The newspapers L'Humanité, dated May 8, 1954, and France-Soir, dated May 9-10, 1954, reporting the defeat of French colonialists in the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign, are  on display at the Vietnam Press Museum in Hà Nội. VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Thu Hà

HÀ NỘI The first newspaper copies reporting the defeat of French colonialists in the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign in the northwestern province of Điện Biên 70 years ago are now exhibited at the Vietnam Press Museum in Hà Nội.

The copies were presented to the museum by French collector Jean-Marie Jacquemin, who also donated a book titled 1968 - 1973 Verrières-le-Buisson: Havre De Paix (Verrières-le-Buisson: Safe Haven) and some valuable publications related to Việt Nam to the museum.

Jacquemin, who used to work at the Le Monde newspaper’s printing house for over 30 years, has a hobby of collecting books, newspapers, documents, and stamps according to topics, including the just struggle of the Vietnamese people.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency in France, Jacquemin enthusiastically recounted the origin of the copies that his father kept and passed down to him.

He explained that due to his father's influence, he has kept a plethora of newspaper articles about global events, including the Indochina War and the defeat of French colonialists in Việt Nam seven decades ago.

Jacquemin expressed admiration for a small country that has conducted resistance movements and achieved victories against major colonial powers like France and the US.  He also praised the reconciliation between France and Việt Nam, highlighting their mutual efforts to move forward and maintain a good relationship over the past five decades.

In the future, it is essential to further promote the relationship between France and Việt Nam through enhancing culture exchange and tourism, thus further strengthening mutual understanding, he said.

The book 1968 - 1973 Verrières-le-Buisson: Havre De Paix is a collection of hundreds of articles posted on French and other countries’ newspapers. It was first published in 2013 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Accords and then reprinted in 2023 to mark the 50 years since the signing.

Director of the Vietnam Press Museum Trần Thị Kim Hoa appreciated the collector for his donations, saying that the presence of these newspapers at the museum helps Vietnamese people understand the interest of the French people and press in the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign. VNS