Italian journal honours Dien Bien Phu Victory

The L’Unione Sarda news website of Italy recently published an article commemorating Vietnam’s courage during the Dien Bien Phu Victory, which occurred 70 years ago.

Titled “Vietnam, the Lesson Still Relevant Today,” the article authored by Antonio Barracca highlights Vietnam’s remarkable feat as a poor, primarily agrarian nation at the time, managing to overcome the armies of two major world powers.

Barracca recalls his visit to Vietnam shortly after the war’s conclusion, depicting Hanoi as an agricultural hub with scant illumination, its streets mostly deserted save for bicycles. He notes that the notable structures belonged to the era of French colonization.

The pivotal Dien Bien Phu battle in 1954, culminating in Vietnam’s resounding triumph, marked a turning point in the Indochina War, leading to peace agreements signed on July 21, 1954, compelling France to withdraw its forces from the entire region.

The author also points out Vietnam’s subsequent victory over US troops on April 30, 1975, leading to the complete liberation and reunification of the country.

Barracca underscores the lesson from conflicts like Vietnam’s, emphasizing that it is incumbent upon the stronger party to cease hostilities “if we desire the triumph of justice over injustice.”