Vietnam: The 'almost' forgotten battle of Dien Bien Phu

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For the French army, Dien Bien Phu is a painful symbol. During this battle (March 13-May 7 1954), the bloodiest since World War II, thousands of French soldiers were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. This terrible French defeat brought the First Indochina War to a standstill and marked the beginning of decolonisation. On the Vietnamese side, Dien Bien Phu means victory. Our reporter went back to this town so symbolically linked with history.
More than 60 years later, the battlefield of Dien Bien Phu has given way to a major city. Veterans of Dien Bien Phu are slowly dying out and young Vietnamese seem to care little about the past, despite government efforts to glorify those heroic times. Our reporters went to meet them.
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[@agnezabarutanski1963]

Metaphorically speaking, VIetnam is like a fearless little badger that has been repelling much larger beasts from it's piece of jungle for decades and centuries. I can't even express how impressed I am with the resilience of the Vietnamese people and how much I wish that they thrive and enjoy many decades and centuries of peace and prosperity. THey more than deserved it! Respect from Croatia!

[@dragonkinglee]

I'm Vietnamese and I'm proud of our history of regaining the indepence.

[@happysanchezjr.9162]

Then move back and stay there.

[@wasimshaikh1665]

Vietnamese people are fighters in real sense. It's remarkable how well they are doing past decade despite the devastating wars and years of occupation.

[@phongnguyen007]

the Amazing Vietnamese now in good relationship with both French and American. We only fighting for our Independence and the right to live by our own. But it's hard to live with the Chinese. :D

[@herokawasaki2904]

This was a great video, I'm to hear both sides agreed that it is history , and that they are both friends ! Great respect for both country , and to the strength and pride of the vietnamese people !

[@JustanAsianGuyVietnam]

Long live OUR VIETNAM!!!!!!!!

[@jackiedollhouse1861]

I love Vietnam.

[@leroi9318]

Jackie Dollhouse i love you too

[@tho162]

Jackie Dollhouse tks you.I'm from VietNam

[@billybones5639]

Manners

[@fnnchah1543]

Thanks you

[@haipham1759]

game battle of dien bien phu

[@Love.life.ashigzoya]

Thank you French for remembering this military landmark so earnestly.

[@HistoryHustle]

Interesting video. When I was in DBP it looked like a desolated town with just a very few tourists.

[@karrole88]

History hustle i am huge fan of yours now go there and bring us updated video.

[@kolbpilot]

Interesting how Dien Bien Phu has grown, changing the landscape forever. It would take a vivid imagination, or a serious student of history, to picture the battlefield as it was in May of '54.

[@jafo766]

You can see it on KZbin.

[@karakorum2007]

Glory and Honour to Vietnam!

[@hiepphung9026]

the translator did his job unacceptable. his translation were almost different from the original meaning. biassss dishonestttt

[@tonyrobson4681]

By whom is it ' almost forgotten'? Tony Robson in England.

[@joelleleslieari]

Long Live VietNam!

[@freeman2690]

I know you can't help it but you see the arrogance of the European when that gentleman said we're not at War now you had to remind him that they outnumbered you they won because like the man said they were fighting for Independence they weren't in France fighting they were fighting in their own country why is the European so shocked when people don't want to have nothing to do with you you always complain when people come to your country these people were in their own country minding their own business and also it's unfortunate that the French still control French West Africa because you guys control the CFA and these African countries can't do anything without permission from Paris so the Vietnamese were correct and driving you out I only wish the Africans have done the same

[@victoriamahaliajacksonsgre9247]

Amen....

[@namnguyen-tv8nt]

Vietnamese had 4000 years history. how many time we kick out the bad boys out of own country.

[@frankl7370]

The truth is Vietnam has a history of foreign occupations and liberations from said occupations. But the true Vietnamese spirit is magnanimous and forgiving. They are only enemy with invaders not of past hatred.

[@milokhanh313]

Well yes ,accept China, specificly China's giverment , everyone is friend , and should be treated nicely . Past was past , the cut cant be healed if it keep bleeding 😊

[@TheMemory08]

Ho Chi Minh is the smart fighter

[@nguyenhoangphucluan8059]

SgtBaker16 i am gay

[@chrisdupreez6281]

He wasnt a fighter. Genl Giap wad the fighter Ho Chi Minh was a master politician and father of a nation

[@vivianwiner7288]

@SgtBaker16 you have a low IQ on 10, go to hell

[@wballer479]

@SgtBaker16 still is a smart fighter

[@freeman2690]

I think the French would have been very accepted in Vietnam if they had really built the country of taking into consideration of Vietnamese themselves the only reason they built all those structures in Vietnam especially at Hanoi and Saigon I mean Ho Chi Minh City is because they needed to extract the wealth of Southeast Asia which was what I can understand centered around agriculture the problem is the French felt these people were beneath them and they were Superior to them and that's why they had so many issues in Vietnam

[@toothpick5932]

Yes Indochina contribute 40% of France GDP in those days. The French stayed in Vietnam for 80 years and it took them 20 years to stamp out the rebellion! It was not all smooth sailing for them .I guess it is not in our DNA to be submissive

[@user-bx1mf3zb8y]

Yeah .. maybe if they gave French right and citizenship could be still French right now … Ho chi Minh at the beggining just ask for that

[@nhienleminhhue6605]

Long live uncle Hồ

[@donnytrump692]

Ho Chi Minh was a war criminal

[@anvutrong6870]

@@donnytrump692 the f you saying?

[@kysugiay6512]

LONG LIVE GENERAL VÕ NGUYÊN GIÁP!

[@nhienleminhhue6605]

Long live general Võ Nguyên Giáp

[@tiolucasoff-roadingcompany2113]

If you want someone to win your War Vo Nguyen giap is your man he was a teacher of French history who follow Sun Tzu's book to the T

[@haipham1759]

12:04 đoàn vệ quốc quân

[@jafo766]

NO , we have not forgot the incredible VICTORY achieved by the NVA time and again.

[@kimberly2407]

they know the result of this battle right from before the battle started What the hell they fought De Castri knew it The French also know the six army in Stalingard

[@user-zo8hs4yh2h]

Vietnam independence👍👍👍

[@amnhaclhl5001]

điện biên phủ , Let coppy

[@boduke2522]

very proud of the Vietnamese

[@AbdulAli-ku9he]

Viernamese people fought and defeated invaders: Chinese, Mongols, French, and American army.

[@nguoihangxom7686]

Ho Chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap are beloved leaders

[@christopersambeli2823]

respect to the vietnamise they regain their independence through arms not the pen

[@AbdulAli-ku9he]

8:56 his wife telling him , relax man, relax man.

[@scl1332]

Actually those names Elaine, Anne Marie, and Isabelle were named after the French commanders girlfriends and like them they left him

[@eriny2436]

I dont know what happen when vietnam had war with france with american , both side can easely forget and forgive each other , i am as indonesian respect both side but dutch (nederland) kick out too by indonesian and so many people die both side mostly indonesian people but dutch people still hates us ( indonesian ) this make indonesian hates back .....we indonesian and dutch need to learn from vietnam and france and american people .....

[@rizahanifardhi7112]

really? i dont recall contemporary dutch hate us nor we hate them.. last i check the relation between both countries seems fine. your personal feeling is irrelevant.

[@ThienHoang-tr3dh]

Because Vietnam won and defeated their enemies. With their culture, there is no need to hate their former enemies because these former enemies may be friends in the future. No-one know the future but just live in peace and harmony with each others even with their former friends.

[@uchieunguyen6094]

Vietnam champions

[@eric2685]

Placing French Union troops, including a Vietnamese Parachute Battalion ( the 5th ) into a valley surrounded by hills they failed to occupy was a seriously bad decision by overconfident French leadership . I am only surprised by how long the French actually held out !

[@Love.life.ashigzoya]

The people gave a good lesson to French imperialism .

[@user-bx1mf3zb8y]

Was not clear enough for the Americans 😂

[@angloaust1575]

After the surrender they should have used the prisoners to rebuild the village and remove all the mines and Barbed wire

[@angloaust1575]

The japanese had bases there in ww2 they even built the airstrip at dienbienphu!😊

[@asmodeus0454]

What is often neglected in looking at the First Indochina War are the battles the French actually won in northern Vietnam against the Vietminh and the French won several substantial victories against the Vietminh before 1954. The French military command in Vietnam had pretty good cause to believe Dien Bien Phu would be a success.

[@charlesferdinand422]

In summary: France applied its default war strategy and surrendered as it alwayws do.

[@diablo2elitepvpguides405]

they ran this poor man through the ringer, look at how they make him apologize with out saying it,funny how the french snuck that little shot in at the end about the americans suffering their worst defeat, yeah i wouldnt doubt the french cuz they know prob everything there is to know about tragic defeats, now their being over written by muslims, funny how things change

[@Lieu3C4]

One thing that does not seem to have been mentioned here is the way the Americans had acted to destabilize the French. It were they who gave Ho Chi Minh his head start on a military level, donating some 3000 rifles and ammunition in 1944, toward precisely that purpose.

[@kenny_tukin]

Nah,The American helps Viet Minh in 1944 just because they are ally in the WW II, to fight Japanese occuping Indochina in 1944. The Americans want to use the local people as "shield" for them to minimize their loss. In 1946, the French came back Indochina, they did not want Americans interfere their colony. The French easily took back their conlony but they could not wipe out Vietminh. Vietminh retreated to joungle, started growing. With the aid of China since 1950, Vietminh became stronger. In 1950, The American started helping the French with the most haveavy weapons at that time, see Mutual Defense Assistance Act (1950-1954). ofc, The Amaricans did not want to help the French with all of their strengh i.e. send their man to fight for the French becauce they want to replace The French in Indochina but they did not destabilize the French on purpose. Note that the main weapon factor which supurised the France in Dien Bien Phu battle is Vietminh cannons supplied by the Chinese.

[@inouelenhatduy]

vietminh have used 105mm and japanese canon way befor dien bien phu campain they just suprise cause they dont belive we can move 105mm up to those hill around dien bien phu ( watch a video of soldier pulling the canon or take it apart and carry piece by piece + dont forget vietminh also help the china communist during china civil war in vietnam,china border when the vietminh take or attack the kummingtan that surrounding or besieg few communist city/town

[@lambui1423]

Before you want to start a war with vietnam people . Read our history first ..

[@gurusukumaran1304]

Imperialism is so bad but Americans don't realise that

[@aajabbinmagosh5509]

It's almost forgotten because One of western country France lost

[@dumbfrog123]

9:40 French people like him. LOL

[@davidchou1675]

Too bad the old Vietminh vets weren't shown rebutting the Frenchie more rigorously. Also, WYF is with the local French cenotaph???

[@jenpsakiscousin4589]

The story of dien bien phu is legendary, thousands of legionaries volunteered to air drop into certain death even after it was completely surrounded and no way out. They went in anyway to try to save their buddies and to maybe be immortalized in history, in those days the French put their heroes on matchbooks.

[@jasonthach44]

Vietnam France, cousins!

[@billybones5639]

What' are u talking abt

[@sulahu]

Land of the brave. They kick out the petty french then american.

[@stevedavis8329]

This is completely false. Navarre knew that there were large numbers of Viet Minh moving in, and knew that there were armored units moving in as well.

[@tinhhoangvan9327]

In 1954 the Vietnamese did not have tanks. Their number of artillery was even 7 times less than that of the French at Dien Bien Phu.

[@imikeyyang7649]

They try to do what they did to the Native Americans but failed. Both France and USA.

[@vudat189]

French surrender

[@Mika30041975]

Lies. North Vn communists with china comminsts's helps in man power and arms to fight the french for a goal, not the patriotisme preached to north vnmeses soldiers, of a communisme.

[@Mika30041975]

*****​ Communists have slayed almost the whole cambodia by your master chins supporting the khmer rouges. Phathet laos were also commies. Viet Minh had many politic ramifications among communists (pro chins ) and nationals (against chins) to fight the french. Hồ Dog, your hero, who invites the french back to vn. Hồ Dog is one of the murderers of world history like your Polpot master.

[@hobojoe5697]

This is advanced retardness, don't ever return to my MotherLand

[@elisabettajdj335]

@@Mika30041975 Never in my life have I read so much stupidity in so little words. Impressive. I recommend to you a history book

[@danm.bagley5030]

Where did you get the idea the America suffered a defeat. We were not on the field of battle in 1975. If America would of used it's entire resources the outcome would of been certainly much different.

[@iska788]

Dude, enough. The US lost the Vietnam War because it did not achieve its objective. It is time to be honest with yourself. I love the US but wow is it so hard for you to admit defeat? Why should you be invincible?

[@dekippiesip]

That's a bit of a stretch. If Russia had used all it's recources they would have won Afghanistan too. A power like the US has the capability to drop multiple nukes or start a systematic genocide against all locals while replacing them with whites, much like what happened to the natives in the US or the Aztecs in central America. But short of that level of brutality, NO, they could not have won the war.

[@solecaring1230]

TO DAN M. BAGLEY: THE US FORCES WITHDREW AND IT WAS A SIGN OF COWARDICE THAT THE FIGHT WAS LOST. SO WAKE UP BRO!

[@aussiejunk393]

iska788 in my opinion, Vietnam was more of a war on communism.. which America eventually won lol

[@jessemiles1441]

@@iska788 57,000 lost. Vietnam 20- million and still counting who lost ? If you say the US lost you can't count !! I like those numbers if not for the American people you would be speaking English now !! We have no problem with coming back with even far greater power then before and this time we'll stay !!!!

[@freeman2690]

It's critical that young Vietnamese understand how your forefathers suffered and fought for the freedoms you enjoy right now although its freedoms that I different than the freedoms we have here in America their freedoms nevertheless you people seem happy to me and that's all that matters