Temple of Dien Bien Phu Martyrs: Paying tribute to a nation’s heroes

The Temple of Dien Bien Phu Martyrs in the city of Dien Bien Phu boasts unique architecture, with every detail bearing special historical, cultural, and spiritual significance.

Located on Hill F, in Muong Thanh ward, Dien Bien Phu city, construction of the Temple of Dien Bien Phu Martyrs commenced on March 13, 2021. (Photo: Vietnam+)

The Temple of Dien Bien Phu Martyrs on Hill F epitomizes the solemnity and sanctity of the historic site of Dien Bien Phu. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Entrance No. 1 is a curved wall with many holes resembling trenches. Visitors passing through can readily imagine gun muzzles from French foxholes, and sense that the Vietnamese soldiers were beginning to face danger. Above is a circular shape creating an open space interacting with the sky. (Photo: Vietnam+)

The memorial space includes a tranquil courtyard and a lake formed by concentric circles, symbolising concentration and inner peace before entering the spiritual space. (Photo: Vietnam+)

The space of worship in the main temple serves as a sacred bridge between the present life of humans and the divine realm, an invisible link connecting and harmonising the two realms of yin and yang. (Photo: Vietnam+)

The crescent-shaped memorial lake represents the pupil in the eye of a fallen soldier. Fifty-six lights positioned at the centre represent the 56 days and nights of the fierce battles during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. (Photo: Vietnam+)

According to the Monument Management Board, the F Hill site was chosen for construction of the memorial temple because it witnessed the fiercest battles of the Vietnamese People’s Army soldiers during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. (Photo: Vietnam+)

VNA