On March 13, 1954, the Vietnamese revolutionary army launched its first attack on the French colonialists’ heavily fortified base at Dien Bien Phu to mark the start of a 56-day historic campaign whose victory directly led to the signing of the Geneva Accords on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina.
On May 7, 1954, the flag of the Vietnamese army was raised on top of the command tunnel of French general De Castries. By the midnight on the same day, all of the French troops had been captured.
The French general’s command tunnel was built by French colonialists in Dien Bien province. It was dubbed as the most solid tunnel in Indochina at that time.
The tunnel is one of the country's 23 special historical sites.
The site is 20 metres long and eight metres wide, including four compartments dedicated to both the residence and workplace of French general De Castries and his troops.
During the 56 days of fierce fighting, the Vietnamese army and people created the Dien Bien Phu Victory which resounded across the world and shook the globe.
The command tunnel used by French general De Castries attracts plenty of visitors.
A total of 70 years have passed, but the Dien Bien Phu Victory remains a source of pride among the Vietnamese people due to its great significance.