International scientific conference: “Dien Bien Phu Victory–The Vietnamese Power and World Significance”

To deliver the opening speech of the Conference, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, Member of the Party Central and President of VASS clarified: 60 years ago, on 7^th May 1954, Vietnamese military accomplished a “world famous and shocking” Dien Bien Phu victory which isthe most significant campaign of Winter-Spring Offensive Strategy 1953 -1954 as well as the biggest victory of Vietnamese military during the Vietnamese resistance against France. This victory made a breakthrough for development of Vietnamese resistance against France which led to the agreement of Geneva Conference, and to end the French intervention in Vietnam, the North is independent and started to develop towards socialist, to form the strong foundation for the war against American to liberalize the South, and finally to unite the country in 1975. Dien Bien Phu victory is forever a remarkable event and huge pride of Vietnamese people. This world-famous victory could be compared to the victory of Bach Dang, Chi Lang, and Dong Da in the 20^th century. For the world, Dien Bien Phu victory is a golden historic remark which clearly marked where the colonist is disintegrated and the national liberalization all over the world was rising. 

Dien Bien Phu Victory is a victory of appropriate and creative strategy of Communist Party of Vietnam which is led by Great President Ho Chi Minh; a victory of contribution, sacrifice, and the "to fight and win" spirit of Vietnamese military and people; a victory of the cooperation of three Indochinese countries, the encouragement and support from socialist countries at that moment and people who are loving peace all over the world. Dien Bien Phu victory is not only a remark to open a new period of Vietnam’s revolution but also, for the world, it triggered the collapse of the old colonialism in the world, to mark the new development of people’s revolution everywhere for a world of peace, independence, democracy, and innovative society.

To speak at the Conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Nhat, Director of Institute of History, a unit member of Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said that: The Conference has received 52 scientific reports among them there are 37 reports by Vietnamese scholars and 15 reports by foreign scholars, they mentioned different perspectives but still focused on 8 main topics: The leadership of Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh, Central Military Commission and Ministry of National Defense; Evaluation of position and role of Fatherland Frontsin Indochinese battlefield to cooperate with Dien Bien Phu battlefield; role of the rear and other forces in Dien Bien Phu campaign; The world significance of Dien Bien Phu victory; The reasons behind victory of Vietnam in Dien Bien Phu campaign; The intervention of U.S in Indochina war and  the world's reaction before the victory of Vietnam and France 's defeat at Dien Bien Phu; To promote the values of Dien Bien Phu victory for the process of building and protecting Vietnam today; Issues of materials related to Dien Bien Phu victory.

The Conference is divided into four sessions. The opening session is managed by Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang - Member of the Central Party, President of VASS; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Linh –Vice Deputy of the Commission for Popularization and Education of the Communist Party of Vietnam; Prof. Dr. Vo Khanh Vinh, Vice President of VASS; and Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Thuan, Vice President of VASS. 

1^st Session: Dien Bien Phu victory – The greatest of Vietnamese spirit and power, - ischaired by Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang; Prof. Phan Huy Le; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Nhat from VASS; Prof. Dr. Truong Thuan Hong, China Academy of Social Sciences; and Prof. Dr. V.Kolotov, Saint Petersburg State University, this session had 8 scientific reports.

2^nd session: International and Dien Bien Phu victory is chaired by Prof. Dr. Vo Khanh Vinh, Vice President of VASS;Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Xuan Bien, Ho Chi Minh city Institute for Development Studies; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Quang Hai, VASS; Dr. Pierre Journoud, France Institute of Military History Research; and Prof. Dr. Marc Jason Gilbert, Hawaii Pacific University, U.S. This session had 7 scientific reports.

3^rd session: The World significance of Dien Bien Phu victory is chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Duc Cuong fromVASS; Prof. Dr. Carl Thayer, University of New South Wales, Australia; Dr. Bountheng Souksavatd, Laos Academy of Social Sciences; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Manh Ha, Ho Chi MinhNational political Academy; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duc Nhue from VASS. This session had 6 scientific reports.

The Conference focused on important issues such as: The leadership of Central Party, President Ho Chi Minh, Central Military Commission and Ministry of national defense in the selection of strategic position,fighting strategy, and participation of allpeoplein the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu;

To fight and win spirit, the brave sacrifice and great contribution of military, labor, and volunteer forces as well as Vietnamese people especially who are in North West and free region for Dien Bien Phu battlefield; 

The cooperation between all battlefields in Indochina: Southern Battlefield, V Region, Highlands, Upper Laos, Middle – Lower Laos… 

The international support, cooperation of people from three Indochinese countries in Dien Bien Phu campaign and in the war against French colonialism;

The meaning and effects of Dien Bien Phu historic victory specifically and the war against French colonialism of Vietnam generally towards the political situation of the world, the movement of national liberalization as well as peaceful, integrated, and developing trend of modern world.

Through different approaches, scientists concentrated on clarifying the role and position of Dien Bien Phu in strategy of French colonialism as well as Vietnam‘s revolution. To highlight the leadership role of Party and President Ho Chi Minh in the Vietnamese resistance against France, the leading strategic direction in Winter – Spring 1953 – 1954 campaign, and Dien Bien Phu. Central Party Committee and President Ho Chi Minh decided to choose Dien Bien Phu as a vital battlefield, decisive battle of the war against French colonialism, to propose many resolutions for different forces as well as local people to focus all the powers for this historic and must – win battle.

The scholars also pointed out that to strengthen the rear and ensure the logistics are decisive factors to make the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu. The victory is a proof of highly appreciating attitude of care, training revolutionary spirit, strengthening military power, being ready to fight for the protection of country and Party before the splitting and breaking plans of enemies;to promote the international relation and collaboration in different fields… to strengthen the position of Vietnam internationally… To evaluate the role of General Vo Nguyen Giap throughout the campaign especially his wise, brave, timely decision from “quick fight, quick win” to “đánh chắc, tiến chắc” strategy which led to the victory of Dien Bien Phu campaign.

To conclude the Conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Duc Cuong from VASS confirmed that The 60 years anniversary of Dien Bien Phu victory (1954 – 2014) is a great chance to educate the patriotism tradition and inspire the national pride for people as well as to review lessons of the power of people's war against intervention, of independent and freedom spirit of Vietnamese people. Thereby, to draw necessary lessons for nations to build a peaceful and developing world together, and to avoid the occurrence of war in international relations based on respecting each other's independence rights and territorial integrity.

An important content mentioned by many reports is to promote the values of Dien Bien Phu victory to build and protect Vietnam nowadays. Reports appreciated the clever, creativity, and bravery spirit of Vietnamese military and people during the revolution 60 years ago. This spirit need to be promoted in the process of building and protecting the country, to prevent poverty and old-fashioned, to create the happiness and fullness for people. A lesson drew out is even the most important decision must be based on the reality of life and in Dien Bien Phu it is the reality of battlefield, to stick with practice, people, and believe in people, to make the right decisions with the principle of building and protecting the country’s process in a timely fashion.

After one productive day, many issues related to Dien Bien Phu victory 60 years ago have been discussed lively by both domestic and foreign scholars. This topic is surely a great inspiration for researches in the future.

To research and clarify the meaning of Dien Bien Phu historic victory not only promoted the patriotism and national pride to serve the process of building and protecting the country today but also contributed to the confirmation of unity and support each other between loving - peace countries all over the world to fight back wars and strengthen the comprehensive collaboration to make a world without war, a world of cooperation and development.  

Nguyen Thu Ha