The battle of dien bien phu began in 1953, when general navarre fortified the valley of dien bien phu, which lay in an isolated corner of northwestern vietnam. There are tanks and a monument to viet minh casualties on this former french position, known to. Dien bien phu a city in the northwest vietnam, especially for fans of military history. The narrative begins when colonial officers and map. This town is where the viet minh troops defeated the french colonial forces on may 7, 1954. There are tanks and a monument to viet minh casualties on this former french position, known to the french as eliane and to the vietnamese as a1 hill. Western reporters memoir about general vo nguyen giap. Dien bien phu was the site of a major french defeat 1954 in the first indochina war, and was of tremendous historical significance. How to get there, travel guide, weather, detailed map of area, what to visit. From october 1940 to may 1941, during the francothai war, the vichy french in. Its remote location in the extreme northwest of vietnam deterred both visitors and development, apart from becoming a french garrison during the colonial period.
Dien bien phu is a place of the one of the biggest fight of vietminh against the french colonial army. Further north we explore the battlefield of dien bien phu, which signalled the end of french colonial rule and savour the breathtaking vistas of ha long bay. Each angle of view and every map style has its own advantage. Dien bien phu is one of the most historically relevant sites in vietnam. During this battle march may 7 1954, the bloodiest since world war ii, thousands of french soldiers were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. A pitched battle happened in dien bien phu around sixty years ago. From simple political to detailed satellite map of phu bai, phu loc, thua thienhue, vietnam. Dien bien phu city is located in muong thanh valley with around 20km long and 6km wide.
The place is bestknown for having seen the french defeated against the vietminh army on may 7 th, 1954. This major confrontation occurred at dien bien phu, a large heartshaped valley located in northwestern part of vietnam, near the border with laos. The battle of dien bien phu was one of the most influential battles in military history. The battle of dien bien phu is a wellknown historical event symbolizing the glorious victory of the vietnamese people and army. The name dien bien phu contains itself a great number of historical events, including dien bien phu campaign in dien bien province in 1954, which was a resounding victory over the world, defeating french colonists and liberating the complete vietnams northern region, and the victory of dien bien phu on air in hanoi in 1972, which broke the. For travelers who want to take in the sights and sounds of dien bien phu, a1 hotel is the perfect choice. The battle of dien bien phu was a climactic confrontation of the first indochina war that took. Ac car and guide pick up and drive to dien bien phu hotel for check in.
Whatever is true, i am amazed that i was personally involved with two of these battles in my relative short military career. Information how to get to dien bien weather accommodation interesting places map dien bien phu town is of special interest for fans of military history. But, only the one in the night is really a bus, if you want travel in the morning only have small bus. Documents relating to the vietnam war mount holyoke college.
Click here for items related to battle of dien bien phu french union france state of vietnam. Map of dien bien phu hotels and attractions on a dien bien. Check flight prices and hotel availability for your visit. Today the provincial capital with broad boulevards and an airport, dien bien phu played a major role in the first indochina war. The detailed satellite map represents one of many map types and styles available. Apr 15, 2016 for the french army, dien bien phu is a painful symbol. It was fought between the french unions french far east expeditionary corps and viet minh communist. Battle of dien bien phu area today a map of the area around the battle positions battle of dien bien phu summary. This morning you are picked up at the hotel, by car and tour guide for your transfer to the airport for you flight to dien bien. This page provides a complete overview of phu tai maps.
I liked the frequent switch to maps, outlining the units and movements and then back to. The french defeat here led to their complete withdrawl from their colonies in indochina, and the division of vietnam into north and south. Dien bien phu forum, travel discussion for dien bien phu. Download is not completed or youve got problem with steam ws. Battle of dien bien phu french foreign legion information. The average distance from hanoi to dien bien phu is 291 kilometers equals to 180 miles or 157 nautical miles. Dien bien phu map dien bien phu michelin maps, with map scales from 11 000 000 to 1200 000. It is located in the muong thanh valley in a heart shape, a 20 km long and 6 km wide valley. The fourway circular thingy marks sights, attractions and other points of interest.
Dien bien phu is located in dien bien province in the northwest region of vietnam. To find things i used the maps in bernard falls hell in a very small place, individual maps of the strong points downloaded from the dien bien phu infos website and the 1. A dien bien phu flashback in black and white vnexpress. Hill a1, located in muong thanh ward, plays a critic part in controlling the whole battle of dien bien phu campaign. Your flight will depart from noi bai international airport at 21. Dien bien phu travel northwest vietnam, vietnam lonely. There were hundreds of people gathered on the battlefield to await the arrival.
The vietnamese viewpoint of dien bien phu supplies some much needed balance to the accounts of the battle written by western soldiers and historians. This place is situated in dien bien, lai chau, vietnam, its geographical coordinates are 21 23 0 north, 103 1 0 east and its original name with diacritics is di. Package tour to dien bien phu covers all sites of battle field in french war. Visit dien bien phu on your trip to dien bien phu or vietnam. Accordingly, the siege of dien bien phu began on march, by which time the viet minh had concentrated nearly 50,000 regular troops, 55,000 support troops, and almost 100,000 transport workers in the area. Bien phu marked the end of the first indochinese war and left the french decimated and embarrassed. The almost forgotten battle of dien bien phu youtube. From simple political to detailed satellite map of phu tai, tra bong, quang ngai, vietnam. Discuss dien bien phu travel with tripadvisor travelers. The town sits in the heartshaped muong thanh valley, surrounded by heavily. Tucked away in the muong thanh valley, deep in the highlands of northwest vietnam, dien bien phu has earned its place in history books as the turning point of colonial rule. The decisive battle in which viet minh revolutionaries defeated the french colonial forces took place in the surrounding heartshaped muong thanh valley in 1954. Standing on the top of hill a1 while listening to a tourguide briefing about the 1954 campaign, ones may have a sense of attending the battlefield.
Dien bien phu dbp plays a star role in vietnam s modern history. That is one of the bordered cities as it is around 35km to laos, 474km to hanoi. Dien bien phu was founded in 1841when the nguyen dynasty wanted a fortified royal district as a response to the growing problem of banditry in the area. Use the map below to find specific destinations in dien bien phu which are listed on travelfish. Map of dien bien phu hotels and attractions on a dien. This definitive documentary focuses on the history of americas involvement in indochina, from the defeat of the french at dien bien phu to the reunification of vietnam after the last american troops left saigon, with footage from vietnamese, chinese and french combat photographers rarely seen in the west. Between 1945 and 1954 northwest vietnam became the cradle of resistance against french colonialism, and the battle of 1954 marked the end of french involvement in indochina. This major confrontation occurred at dien bien phu, a large heartshaped valley located in northwestern part of vietnam. The time and date were carefully chosenthe hour allowed the artillery to fire in daylight, and the date was chosen because it was a new moon, allowing a nighttime infantry attack. Bien phu was a symbol throughout the world that small guerrilla forces like the viet minh could turn away even the largest of imperial powers. Look at phu loi, quan hoa, thanh hoa, vietnam from different perspectives. Get directions, maps, and traffic for dien bien phu. For the french army, dien bien phu is a painful symbol.
Vietnam, the site is celebrated as battle and setting for victory in 1954 of revolutionary. Dien bien phu is a singleplayer mod about the first indochina war 1946 1954. The battle of dien bien phu is seen as the decisive battle of the first indochina war between french troops and the viet minh league for the independence of vietnam, a nationalist, prosoviet union movement of ho chi minh. I was told we would be at dien bien phu in the early afternoon and the general would arrive at about the same time. Visit dien bien phu on a trip to vietnam audley travel. This is a historical site which its name was in the mind of most of vietnamese and french people of that generation.
We continue our journey south to the former dmz, visiting the citadel in hue where some of the fiercest fighting took place during the 1968 tet offensive. An american reporter finds himself in the middle of the 57day battle of dien bien phu in vietnam between the french army and the vietminh, which finally resulted in the defeat and surrender of the french forces and frances eventual withdrawal from vietnam. It was in the surrounding countryside here, on 7 may 1954, that the french colonial forces were defeated by the viet minh in a decisive battle, and the days of their indochina empire became numbered. The short film victory at dien bien phu 1964 is available for free download at the internet archive. Chinese aid, consisting mainly of ammunition, petroleum, and some large artillery pieces carried a distance of 350 kilometers from the. Dien bien phu tours travel to dien bien phu vietnam. For the viet minh, control of dien bien phu was an important link in the supply route from china. That defeat sealed the end of french colonization and of the first indochina war. Dien bien phu is a comparatively new town established in the middle of the 19th century to help to rid the area of incursions by bandits from siam, laos and china.
Missionsre inspired by historical battles form this conflict, including famous battle of dien bien phu, and by vietnamese 7554 fps game. This page provides a complete overview of phu bai maps. The first indochina war began in french indochina on december 19, 1946, and lasted until. This place is situated in tuy phuoc, binh dinh, vietnam, its geographical coordinates are 45 0 north, 109 10 0 east and its original name with diacritics is phu tai 2. Highway 12 ploughs on south for more than 100km about 34hr, making slow progress at first but then zipping through the second 50km, to the heartshaped valley of dien bien phu, scene of general giaps triumph in a battle. Obviously, history is what draws most tourists to the area.
Dien bien phu travel northwest vietnam, vietnam lonely planet. Attractions in dien bien phu, vietnam lonely planet. The battle of dien bien phu there is a book in the kinsley kansas library called the 20 most decisive battles in world history, or it might be called the 20 most decisive battles in vietnam. Each bed icon indicated a guesthouse, hostel or hotel covered on travelfish. Approximately 150 documents, photos and artifacts relating to the 1954 battle, from both vietnam and france, are on display at an exhibition in. A map of dissident activities in indochina in 1950. After lunch you will visit dien bien museum, hill a1, hill independence and the cemetery. It took place on the west side of dien bien district, in lai chau province, 500km northwest of hanoi. It is situated in the highlands of northwest vietnam, about 420 kilometres from hanoi. In november 1953, the french occupied the town with paratroop battalions and began reinforcing it with units from the french military post at nearby lai chau. Bus from sapa to bien dien phu most hotels in sapa sell ticket bus to bien dien phu at 300. The defeat of the french in the battle of dien bien phu marked the collapse of frances indochina empire.
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