be civilian laborers on the front lines with fervent enthusiasm. Not to be outdone by the men, the women's civilian labor teams also enthusiastically carried supplies on foot for over 500km through forests, across streams, and over mountains to deliver goods to the front lines. Ms. Vu Thi Kim Lan, from Phu Son ward (Thanh Hoa City), proudly recounted: “In my hometown of Quang Xuong back then, the road to the front lines was as crowded as a festival; the whole village and commune participated in transporting supplies to the battlefield. Our baggage consisted of a carrying pole and two baskets of rice. During the day, we would hide in the forest to avoid enemy planes, and at night, we would carry dozens of kilograms of rice on our shoulders. When the battlefield entered a fierce phase, requiring a large amount of food for the campaign, we had to carry supplies day and night. The hardships and difficulties were immeasurable, but no one wanted to rest, no one wanted to fall behind. The carrying poles and the ‘thousand-mile journey’ of the people of Thanh Hoa provided timely supplies to our soldiers, ensuring they were well-fed and victorious.”

Mr. Nguyen Duc Ngoc, from Hoang Dong commune (Hoang Hoa district), told his grandchild about the Dien Bien Phu campaign.

Listening to the stories of witnesses who had never experienced the roads to the Dien Bien Phu front, I couldn't fully imagine the extraordinary strength of the "iron horse" army. It wasn't until March 2024, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory, that I had the opportunity to experience the routes that the rickshaw-carrying civilian laborers had traversed. Only those who have stood on the famous Pha Din Pass truly understand the hardships and ferocity that those troops endured. Seventy years have passed, but in the memories of Mr. Nguyen Duc Ngoc, the leader of the rickshaw-carrying civilian labor force in Hoang Dong commune (Hoang Hoa district), every detail remains vivid. In 1954, Mr. Ngoc's rickshaw team was tasked with transporting goods from Quang Xuong to Dien Bien Phu. The route was 500-600km long, the terrain treacherous, and the needs of the battlefield were immense and urgent, so his team had to work very quickly. “During transport, each person had their own cart, but when going downhill, one person had to steer, another pull the cart back, and another in front hold the handlebars down, otherwise the cart would plunge into the abyss. When going uphill, besides the person steering, the person pushing the cart needed a rope in front to get it through. That's how my comrades and I silently transported supplies to the front for months,” Mr. Ngoc shared. The “wise” war strategists of the French could never have imagined that Vietnam had crushed their aircraft and tanks, capturing their “impregnable fortress” with only small human strength and rudimentary means.

No one forgets the tragedy, and no victory goes unrecorded. In the battle between the enemy's advanced weaponry and their rudimentary weapons and limited manpower, the people and soldiers of Thanh Hoa, with their iron will, hatred, and courage, contributed to the resounding victory alongside the entire nation. The stories and emotions, at times exhilarating and at other times poignant, still retain their heroic spirit. Looking at the elders, I suddenly understood why this small country could achieve such glorious victories. Nothing is greater than love for one's homeland and country.

Text and photos: To Phuong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/70-nam-chien-thang-dien-bien-phu/ky-uc-dien-bien/211109.htm