Once the place where the battle took place during the opening of the Dien Bien Phu campaign in 1954, now Doc Lap hill is a destination for tourists to feel the old spirit and see a part of Dien Bien rising up with the times. .
If you visit Dien Bien province in the direction from Lai Chau province to Dien Bien, about 10km from the center of Dien Bien Phu city, you will see Doc Lap hill – this is one of the component monuments of a special national relic. Dien Bien Phu Battlefield (according to Decision 1272/QD-TTg dated August 12, 2009) when the battle took place during the first attack of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, from March 13 to March 1. March 17, 1954.
During the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, Independence Hill (named Gabrielle by the French) was an important stronghold of the Northern Division of the Dien Bien Phu Fort Group. With the mission of the Northwest, to prevent the attack of the Vietnamese People’s Army from Lai Chau and protect Muong Thanh airport. Here, the French Army deployed a lot of powerful firepower and elite battalions of soldiers who had fought and were undefeated in many parts of the world. Independence fortress was declared by the French colonialists as one of the impregnable fortresses and the only resistance center with two complete defense lines forcing the Vietnamese army to break through twice when attacking.
The Battle of Independence Hill started at dawn on March 15, 1954, was the second battle of the campaign after the opening battle on the Him Lam resistance center with a resounding victory on March 13, 1954. At this battle, the task of attacking Doc Lap hill was assigned to Regiment 165, Company 312 and Regiment 88, Regiment 308.
The battle lasted from 3:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. on March 15, 1954, then ended. The flag “Determined to win” of the Vietnamese army was planted on the top of Doc Lap hill. The Vietnamese army wiped out a French North African battalion, destroyed 483 enemy soldiers and 200 captured… Winning on Independence Hill, the Vietnam People’s Army destroyed two thirds of the key strongholds. important in the North division.
French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe (centre) visits the monument of Independence Hill November 3, 2018
Standing on the top of the hill, visitors can zoom their eyes across the field, to the ruins of hill D1 (where the Dien Bien Phu Victory Monument is located), Him Lam Hill, the Central subdivision… and partly visualize it. old battlefield. Right at the foot of the hill is the Independence Martyr Cemetery, which is the resting place of 2432 heroes and martyrs who died for the nation’s independence and freedom. The area around Doc Lap hill is now the upper village, the lower one is rich and full, the night is bright with electricity.
The battlefield marking the nation’s heroism this year is a lush field of 2-3 crops and bountiful golden seasons, the rice grain here has become a specialty that flies far across the country’s provinces. New life, new vitality has returned to the old historical land.
Source: Collected internet.