Dien Bien Phu victory in 1954 was the greatest victory in the war against the French, leading to the signing of Geneva Agreements, ending the war and reunification of Vietnam. The paper aims at clarifying two important issues – reasons leading to the victory and lessons learnt from this victory. First, Dien Bien Phu victory resulted from the will and decisiveness of the whole nation in the war for independence and freedom of the country. Second, the power of Vietnamese nation which led to Dien Bien Phu victory resulted from the intelligence and creativity of Vietnamese people, forcing the French to fight in very difficult conditions and were defeated by the Vietnam army. | Dien Bien Phu Victory. DIEN BIEN PHU VICTORY – THE SYMBOL OF VIETNAM’S WILL AND CREATIVE POWER TRAN DUC CUONG * Abstract: Dien Bien Phu victory in 1954 was the greatest victory in the war against the French, leading to the signing of Geneva Agreements, ending the war and reunification of Vietnam. The paper aims at clarifying two important issues – reasons leading to the victory and lessons learnt from this victory. First, Dien Bien Phu victory resulted from the will and decisiveness of the whole nation in the war for independence and freedom of the country. Second, the power of Vietnamese nation which led to Dien Bien Phu victory resulted from the intelligence and creativity of Vietnamese people, forcing the French to fight in very difficult conditions and were defeated by the Vietnam army. Key words: Dien Bien Phu, war, will, national solidarity. The date of May 7th, 1954 has entered Vietnam history as one of the most remarkable days. On this day, soldiers of Vietnam army, after 56 days of brave fighting, defeated the French army base supported by the American in Dien Bien Phu. With this victory, Vietnam army killed and caught into prisoners 16,200 officers and soldiers of the French army which were included in 17 infantry battalions and paratroops, 3 artillery and mortars battalions, 10 battalions of Vietnamese officers and soldiers which had just been added to the French army there and a big number of vehicles, tunks, and helicopters. Among those caught there was one brigadier general, 16 colonels and lieutenant-colonels, 353 officers from lieutenants to majors, 1,396 officers. Vietnam army also shot and destroyed at site 57 planes of different types of the French and managed to get quite a big number of trophies, including 28 mortars, 64 vehicles, 5, 915 guns of different types, 20,000 liters of petrol, 21,000 parachutes, 20 tons of medicine and medical equipment and many granades and ammunition, etc.(*) Dien Bien Phu victory of Vietnam destroyed the .
