Hanoi (VNA) – A number of original documents and records about the Dien BienPhu Campaign and the 1954 Geneva Conference were made public for the first timeand introduced to the media on April 5.

TranViet Hoa, Director of the Hanoi-based National Archives Centre No. 3 under theState Records and Archives Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs, said thecentre is preserving a large number of documents and records about thehistorical context, directions, and preparations for the Dien Bien Phu Campaign,its developments, results, and significance, international opinions, the campaign’slogistics affairs, and the policies of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now theSocialist Republic of Vietnam) towards war invalids and surrendered troops.

Thearchives reflect the sound leadership as well as sharp decisions and strategiesof the Party, Government, and Vietnam People’s Army, the solidarity andunanimity of the entire people and army in the safeguarding of nationalindependence, and the role of General Vo Nguyen Giap – Commander-in-Chief ofthe campaign.

Meanwhile,the archives about the 1954 Geneva Conference on restoring peacein Indochina include documents and photos about the historical context, developments,and results of the conference, the impacts and enforcement of the Geneva Accordsof 1954, international opinions about this meeting, the stances and viewpointsof the parties concerned, and international friends’ support for Vietnam.

The nearly 200 documents made public on this occasion are just a small part of the archives beingkept on 14km of shelves by the centre, Hoa said, noting that they formimportant evidence helping with scientific research about historical events,military, diplomacy, and history of Vietnam, as well as with patriotismeducation.

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May7, 1954 - 2024) and the signing of the Geneva Accords, the archives centre iscoordinating with the Vietnam Military History Museum, the Department of HomeAffairs of Bac Giang province, and the Department of Culture and Sports ofHanoi to hold exhibitions and publish books, she added.

TheDien Bien Phu Victory forced the French colonialists to sit down at thenegotiation table to discuss and sign the Geneva Accords on ending the war andrestoring peace in Indochina in July 1954, putting an end to the prolongedFrench colonial rule and heralding a new stage for the revolution in Indochina.This was a great and extremely significant victory in the history of Vietnam.

Underthe accords, for the first time, the French Government and each stateparticipating in the Geneva Conference pledged to respect the sovereignty,independence, and territorial integrity of Vietnam and absolutely not to intervenein the country’s internal affairs. The French troops must withdraw while NorthVietnam was completely liberated, embarked on the building of socialism, andbecame a large and firm rear for people in the South to push ahead with thestruggle for national liberation and reunification./.