Sixty years ago, in the afternoon of May 7, 1954, the flag of “determined to fight and determined to win”, which had been handed over to Vietnam People’s Army by Uncle Ho, flew above the headquarters bunker of French troops in Muong Thanh, signaling the successful ending of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. That victory is forever a “brilliant golden landmark” in our people’s heroic history of fighting against foreign aggressors.

Marching to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu victory (Photo: bqp.vn)

Dien Bien Phu Campaign, the climax of the Winter-Spring Strategic Offensive of 1953-1954, was launched in the context of great changes on the battlefield, which gave us a lot of advantages over the enemy. After thorough analysis and assessment of the general situation, the Politburo, the Party Central Committee and the General Military Commission made a strategic decision, namely: “To move the majority of our seasoned main force to Dien Bien Phu Front and to launch campaigns to destroy the most elite forces of the enemy in their strongest fortifications in the Indochina theatre of war.” It has been proved that this is an accurate decision, demonstrating the keen thinking and strategic vision of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh. To realize that strategic decision, our army and people promptly made every necessary preparation and entered the fierce battle of strategic importance by their aspiration to national independence, as well as by their fierce determination to fight and determination to win. In such spirit, we achieved a landslide victory: smashed the strongest fortifications of the French Expeditionary Corps, destroyed and captured 16,200 enemy troops, as well as many military vehicles and equipment – successfully ending Dien Bien Phu Campaign.

That victory inflicted a complete defeat on the Navarre Plan, vanquished the aggression of French colonialist and the U.S intervention, and compelled them to sign the Geneva Accords to end the war and respect independence, sovereignty of three countries, namely Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

The Dien Bien Phu historic victory is forever a pride of our people, and particularly leaves a series of valuable lessons. Those lessons were employed creatively by our Party to achieve victory in the national salvation war of resistance against American aggressor, and remain valid in the cause of defending the Fatherland today.

Firstly, the lesson on sound and creative guidelines on carrying out revolution and people’s war of our Party.

Nowadays, our people’s cause of building and defending the Fatherland has witnessed both opportunities and challenges, advantages and difficulties. Notably, the hostile forces have unceasingly implemented schemes and “Peaceful Evolution” activities to undermine Vietnamese revolution. Thus, more than ever before, we must be steadfast in the goal of national independence and socialism, confident in the leadership of our Party. In such spirit, it is necessary to bring into full play the overall strength of the whole nation, of the great national unity bloc, combine the strength of the nation with the strength of the era to consolidate the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. In the new situation, it is vital to build a strong people’s defense, to combine the people’s  defense posture with people’s security posture, and establish fortified defense zones; while proactively struggling to defeat all plots and acts of sabotage of the hostile forces, protecting the Party’s platforms, guidelines and viewpoints. It is the grasp, employment and application of lessons on guidelines in the struggle for national liberation in general, in Dien Bien Phu victory in particular to today’s cause of building and defending the Fatherland in the most practical and meaningful manner.

Secondly, the lesson on the sensible, keen and strategic guidance of the Party in Dien Bien Phu Campaign, and the close combination of combat operations among theatres of war

In the context of complex evolutions in the region and the world, and the broad and deep trends of globalization and international integration today, we are required to be of sound mind, on the basis of upholding the strategic principles, but being flexible and sensible in terms of tactics; to thoroughly grasp the mottos of “more friends, less enemies,” and both cooperation and competition; to avoid conflict, confrontation, isolation, and dependence; to precisely perceive partners and objects in accordance with the Party’s viewpoints in order to properly address issues in international relations and cooperation. It is necessary to undertake simultaneously the two strategic tasks, in which the task of economic development is the core, Party building is the vital, cultural development is the spiritual foundation of the society, and strengthening defense and security is the important and regular task. Economic and cultural development is closely linked with strengthening defense, security and foreign relations, taking the initiative in properly handling situations, creating a peaceful and stable environment for comprehensive development of the country.

Thirdly, lesson on building the strong tri-force armed forces, especially units of main force, to fight decisive battles to achieve victory in the theatre of war

On the basis of inheriting and employing those lessons in the cause of Homeland protection today, we need to keep building the strong tri-force armed forces, serving as the core element of the people’s defense in peacetime and of the people’s war in the event of war. It is vital for us to focus on building Vietnam People’s Army in the “revolutionary, regular, seasoned, gradually modern” direction, which was specified in the Resolution of the 11th Party National Congress. First of all, great importance should be given to the building of a strong army in terms of politics, ideology and organization, laying the foundation for the enhancement of overall quality and fighting power. Education of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh’s thought aimed at promoting the revolutionary nature for officers and soldiers need to be conducted on a regular basis. At the same time, it is important to enhance the regularization to a new step. The management and training of military disciplines and orders need to be closely associated with the active renovation of education and training and other tasks, ensuring an increasingly seasoned army, first and foremost in terms of politics and combat capability. Given the high requirements of the task of Homeland protection, we need to intensify the building of our army in a gradually modern manner, in which some services and arms are invested to become modern right away according to a defined roadmap.

Fourthly, the lesson on promoting the spirit of determination to fight and determination to win of our army and people in Dien Bien Phu Campaign

In order to apply this lesson in the cause of building Vietnam People’s Army today, we need to continue renovation, improve the quality of political and ideological education, and make the army strong politically. One of the priorities is to focus on educating soldiers about revolutionary ideas, combat objectives, consistency in the goal of national independence and socialism, firm political stance, thorough grasp and strict observance of the Party’s platforms, guidelines, viewpoints, State policies and law, and readiness for undertaking and fulfilling all assigned missions. In the present situation, given the fierce acts of sabotage of hostile forces by means of “Peaceful Evolution,” promoting “self-evolution,” “self-transformation,” and “nonpoliticalization,” Vietnam People’s Army should attach great importance to Party building and uphold the absolute, direct and all-round leadership of the Party over the Vietnam People’s Army and the cause of Homeland protection. This is a matter of principle, ensuring that the army is the faithful and trustful political force of the Party, Fatherland and people, and serves as the core element in the cause of defending the Fatherland.

Finally, the lesson on strengthening international unity, friendship relations and combat alliance of armies and people of three Indochina nations

Bringing into play that lesson in today’s cause of Homeland construction and protection requires us to thoroughly grasp, perceive and realize consistently the Party’s diplomatic guideline; to implement comprehensively the guideline of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development in foreign relations; to exercise multilateralization and diversification of relations; and to proactively and actively integrate into the international community, creating a favourable international environment for comprehensive development of our country. At the same time, it is important to improve relations with partners, especially neighbouring countries, ASEAN members countries, major powers, and traditional friendly countries in a deep, stable and sustainable manner. State diplomacy, Party’s diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy need to be coordinated closely to actively introduce the international community to our achievements in democracy, human rights, ethnicity, and religion; while proactively struggling to defeat all schemes and acts of sabotage of hostile forces, and activities to encroach upon independence, sovereignty, unification, and territorial integrity of the Fatherland.

By General Phung Quang Thanh

Member of the Politburo,

Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission,

Minister of National Defense