DIEN BIEN PHU, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam on Tuesday celebrated the 70th anniversary of the battle of Dien Bien Phu in which the French colonial army was defeated by Vietnamese troops, marking the end of the French occupation of Indochina.
At Dien Bien Phu, Vietnamese troops led by General Vo Nguyen Giap, surprised French forces with heavy artillery fire at their mountainous garrison in northwestern Vietnam.
When Dien Bien Phu fell in 1954, it spelled the end of almost a century of French colonial rule.
“The historic Dien Bien Phu victory is a remarkable event, not only for the Vietnamese revolution,” Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said in a speech at the ceremony. “It is also a monumental saga that inspired countries rising up to fight for independence and freedom, marking the collapse of the colonialism all over the world.”
On Tuesday morning, the commemoration was held at a stadium in the center of Dien Bien Phu, once a village in a valley dense with trenches, barbed wires and bomb craters. It is now a city of more than 80,000 people.
Rihanna goes 'nude' as she models a lacy body suit in a video promoting her new lingerie collection
Government's targets: 'Where is the action behind these?'
Judge agrees to reduce Trump fraud bond
Dozens of jobs set to be axed at Commerce Commission
Suspect in custody after video recorded him appearing to steal a police vehicle amid gunfire
'More than safe passage, a destination'
Alleged MediaWorks hack sees 2.5m Kiwis' data stolen
Samsung: Tech giant sees profits jump by more than 900%
With college football drama behind him, Devontez Walker eager to show his talent with Baltimore
Princess of Wales Kate having chemotherapy after cancer discovery