An article about Dien Bien Phu published on Voces Del Periodista. (Photo: Phi Hung/VNA) |
Changing the combat motto from “Swift attack, Swift win” to “Firmly attack, Firmly succeed”, called “the most difficult decision in his commander’s life” by General Vo Nguyen Giap, marks a turning point in the history of Vietnam’s resistance war against the French – the Mexican newspaper Voces Del Periodista emphasized in an article published in early May. The article celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954-May 7, 2024).
According to Vietnam News Agency reporters in Mexico, in an article titled “Dien Bien Phu Victory: Lasting Resonance,” Voces Del Periodista said the decision reflects sharp military thinking and the flexible and creative handling of the practical situation. This is the decisive factor in ensuring the victory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign.
The article’s author, Mouris Salloum George, stated that after 56 days and nights of steadfast fighting, digging mountains, and sleeping in underground tunnels, the Vietnamese army and people under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, overcame all sacrifices and challenges to destroy the strongest military base of the French colonialists in Indochina. After 70 years, the Dien Bien Phu victory remains an immortal epic of the 20th century.
Mouris Salloum George, also President of the Mexican Journalists Association, points out that one of the decisive factors of the Dien Bien Phu Victory is the solidarity of the Vietnamese people. After returning to France in defeat, General De Castries, the commander of the Dien Bien Phu stronghold, said to the Investigation Committee of the French Ministry of Defense: “One can defeat an army, but cannot defeat a nation.”
The article on Voces Del Periodista. (Photo: Phi Hung/VNA) |
According to Mouris Salloum George, this is the power of a people’s war launched and led wonderfully and skillfully, bringing great encouragement to oppressed peoples in many countries in Africa and Latin America to stand up for independence.
Referring to President Ho Chi Minh, Mouris Salloum George recounted the event on March 11, 1954, two days before the campaign. President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to the soldiers: “You are about to go to the battle. This time, your mission is challenging but glorious. I firmly believe that you will build on your recent victory and be determined to overcome all difficulties and hardships to fulfill your glorious mission. Wishing you big wins!”
President Ho Chi Minh’s message was a great encouragement, having a strong impact on the morale of the Vietnamese army and people right when the battle began.
In the opening battle, the young Vietnamese army won a great victory, tearing apart the Him Lam outer defense base, and breaching the vital road into the French Central Division from the Northeast.
The article affirmed that the Dien Bien Phu Victory created an important turning point for the Vietnamese Revolution, leading to the signing of the Geneva Accord and ending the war, restoring peace in the Indochina region, creating the basis and conditions for Vietnam to win in the resistance war against the USA.
The historic victory of Dien Bien Phu also showed the outstanding maturity of the Vietnam People’s Army.
Under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, the army continuously grew. This is also the premise for Vietnam’s complete independence and unification 21 years later.