3:17:25 PM | 12/19/2025
On the historic land where the 1954 victory that “resounded across five continents” was achieved, the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum stands as both a keeper of heroic memories and a link between past and present. With an emphasis on modernization, the museum plays an important role in preserving cultural heritage, educating new generations, and promoting tourism in Dien Bien province and throughout Vietnam.
Panorama of the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum
Preserving a heroic legacy
The museum was established in 1955 as the Historical Room of Regiment 174 under Division 316, one year after the campaign’s victory. It has undergone several reorganizations and, under Decision 446/QD-UBND issued by the Dien Bien Provincial People’s Committee on February 28, 2025, was renamed from the Dien Bien Phu Historical Victory Museum to the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum, operating under the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Over the years, its facilities and exhibitions have been continuously improved.
The exhibition area covers roughly 1,250 square meters and features over 1,000 documents, artifacts, and photographs, vividly depicting the 56 days and nights of “digging mountains, sleeping in tunnels, enduring endless rain, and eating packed rice” endured by undaunted soldiers.
A highlight is the panorama painting “Dien Bien Phu Campaign”, a unique work in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Completed in 2022, it covers more than 3,200 square meters, measures 132 m long, 20.5 m high, and has a diameter of 42 m. Painted in oil, it traces every stage of the campaign and combines history, sculpture, sound, and light for an immersive experience.
The museum plays an important role in preserving cultural heritage, educating future generations, and promoting tourism in Dien Bien province and across Vietnam
Embracing digital technology, the museum provides 3D virtual tours, AR/VR experiences, and a documentary titled “Dien Bien Phu Campaign - 56 Days and Nights” featuring 3D mapping. QR codes offer instant access to information, making history more interactive for young visitors and international tourists.
“The museum must not only preserve artifacts but be a living cultural destination. Each item tells a story, helping today’s generation and future ones understand the significance of the 1954 victory,” emphasized Vu Thi Tuyet Nga, Director of Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum.
The museum also organizes experiential programs for students, traveling exhibitions, and multimedia presentations, attracting growing public interest, especially among youth.
Recognized for its achievements, the museum received the Labor Order, Third Class, in 2023-2024 and is designated as a Grade II institution. Visitors often say they are deeply moved. Nguyen Van Thanh, a tourist from Hanoi, shared: “Standing before the panorama and artifacts, I felt as if I were reliving 1954. This is a history lesson no textbook can fully convey.”
Strengthening international cooperation
Beyond its domestic activities, the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum has steadily expanded international cooperation, helping promote Vietnam’s history and image to the world.
In 2024, the museum partnered with the Brest Hero-Fortress Memorial Complex in Belarus to organize an exhibition on the Dien Bien Phu Victory in Belarus, while also hosting the exhibition “Brest Fortress - The Road of Memory” at the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum. That same year, the museum presented the photo exhibition “Echoes of Dien Bien” in Saint Petersburg, Russia, leaving a lasting impression on international audiences.
A milestone came on May 28, 2025, when the museum signed a cooperation agreement in Hanoi with the Caen War Memorial Museum in France. This marked a new stage in professional exchange, sharing experience in preservation, exhibition, and heritage promotion, while introducing the Dien Bien Phu Campaign and presenting Dien Bien province as a land rich in tradition and tourism potential.
Along with international cooperation, the museum has enhanced its landscape, creating green spaces and visitor check-in areas, and has trained its staff and guides to maintain professionalism, improve language skills, and deepen their knowledge to better serve international visitors.
“As a Frenchman, I found this visit deeply moving. The museum does more than recount Vietnam’s victory; it opens the door for future generations of both nations to understand history better and build lasting friendship,” said Jean-Pierre Laurent, a tourist from France.
Amid globalization, digital transformation, and increasingly diverse cultural interests, the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum continues to innovate its approach and operations, moving toward a smart, modern museum model. With this vision, the museum is not only a “house of memory” but also a cultural and tourism hub, playing an important role in promoting Dien Bien to the international community.
By Ngoc Tung, Vietnam Business Forum
Vietnamese
