It’s been 65 years since the Vietnamese army’s heroic struggle against French colonialists, putting an end to their rule in Indochina. Many of the French soldiers who participated in the battle at Dien Bien Phu are now in their 90s. Reflecting on their past history, several veterans express hope for better relations between Vietnam and France in the near future.

During his official visit to VN in November 2018, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe laid a wreath at the A1 Cemetery for matyrs and visited the A1 hill relic site in Dien Bien Phu city, Dien Bien province. Colonel Jacques Allaire accompanied Prime Minister Edouard Philippe during the visit. He said it was good to see the French PM visiting Dien Bien Phu, helping to ease tensions despite the pain of the past.-VNA