Dien Bien (VNA) – Sixty-five years since the historicvictory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, the northwestern province of Dien Bien hasbeen making progress in development efforts.

The Dien Bien Phu Campaign began in March 1954under the command of General Vo Nguyen Giap and ended with Vietnam’s victory onMay 7, 1954, leading to the signing of the 1954 Geneva Accords, in which Franceagreed to withdraw its forces from its colonies in Indochina.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’sCommittee Le Van Quy told Vietnam News Agency that the victory marked the endof the Vietnamese people’s resistance war against French colonialists, as wellas the collapse of the colonial rule in Indochina and the world.

He said to Dien Bien and the northwesternregion, the triumph put an end to France’s occupation, oppression andexploitation, bringing a free life to local ethnic groups. 

The official emphasised that the Dien Bien Phubattlefield is a unique relic site found nowhere else on earth, which holds specialand important values to not only Vietnam but also peace-lovers around theglobe.

Therefore, Dien Bien considers the preservationand upholding of this relic site’s values critical to educating youngergenerations on patriotism and revolutionary traditions, as well as to localsocio-economic development.

In 2003, provincial authorities and relevantagencies built and submitted a master plan on the preservation and promotion ofthe Dien Bien Phu Victory’s relic site to the Prime Minister for approval.

The preservation work has gained encouragingoutcomes so far when many main relics have been restored, including the commandpost of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign in Muong Phang, the route on whichVietnamese soldiers pulled artilleries, and the centre of France’s fortresscomplex, Vice Chairman Quy said, adding that other relics are also beingrehabilitated so that the whole relic site deserves the special nationalstatus.

Thanks to the solidarity and efforts ofall-level authorities and people, Dien Bien – a mountainous province whoseeconomy used to be underdeveloped – has attained relatively good achievementsin socio-economic development over the last decade, the official said.

He noted its gross regional domestic product(GRDP) grew by 7.15 percent last year and about 8.3 percent annually between2016 and 2018. Per capita GRDP has surpassed 27 million VND (over 1,170 USD)each year.

The household poverty rate was reduced by some 3.69percent annually from 48.14 percent in 2015 to 37.08 percent in 2018.

Meanwhile, the economic structure has changed ina positive manner when the service sector has expanded to account for 54.61percent of the local economy, industry – construction 22.82 percent, andagro-forestry-fishery sector nearly 20 percent.

By the end of 2018, all the 130 communes, wardsand townships had had concreted roads reaching their central areas, making themaccessible by cars. All the communal-level localities have also accessedelectricity from the national grid, ensuring power supply for 90 percent ofhouseholds in Dien Bien.

Additionally, the province has kept a stablepolitical situation, enhanced defence – security, and ensured social order andsafety. It has also reinforced the political system and improved theapparatus’s efficiency. Its external relations have also been expanded,according to Vice Chairman Quy.-VNA