Ninety-one-year-old journalist Nguyen Khac Tiep (R). — Photo congluan

HA NOI (VNS) — The dramatic events occurring on the Dien Bien Phu battlefield in 1954 were reported every day in a hand-produced newspaper printed and distributed on the battlefield.

Indeed, the journalists and others involved in the effort, were classified as soldiers because they were using special weapons - their pens – to fight for victory.

Many of those involved in writing and publishing the paper, titled Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People's Army), met last week in Ha Noi and shared their memories. It was produced using a rudimentary hand-operated printer.

Ninety-one-year-old journalist Nguyen Khac Tiep said 33 issues of the newspaper were actually published on the battlefield with contributions from five reporters, including himself.

"We took simple printing equipment to the battlefield and joined in the operation with the soldiers," he said. "The newspapers were printed in a dug-out trench shelter under light from a flickering oil lamp."

Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Journalists Association Ha Minh Hue said that the stories, photos and video clips produced during the battle were precious historical documents.

Besides Quan Doi Nhan Dan, other media agencies, including Radio the Voice of Viet Nam, the Vietnam News Agency and Nhan Dan (People) also produced news on a daily basis during the Dien Bien Phu campaign. — VNS