A photo exhibition entitled “Dien Bien Phu – A Glorious Epic” opened on May 4 at General Vo Nguyen Giap’s last resting place in Vung Chua – Dao Yen in Quang Trach district, the central province of Quang Binh.

Jointly organised by Photograph Magazine and the Photo Centre and the War Veterans’ Association of the Vietnam News Agency, the event aims to honour the feat of arms that the Vietnamese people and soldiers made under the leadership and the command of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), President Ho Chi Minh and the late General Giap.

Sixty photos have been placed along the road to General Giap’s grave, giving visitors a thorough insight into the history of the Dien Bien Phu Battle from the beginning to the end.

The event will run until May 14. The photos will then be presented to Quang Binh province.

The victory at Dien Bien Phu on May 7, 1954, helped end French colonial rule in Vietnam , and has since become a symbol of national strength.

Earlier on May 3, a television propramme linking Dien Bien, Hanoi and Truong Sa was broadcast live on the Public Security Television’s ANTV channel to mark the 60 th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory and the liberation of the capital, and 39 years since Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago was liberated.

With guests on the TV show including those who directly participated in the fierce battles in Dien Bien Phu and soldiers in Truong Sa Archipelago, the event relived a magnanimous period of the nation, linking the past and the present.

Themed “Glorious Memories – Sacred Sovereignty”, it also urged Vietnamese people to preserve and promote the achievements that the elder generations recorded, and protect national sovereignty over sea and islands.

Meanwhile, many activities have been held across the country to mark the Dien Bien Phu victory.

On May 4, nearly 200 war veterans and more than 1,000 member of the Youth Union in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho gathered to tell each other stories about the memorable days.

On the occasion, the municipal Youth Union presented 60 scholarships worth 1 million VND each to hard-working students who are offspring of the war veterans.

In Hanoi, the Military High Command of Dong Anh, Ba Vi and Dong Da districts gifted 70 million VND houses to poor families in Muong Lay, Muong Ang and Tua Chua communes in Dien Bien, while the Military High Command of Ha Dong district presented a public house worth 200 million VND and 50 million in cash to Tuan Giao district.

The Central Highlands of Lam Dong also held activities to celebrate the Dien Bien Phu victory, including exhibitions, art performances and film screenings.

On the occasion, the provincial War Veterans Association handed over a house valuing at 120 million VND to a former Dien Bien soldier in Lac Duong district.-VNA