Dien Bien Phu a victory for Vietnamese and French peoples: sociologist
Dien Bien Phu a victory for both Vietnamese and French peoples: sociologist
The Dien Bien Phu victory 65 years ago is not only one for the Vietnamese but also for the French people against colonialism, a French sociologist has affirmed.
The victory flag was flying on top of the bunker of French General de Castries on May 7, 1954 (Photo: VNA)
Paris (VNA) – The Dien Bien Phu victory 65 years agois not only one for the Vietnamese but also for the French people against colonialism,a French sociologist has affirmed.
In a recent interview granted to Vietnam News Agencycorrespondents, Said Bouamama further asserted that the collapse of the Frenchmilitary complex was not a purely military defeat for France, but it tolled thebell of death for the French colonialist regime.
The immediate impact of Vietnam’s Dien Bien Phu victoryaccelerated profound subsequent changes, not only on colonialized countries butalso on the changes of French colonialist strategy, the scholar said, addingthat besides being a military feat for Vietnam, the victory also serves as a symboland a promise of independence for suppressed nations.
The victory came as a clear-cut distinction between thevictor and the loser, he said, describing this as quite worthy and undeniable forVietnam after its huge sacrifices during the war. The obvious loser was thethen French state and the ruling social strata it was protecting.
However, the French people had never supported the war, thescholar affirmed, pointing to the fact that the anti-war movement was very effervescentwith many activities all over France. This proves that the French people cannotbe taken as the loser of the Dien Bien Phu battle.
All the factors that smash the colonialist spirit in factare the victory of the French people, he said, concluding that the Dien Bien Phuvictory holds a great significance: a defeat to colonialism, racial discriminationand the French state and at the same time a victory of the Vietnamese andFrench nations.-VNA
Despite the 65 years that have passed, the memories of Colonel Jacques Allaire – a French veteran who fought in the Dien Bien Phu campaign – have remained intact.
Dien Bien province has carried out several activities to mark the 65th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu victory that ended the French colonial rule in Vietnam.
The Dien Bien Phu victory on May 7, 1954 was Vietnam’s biggest victory in the resistance war from 1945 to 1954. The victory manifested Vietnamese military intelligence.
An exhibition on the Dien Bien Phu campaign and victory is underway in Hanoi. The event is part of the activities to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory in 1954.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has highlighted the historical significance of the Dien Bien Phu victory on May 7, 1954, and outlined four key tasks to accomplish the goals set for national construction and defence 65 years after the world-breaking event.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The victory flag was flying on top of the bunker of French General de Castries on May 7, 1954 (Photo: VNA) 
