During the historic Dien Bien Phu campaign in 1954, the legendary Pha Din Pass saw the footprints of tens of thousands of soldiers, frontline workers, and young volunteers on their journey to transport ammunition to the Dien Bien Phu battlefield. 70 years later, stories of this glorious time remain intact in the hearts and minds of the soldiers and local people.
Mr. Quang Van Kho of Son La Province recalls the moment leading up to the Dien Bien Phu Victory. (Photo: VOV)
“Dien Bien was liberated and General De Castries surrendered. We cheered, applauded, and burst into tears.”
Mr. Quang Van Kho of Son La Province recalled the moment leading up to the Dien Bien Phu Victory that “resounded across the five continents and shook the globe.”
Despite his deteriorating health at the age of 95, Mr. Kho still remembers clearly locations at the Dien Bien Phu battlefield which were full of bomb craters that he filled along Pha Din Pass.
“I helped soldiers to fill the bomb craters from 5 to 6 p.m., then joined local people to cut down trees in the forest. One carried soil, others carried rock, and trees. Everything had to be done at night in order to not be detected by the enemy. It was very hard to work at night. We didn’t sleep. We returned home at 5 a.m and only then had something to eat,” said Kho.
Stories of the glorious time remain intact in the hearts and minds of the soldiers and local people in Dien Bien. (Photo: VOV)
Pha Din Pass borders the two provinces of Son La and Dien Bien and is judged to be one of four most renowned passes in the northwest region of Vietnam and the gateway to the Dien Bien Phu campaign. Therefore, the French army had always targeted the pass to cut off the food supply to Vietnamese soldiers at the frontline. French aircraft patrolled the pass area dozens of times a day, dropping hundreds of bombs of different kinds.
Pha Din Pass witnessed thousands of soldiers, young volunteers, and militia sacrifice their lives during the Dien Bien Phu campaign.
Mr. Lo Van Hoan, Chairman of Muong E Commune’s People’s Committee, in Son La Province, said the commune borders Pha Din Pass and Tuan Giao District in Dien Bien Province. During the Dien Bien Phu campaign, hundreds of locals participated as soldiers, young volunteers, and frontline workers.
“That tradition has created an impetus for younger generations to follow the revolutionary spirit of their predecessors who contributed to today’s peace. Every year we organize activities and talks to review memories of the resistance war and educate the younger generations about the historical value of the great Dien Bien Phu Victory in general and of Pha Din Pass in particular,” said Hoan.
Pha Din Pass is recognized as a national relic site by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Photo: VOV)
Four years ago, Pha Din Pass was recognized as a national relic site by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The steep mountain route of Pha Din Pass now continues to be a vital road promoting transportation for trade between Dien Bien Province and Son La and the lowland provinces.
These days, a Martyrs’ Temple in Pha Din Pass’ historical and cultural relic site is being completed to be put into operation before April 30 - Reunification Day.
“Once completed, this place will be a spotlight in the Pha Din Pass relic site, a sacred destination that attracts a multitude of locals and tourists near and far,” Nguyen Dac Luc, Secretary of Thuan Chau District’s Party Committee in Son La Province, said.
