Slow motion film about history and national spirit

The panoramic painting " Dien Bien Phu Campaign" has a total area of ^3,225m2 , extremely majestic and detailed.

True feelings

On the day approaching the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, from Ho Chi Minh City, Dien Bien soldier Tran Quang Trieu brought back heroic memories and an unending longing for his comrades to visit the old battlefield. After the "reunion" with his comrades in the trenches, the brothers who fought side by side and are now lying on this land, Mr. Trieu was filled with emotion as he entered the space displaying the panorama painting "Dien Bien Phu Campaign". All the images of the difficult days, close to death but still full of spirit and unity, full of glory like a slow-motion film, came flooding back one by one.

Mr. Trieu emotionally shared: “The painting is very complete, very beautiful and meaningful, fully recreating the stages of the Campaign; the life and fighting of those on the front line; along with the hardships, sacrifices, and contributions of the people of all ethnic groups. Looking at each vivid stroke, I see myself and my comrades in that frame, 70 years ago, not caring about life or death, advancing towards the enemy. I miss my comrades so much, some are still alive, some are dead. The more I look at the details, the more I feel sad, but I am always proud because Dien Bien Phu resounds throughout the world , seeing the dedication and sacrifice of our generation become more valuable”.

Our soldiers overcame all difficulties to drag artillery through the forest to the battlefield, which is recreated through the drawing.

Not only those who directly participated in the Campaign, visitors from far away who have come to admire it once, but also the people of Dien Bien, even though they have visited the painting many times, still feel proud and overwhelmed. Mr. Nguyen Nam Khanh (Dien Bien Phu City) said: “As a local, I have visited the Museum and the panorama of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign many times. But every time I see the painting with my own eyes, I feel proud of my homeland, of the spirit and mettle of the nation, and grateful to the previous generation who devoted themselves to the Fatherland, creating a glorious history. For me, to talk about the painting, no amount of paper and pen is enough.”

Epic of history

The panorama depicts the Dien Bien Phu Campaign through meticulously invested, dedicated images, strung together and seamlessly connected; giving viewers a complete, intuitive and vivid view.

White rice balls and wild bamboo shoots fueled our troops in battle.

Ms. Vu Thi Tuyet Nga, Director of the Dien Bien Phu Historical Victory Museum, introduced: “The Dien Bien Phu Campaign Panorama is one of three large circular paintings in the world. It is also the first and only panorama in Vietnam, the largest in Southeast Asia. In particular, this is a work of art on the subject of history. The painting simultaneously depicts typical moments and events of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign in 1954 - known to the whole world”.

The painting was painted by nearly 200 artists, using oil paint on canvas, in a 360-degree space, with a total area of 3,225 square meters. It depicts more than 4,500 characters in the fierce majesty of the Dien Bien Phu battlefield, and the blue sky dome, expressing the wish for peace. The painting is arranged in 4 sections: "The whole people go to battle", "The majestic prelude", "The historic confrontation", "The triumphant song to celebrate the victory".

The panorama "Dien Bien Phu Campaign" attracts many tourists every day.

Through detailed images and artistic intentions, it shows the solidarity of the Vietnamese people, the portrait of an entire generation with thousands and tens of thousands of people joining in a great battle for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. The highlight of the second part is the reenactment of the heroic opening battle at the Him Lam Resistance Center with the determination to win. The third part brings a lot of emotions because of the fierceness of the war with the second attack, especially the battle at the A1 stronghold. Then, the triumphant victory was celebrated at the historic moment of 5:30 p.m. on May 7, 1954, when the flag "Determined to fight, Determined to win" flew on the roof of General De Castries' bunker. The victory of Dien Bien Phu forced the French government to sign the Geneva Agreement; ending the 9-year long resistance war against the French of the Vietnamese people. At the same time, it encouraged the movement against colonialism and national liberation around the world.

With that epic, the Museum Director added: “Since 2021, the panorama has been received, managed, and operated by the unit to serve visitors, attracting a large number of visitors to admire, contributing significantly to increasing the number of visitors to the Museum. The painting has also won many major awards in painting and art. Therefore, the Museum's staff and employees are even more honored and strive to promote the value of the painting; do a good job of managing, protecting, and preserving, so that the painting can spread its special value to the public. Along with that, research and innovation are needed to promote and serve visitors better and better.”

With a large area, many details and more than 4,500 characters, the painting is overwhelming and creates many emotions for viewers.

Accordingly, to meet the large number of visitors during the national tourism year and the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory, from April 1 to May 31, the Museum will open to visitors every Friday and Saturday evening from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. On May 6 and 7 (Monday and Tuesday), the Museum will open all evening to serve delegates, visitors and people attending the celebration to have more time to visit.

With heroic images, considered an artistic masterpiece, and the professional efforts of the Museum, the Dien Bien Phu Campaign panorama has created many emotions for viewers, spread the national spirit, helping today's generation to appreciate more the historical values, along with the great contributions and sacrifices of our ancestors.

Since April 2022, when the painting was put into operation, the number of visitors to the Dien Bien Phu Historical Victory Museum has increased to 120,700 in 2022; 155,675 in 2023.

In the first quarter of 2024, the Museum welcomed more than 70,000 visitors. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, visitors came to visit the Museum and admire the panorama from 3,000 - 5,000 visitors/day, peaking at 7,000 visitors/day .

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