Dien Bien city "the pearl of tomorrow"

(Baonghean) - In May, the rows of trees along the streets of Dien Bien city are filled with colorful flowers, beautifying the young city, which has marked the golden pages of the nation's history. During these days, the number of people from all over the world visiting Dien Bien is increasing, to clearly feel the developments in the war zone once considered the "fire pan" of Indochina.

I belong to the generation born later, did not witness with my own eyes the close combat between our army and the enemy at the Dien Bien Phu front during 56 days and nights of "blood mixed with mud". But through the stories of the elderly and historical documents, books, and newspapers, after the liberation day (May 7, 1954), Dien Bien Phu was a desolate and mournful battlefield. At that time, the "Nhat Thanh" field was not as wide and flat as it is now and there were bamboo, bushes, and sparse population.

Dien Bien Phu Victory Monument.

Previously, from Hanoi to Dien Bien, it took several days by car, and a week by horse. Now, the national highway has been expanded, and cars only take about 10-11 hours. Pha Din slope "the sister carries the brother" towards Dien Bien province has been built with a new road, shortened by nearly ten kilometers compared to the old road, with fewer steep curves and much less dangerous. However, tourists and backpacking groups still choose to follow the old road to see the longest and most dangerous pass in Vietnam, with many steep, winding slopes, hairpin bends that are always ready to test the drivers' skills. At the same time, the air route, with a frequency of 2-3 flights per day from Hanoi, has shortened the distance between the provinces and Dien Bien Phu.

Female students of Thanh Nua High School (Dien Bien).

To develop steadily, Dien Bien province has determined that agriculture and forestry are still the main economic sectors. Therefore, the province focuses on expanding the area of ​​wet rice, promoting and encouraging farmers to produce 2-3 crops per year. In favorable areas such as the basin communes of Dien Bien district, the "Ba Luan" area, Dien Bien Dong district, "Ba Quai", Tuan Giao district, Muong Lay town, farmers focus on producing high-quality rice in the direction of creating high-value products. Currently, in Muong Thanh field, with 2 rice crops per year, farmers earn over 100 million VND/ha. Dien Bien rice is famous for its aroma and unusual stickiness, which has followed tourists from all over the world and even to the West.

Identifying rice production as the key to economic development, the province assigned the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to regularly research, test and experiment with new rice varieties with high yield, quality, and good resistance to pests and diseases to put into mass production. At the same time, short-term food crops such as corn, soybeans, hybrid cotton, and cassava... were also planted, helping farmers increase their income and improve their lives.

Teachers and 12th grade students of a high school in Paris (France) visit A1 hill - Dien Bien Phu battlefield.

In its development strategy, Dien Bien province advocates promoting administrative reform, attracting and calling for investment; issuing preferential mechanisms on tax, land leasing, borrowing, infrastructure investment outside the fence... for enterprises. Dien Bien cement factory, tunnel brick factories, hydroelectric projects, non-ferrous metal processing factories, gold mining... have been completed, put into operation and use, contributing to increasing the provincial budget revenue, creating jobs for many local workers.

But the most impressive thing is that Dien Bien owns the priceless Dien Bien Phu historical relic complex. After many years of restoration and embellishment, the historical relics attract a large number of domestic and international tourists to visit. This is a favorable condition for the province to focus on tourism promotion, building tourism products, contributing to promoting socio-economic development. In the economic structure, the service sector accounts for 45.99%. Revenue from tourism in 2014 reached 540 billion VND.

Dien Bien City Night

Rising from the ruined battlefield, with the efforts of the Party Committee and the people in the area, up to now, Dien Bien is developing day by day, becoming "the pearl of tomorrow of the Fatherland" as wished by Prime Minister Pham Van Dong when he visited the "old battlefield"... Today, walking in the heart of Dien Bien City, I clearly feel the strong development steps of the heroic land, resounding on the loudspeaker system, the song "Liberating Dien Bien" like a heroic epic "in the middle of this season, flowers bloom, the Northwest is jubilant and happy"...

Tung Linh

Image:Duy Ngoan - Phuong Binh - PV