A museum is calling for the donation of documents and objects linked to the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, which saw Vietnam defeating the French colonialists to put an end to their rule in Indochina in 1954.

Participants in the launch of donation raising campaign have a look at the donated items relating to the Dien Bien Phu Campaign

Organisations, individuals, revolutionary contributors, families of martyrs and veterans, overseas Vietnamese, and international friends were encouraged to donate documents and artefacts to the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum, based in the northwestern province of Dien Bien, so as to help diversify evidence of the heroic period in the country’s history and educate people, especially younger generations, on patriotism and national pride.

At the launch in Hanoi on March 6, the organising board received 36 documents and 22 items donated by two collectives and five individuals. They include 36 issues of the Quan doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) newspaper published during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign.

Vice Chairman of the Dien Bien provincial People’s Committee Le Van Quy said that while 65 years have passed, the values of the historic Dien Bien Phu victory remain intact as a great source of support for national construction and defence.

The Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum is looking after 4,000 original objects associated with important events and persons, but it still needs more items to create a more defined exhibition and leave a strong impression on visitors.

He noted that his province made a survey and found that there are many documents and items relevant to the Dien Bien Phu Campaign that are still kept by organisations, individuals, and those who were involved in the campaign. Therefore, it is calling for donations to help domestic and foreign visitors understand more about the event.

The Dien Bien Phu Campaign lasted from March to May 1954 under the command of General Vo Nguyen Giap. Its victory on May 7, 1954 led to the signing of the 1954 Geneva Accords in which France agreed to withdraw its forces from its colonies in Indochina. –VNA