The portrait of President Ho Chi Minh is carried through the Dien Bien stadium's main stage. Photo: Vu Loi/VOV

The ceremony, the most important event in a series of activities commemorating the historic victory, was attended by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Truong Thi Mai, Acting President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, and other leaders.

International guests included Lao Deputy PM and Minister of National Defense Chansamone Chanyalath, Cambodian Deputy PM Neth Savoeun, French Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu, and French Secretary of State for Veterans and Memory Patricia Miralles.

The program began with a 21-gun salute to the accompaniment of Vietnam’s national anthem, followed by a performance of helicopters carrying the Party flag and the Fatherland flag flying over the stadium.

“The historic victory of Dien Bien Phu is the crystallization of the invincible strength of the great national unity bloc, the victory of justice, the people's heart, conscience and human dignity, guided by the correct and creative revolution direction which originated from the wise and ingenious leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh, from the tradition of ardent patriotism and the spirit of solidarity. These have been forged over thousands of years of history and supported by the Vietnamese people in all regions of the country, who wholeheartedly and dedicatedly contributed their manpower and material resources to the Campaign.”

The PM said the historic victory left behind many valuable lessons, creating a premise for the next victories of the Vietnamese army and people in the struggle for national liberation and unification as well as national construction and defense.

He appreciated the precious and wholehearted assistance from China, the countries of the former Soviet Union, socialist nations, international friends, progressive and peace-loving forces worldwide, especially Laos and Cambodia in the combatant alliance of the three Indochinese countries, for the Dien Bien Phu Campaign as well as the Vietnamese people’s struggle for national liberation.

After nearly 40 years of Doi moi (Renewal) and integration into the world, Vietnam has made considerable and historic achievements, PM Chinh said and called for greater efforts to overcome challenges and create new “Dien Bien Phu miracles” in the national construction and defense.

“We vow to join forces, unite, and consolidate the great national unity, focusing on building socialist democracy, building a socialist rule-of-law state of the people, by people, for the people and building a socialist-oriented market economy. Implement well the policy “Socio-economic development is the center; Party building is the key, cadre work is "the key of the key”; cultural development is the spiritual foundation and endogenous strength; national defense and security is vital and regular to realize the aspiration of building a socialist richer, more democratic, prosperous, civilized and happy Vietnam.”

The parade and procession recreated the heroic spirit of Dien Bien Phu Victory that “resounded across the five continents and shook the globe”."

From the Dien Bien province stadium, the military parade and civil procession continued marching through streets of Dien Bien Phu city.