Deepest gratitude to the soldiers of Dien Bien Phu.

Battlefield memories

In his house in Block 23, Hung Binh Ward (Vinh City), former soldier Nguyen Canh Thin (born in 1928), a direct participant in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, remains remarkably lucid. Recalling his past, Mr. Nguyen Canh Thin said that in 1950, he eagerly enlisted in the army in response to the sacred call of the Fatherland, and was assigned to Regiment 174, Division 316. “Back then, I was very excited and enthusiastic. In war, everyone thinks about death, but I wasn't afraid. If I lost, it would only be my own sacrifice, but in return, I would gain the entire country, the Fatherland – that was a great gain,” Mr. Thin shared.

In March 1954, Mr. Nguyen Canh Thin and his unit arrived at the Dien Bien Phu battlefield very early and participated in two crucial battles before the opening shots of the Dien Bien Phu campaign. Amidst countless dangers, hardships, and shortages, with bare feet and an iron will, Mr. Thin and his comrades immersed themselves in the battle, contributing to the final victory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign.

“In battle, all I knew was to charge forward, full of determination. The joy was overwhelming when I saw the enemy surrender with a white flag and our army's flag of decisive victory flying atop the enemy's command post. Those memories are deeply etched in my heart, giving me strength and motivation to fulfill my duties in the army in the years that followed,” said Mr. Nguyen Canh Thin.

Having gone through two wars, for Mr. Vo Nguoc (born in 1930), from Hung Nghia commune (Hung Nguyen district), joining the army and contributing to the Dien Bien Phu Campaign was an honor and a particularly profound memory in his life. At just 22 years old, like many other young men, Vo Nguoc answered the call of the Fatherland and enlisted in D32, Military Region 4, participating in the Upper Laos Campaign. Later, his unit was transferred to the 36th Division, and veteran Vo Nguoc remained in Company 925 - D5, Regiment 174, 36th Division, and began participating in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign.

Mr. Nguoc's most memorable experience during the campaign was on March 13, 1954, when our troops began firing, marking the start of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. His division was assigned to attack Him Lam Hill and Doc Lap Hill. At that time, he was assigned as a squad leader, tasked with guarding the soldiers digging tunnels and trenches. While on duty, a group of French soldiers attacked. He threw two grenades, killing several enemy soldiers and preventing them from advancing. This was his first victory in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign.

Former Youth Volunteer Pham Ngoc Hoa (born in 1946), from Da Son commune (Do Luong district), in October 1953, at the age of 17, faced with the need to provide manpower and resources for the resistance war against the French, he and many other young people of his age in the locality enthusiastically volunteered to go to war.

“Fifty people from my village volunteered to join the Youth Volunteer Force, but only four were selected, including me. Back then, we were very naive, not understanding much about the revolution or political lines. However, it was only when we gathered on the Dien Bien Phu battlefield that we were truly enlightened, understanding what we needed to do for the Fatherland and the people. My comrades and I participated in building roads, filling bomb craters, and defusing unexploded bombs at Pha Din Pass – a vital route for transporting weapons, ammunition, food, and medicine to the Dien Bien Phu battlefield. At that time, each of us was determined to work our hardest, unafraid of hardship or sacrifice,” Mr. Hoa shared.

Along with compatriots and soldiers nationwide, the army and people of Nghe An dedicated all their resources and efforts to the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. From February 1954, in response to the General Mobilization Order for the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, 5,438 young people from Nghe An enthusiastically enlisted. In addition, Nghe An province mobilized 6,600 civilian laborers, contributing over 1.5 million man-days to build roads to the front lines. They all carried within them the traditions of their heroic Soviet homeland, the revolutionary fervor, and contributed alongside the rest of the country to the Dien Bien Phu Victory, a victory "renowned throughout the world and shaking the earth."

An act of gratitude

Nghe An currently has 696 martyrs, 84 wounded soldiers, 708 Dien Bien Phu veterans, 408 volunteer youth, and 148 civilian workers who directly participated in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign and are still alive. After fighting and winning, returning to civilian life, the Dien Bien Phu veterans, regardless of their positions, always maintain the spirit of "Uncle Ho's soldiers," serving as the core of patriotic emulation movements in the locality. They are living historical witnesses, contributing to the increasingly prosperous development of their homeland.

Over the past period, the Nghe An Provincial Veterans Association has encouraged its officials and members to uphold the spirit of the Dien Bien Phu Victory and strive to fulfill all assigned tasks. Mr. Nguyen Duy Can, Vice Chairman of the Nghe An Provincial Veterans Association, stated: During holidays and commemorations of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, the association at all levels regularly organizes activities such as visiting, encouraging, and giving gifts; while also ensuring full benefits and policies, providing health consultations, free medicine, and celebrating longevity… In addition, the association at all levels has reviewed and provided financial support for repairing and building new houses for Dien Bien Phu veterans, helping them stabilize their lives.

In addition, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province, in coordination with relevant departments, agencies, and localities, reviewed the list of martyrs, Dien Bien Phu soldiers, volunteer youth, and civilian workers who directly participated in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign; prepared budget estimates; and guided localities and units to organize activities to honor, express gratitude, and present gifts in a timely and meaningful manner, depending on their specific conditions.

To date, the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee has coordinated with localities, departments, and agencies to present gifts to Dien Bien Phu soldiers, youth volunteers, and civilian workers who directly participated in the campaign; visited relatives and offered incense to martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, with a total amount of nearly 3.8 billion VND (from the budget of the Provincial People's Committee and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front).

Furthermore, localities and units throughout the province also allocated budgets and mobilized funds to present thousands of gifts to policy beneficiaries on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. In addition, the province organized for some exemplary veterans to attend meetings and tributes to Dien Bien Phu soldiers, youth volunteers, and civilian workers who directly participated in the campaign, held in Thanh Hoa province and Hanoi.

At a meeting with Dien Bien Phu veterans, youth volunteers, and civilian laborers commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, held at the end of April, Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee - affirmed: "Upholding the fine tradition of the nation, 'Drinking water, remembering the source,' the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, political and social organizations, and the people of Nghe An province have been, are, and will do their utmost to express gratitude for the contributions of the heroic martyrs, wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, youth volunteers, and civilian laborers who directly participated in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, doing everything possible to partially compensate for the sacrifices and losses of these comrades."

In the coming period, the province will continue to implement preferential policies correctly, fully, and thoughtfully; focus on better caring for wounded soldiers, families of martyrs, and those who have rendered meritorious services to the revolution; and pay attention to educating all levels of the population, especially the younger generation, about the nation's historical traditions and revolutionary achievements. At the same time, the locality will mobilize social resources to better care for the material and spiritual lives of those who have rendered meritorious services and their families…

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Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Deputy Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee.