ĐIỆN BIÊN — Among the people flocking to Điện Biên on the 70th Điện Biên Phủ victory anniversary are old grey-haired men who have trouble with walking. They are former Điện Biên soldiers who travelled vast distances to visit the place where they spent their youth 'carving mountains and sleeping in underground tunnels', sparing no blood and bones to defend the Fatherland.
Seventy years have passed and their final wish is to return to the former battlefield and burn incense for their fallen comrades.
Điện Biên soldier Nguyễn Văn Tam and his daughter join the stream of people visiting the Điện Biên Phủ Historical Victory Museum. — Photos baodienbienphu.com.vn
On the morning of May 4, Nguyễn Thị Hương, a resident of Tân Thanh Ward, Điện Biên Phủ City, accompanied her 93-year-old father, soldier Nguyễn Văn Tam, to visit the Điện Biên Phủ Historical Victory Museum.
Despite being tired after a long journey from his hometown in central Nghệ An Province, as soon as he arrived Tam told his daughter to take him to the martyrs' cemetery so he could burn incense for his comrades.
Hương said: "We were concerned and advised him not to climb to the steep temple, but we had to follow his wishes because he sincerely expressed his gratitude to those who had fallen.
“My father appeared to be feeling better. He only took a rest three or four times while ascending the temple's lengthy, steep path. He then went on to the Điện Biên Phủ Historical Victory Museum after getting down.”
Nguyễn Văn Tam was a soldier of Regiment 57, Division 304, participating in the siege and fighting the enemy in the Hồng Cúm subdivision.
France troops built a fortified Hồng Cúm subdivision with a reserve airport to receive reinforcements and supplies.
To encircle and restrain the enemy's artillery, the 57th Regiment encircled the enemy's Hồng Cúm subdivision with horizontal and vertical trenches, to form a continuous battlefield, cutting it off from the central subdivision, ending the landing of aircraft on the runway at Hồng Cúm Airport.
From April to early May 1954, the trenches of the 57th Regiment moved closer to the enemy bunkers, tightening the siege and forcing the enemy into retreat.
Điện Biên soldier Nguyễn Văn Tam tells old battle stories to his daughter while visiting the battlefield.
Tam said: "At the beginning of the battle, many members of my unit had fallen, but after changing tactics, we won many victories.
"Now that I'm back here, I can't help but feel choked up burning incense for the soldiers who fought on the same battlefield as mine.
"We are forever grateful for the comrades who sacrificed for our country’s peace. It will probably be the last time. I'm so happy to have my wish come true!"
Visiting the Điện Biên Phủ Historical Victory Museum and looking at the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign painting, Tam told his daughter stories of old battles.
Hương said: "Tomorrow he wants to visit the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign Command where General Võ Nguyên Giáp worked and commanded our army to win the victory.
“My father had been preparing for this trip for a long time. Since the victory’s 60th anniversary, he said that if he could still walk, he would try to go to Điện Biên to celebrate the 70th anniversary.”
Điện Biên soldier Bùi Trọng Hiến (sitting) listens to information about the extraordinary circular oil on canvas painting
Joining the stream of people making their way to Điện Biên on the anniversary, soldier Bùi Trọng Hiến (born in 1933), from Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province has finally been able to realise his dream of revisiting the old battlefield.
It wasn't until he turned 91 years old this year that he was able to visit.
Hiến enlisted in the army at the age of 18, volunteering to serve in unit 148 of the Northwest Independent Army, which was tasked with conquering the Northwest in 1952. He was then stationed in Điện Biên (previously Lai Châu) with his comrades.
The army fought on until 1953, when France regained Điện Biên Phủ.
Hiến's unit was tasked with guarding the artillery and providing anti-aircraft artillery support at the Hoong Lếch forest gate in the communes of Thanh Hưng, Thanh Chăn and Thanh Yên in Điện Biên District.
He and his comrades persisted in assisting Laos in freeing Phoong Sa Ly after May 7. Due to juggling multiple responsibilities and family issues, Hiến was never able to visit Điện Biên before now.
Điện Biên soldier Bùi Trọng Hiến has fulfilled his wish to visit the old battlefield.
"I felt touched looking down at the Mường Thanh as the airplane was about to land," he said.
“I was reminded of the hard, tough, yet valiant days I had spent enduring bombs and bullets, sometimes days without anything to eat.
“The battleground is very different now. It is elegant, rich, and modern. Everyone is thrilled about the anniversary and the numerous elaborate commemorative events planned. I feel honoured to have played a tiny role in the triumph." — VNS
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