NW VIETNAM-SON LA TO DIEN BIEN PHU- AUG 2015

SON LA TO DIEN BIEN PHU

Day 3 of Tour

17 Aug 2015

Today we drove northwest on more winding and scenic roads. We saw more colourful ethnic minority tribes along the way. As in the previous day, we stopped often for pictures and look at some villages.  Our guide Mike gave us insight into their rich cultures.

Driving past villages and the minorities live in houses built on stilts.

Another break to stretch

Another photo stop

 

After lunch, we drove through Pha Din pass which is about 1000m elevation. The local believes this pass connects between the Heaven and Earth. Driving through the many bends and deep gorges, climbing and descending the slopes were a great experience.

Driving near to a school in a village.

 

We arrived at Dien Bien Phu in the early afternoon and spent the rest of the day visiting the historical site relating to Vietnamese-French war of independence. The main point of interest is A1 hill and Dien Bien Phu Museum.

Museum

Bunkers and defensive position on A-1

Note:  A1 Hill is the most famous battle of Dien Bien Phu site. The hill is 32 meters high, 82 thousand square meters large and 500 meters west of the headquarters of the French during the Dien Bien Phu campaign. It was the scene of the fiercest fighting between Vietnamese and French armies in 1954

To seize the hill A1, the army of General Vo Nguyen Giap deployed an intelligent and audacious initiative. They dug tunnel in which they placed a ton of explosives to blow up the command bunker. Ms Lo Thi Sinh says: “25 soldiers were given the task of digging the tunnel. The more they advanced, the more they became choked due to oxygen fault. The following fanned the one before him. The excavated soil was placed in a bag and then shipped out to fortify the trenches. After 15 days, the soldiers dug 47 meters of the tunnel. On 6 May 1954, at 20:30, they were ordered to blow up the tunnel. The explosion shook the hill, killing an enemy company and shocking all those who were still holed up in bunkers. Seizing the opportunity, our troops took the hill. In all, they destroyed 850 enemy soldiers, completely excluding 4 well-drilled combat battalions of the French colonialists”

Vietnam won the Dien Bien Phu battle on 7 May 1954. That was the day I was born!