Vietnam Women’s Union celebrates 60th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory

The Central Vietnam Women’s Union sent a delegation to Dien Bien from 28 – 29 April, 2014 and organized a number of activities in the province to commemorate the victory.

Thurification and commemoration of heroic martyrs

The delegation was led by Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa, member of the Party Central Executive Committee, VWU President and consisted of representatives from central VWU, ministries, sector & branches at central level, leaders of Dien Bien province, WUs of some provinces and cities, veterans having participated in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, relatives and members of martyrs' families… in Dien Bien province. The delegation offered flowers and incense to commemorate and express gratitude to the heroic martyrs at the A1, Doc Lap and Him Lam cemeteries who had sacrificed their lives for the national independence and freedom.

Exchange event “Memory of Dien Bien – luggage for development”

The exchange activity was organized by the Central VWU at the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum. In her opening remarks, VWU President Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa emphasized that the traditions of “heroism, indomitability, faithfulness and resourcefulness” served as a foundation for Vietnamese women to promote the strength of unity to overcome difficulties and make greater contribution to realizing national socio-economic objectives.

At this event, the participants had opportunity to listen to vivid stories of Dien Bien ex-soldiers, and those shared by younger generation o­n their efforts and dedication to contribute to the national construction, maintaining and carrying o­n the fine traditions of previous generations.

On this occasion, the VWU handed over 60 “Affection Houses” to poor women in Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces (30 houses each). The houses are worth VND 1.2 billion mobilized from the staff of the central VWU, WUs of some mountain and bordering provinces and female staff of several ministries, sectors and branches. In addition, the central VWU and women entrepreneurs also presented gifts to 12 mothers and wives of martyrs of the resistance war against the French colonialists.

Opening of the exhibition “Memory of Dien Bien”

The exhibition, co-organized by the Vietnam Women's Museum, Vietnam Military History Museum, Dien Bien provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, was solemnly opened.

The exhibition vividly recreated the life of Vietnamese soldiers and people, especially the sacrifice under the slogan “all for the front and all for the victory” made by the women whose husbands and children participated in the Dien Bien Phu campaign. There also exhibited recollections, memorabilia, documents and photographs of many women who directly involved in the campaign. The exhibition was the connection between the past and the present, between the older and younger generations, and it had profound significance in educating younger generations to be proud of and strive for the continuity of the national glorious history.

The exhibition was o­n display at 3 locations: the Vietnam National Convention Center o­n the evening of April 26; the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum (Dien Bien Phu city) from April 28 to the end of 2014; and the Vietnam Women's Museum (36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hanoi) from May 6 to 30, 2014.

Visits to border posts and bordering communes’ Women's Unions

During the visits to the Si Pa Phin and Phin Ho border posts, o­n behalf of the VWU’s staff, members and women, the VWU leader expressed warm sentiments and presented gifts to officers and soldiers stationed in the localities, affirming that the VWU would organize practical activities to care for soldiers’ families, thus enabling them to concentrate o­n their jobs and fulfill tasks successfully.

Working with the WUs of Si Pa Phin, Phin Ho communes (Nam Po district) and Muong Phang commune (Dien Bien district), the VWU leader was particularly interested in understanding the situation and living conditions of local WU members and women; listened to the report o­n overview of the communes’ socio-economic development, local WU’s activities and women’s movements by the heads of the communes’ People's Committees and WUs. She also spent time discussing about micro-credit, economic development, poverty reduction, illiteracy elimination activities as well as the implementation of the campaign “Building the family of 5 Without-s and 3 Clean-s”… On this occasion, the VWU leader presented VND 30 million to each commune WU as a revolving fund for supporting local women in economic development and presented gifts to State preferential policy beneficiary families in Muong Phang commune.

To celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, WUs of many provinces also organized activities of practical significance. Quang Tri Provincial WU organized a visit to Con Dao island – a historic site and organized "Floating Lanterns Night" ritual o­n Thach Han river in April, 2014 to express gratitude to heroic martyrs.Thai Nguyen Provincial WU organized a twinning ceremony with Phin Ho Border Post, Dien Bien province, and presented gifts to local families having made contributions to the national revolution. Hau Giang Provincial WU organized exchange and twinning event with the border post in Duong Dong Port, Kien Giang province, contributing to inspiring border guards and well implementing the army’s rear policy (caring for soldiers’ families).

The meaningful activities to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory by WUs at different levels expressed, in the most practical way, the gratefulness of VWU staff, members and women to heroes and martyrs, families having made contributions to the national revolution, thereby motivating women nationwide to uphold the spirit of the Dien Bien Phu victory by strengthening the unity, dynamism and creativity to effectively contribute to the national defense and construction.