The cover of La Bataille de Diên Biên Phu, a photo book on the Điện Biên Phủ campaign in Việt Nam, published by the French Defence Audiovisual Agency (ECPAD). VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Tuyên

PARIS — The French Defence Audiovisual Agency (ECPAD) has released a photo book on the Điện Biên Phủ campaign in Việt Nam, including never-before-seen images, on the occasion of the campaign's 70th anniversary.

The 211-page book contains 162 photos, both colour and black-and-white, re-creating the historic campaign, from March 13 to May 7, 1954, said Marina Berthier, an ECPAD employee who played a role in publishing the book, noting most of them were taken by war photojournalists like Jean Péraud and Daniel Camus, or by soldiers themselves.

Some photos in the photo book La Bataille de Diên Biên Phu. VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Tuyên

On this occasion, the agency, where many documents and photos related to wars in Indochina are kept, has introduced the website featuring Điện Biên Phủ campaign photos to the public, at imagesdefense.gouv.fr.

It has also participated in producing two documentaries on the wars in Indochina, including parts on the Điện Biên Phủ campaign.

The ECPAD archives up to 2,500 photos on the campaign taken by war journalists, and a number of documentaries produced during the period.

Marina Berthier from ECPAD introduces the book. VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Tuyên

70 years ago, on March 13, 1954, the Vietnamese revolutionary army launched the first attack against the French colonialists’ heavily fortified base of Điện Biên Phủ, starting an historic 56-day campaign.

During the 56 days of undaunted, brave, and creative fighting, the Vietnamese army and people created the Điện Biên Phủ Victory that “resounded across the five continents and shook the globe”. The entire so-called “invincible” military base of Điện Biên Phủ was completely eradicated by the Vietnamese army and people.

President Hồ Chí Minh affirmed that the Điện Biên Phủ Victory was a brilliant golden milestone in history that directly led to the signing of the Geneva Accords, ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina. It also created the foundation and conditions for the Vietnamese people to secure victory in the resistance war against the US, liberate the South, and reunify the country in 1975. VNS