Important document: French historian Ivan Cadeau gives the French version and copyright of the book to Đặng Thanh Tùng, head of the State Records Management and Archives Department. — VNS Photo Minh Thu

HÀ NỘI — French historian Ivan Cadeau, an expert on the Indochinese War, yesterday released the Vietnamese version of his famous book Điện Biên Phủ March 13 – May 7, 1954.

The State Records Management and Archives Department translated and introduced the book in Việt Nam following the project of “collecting rare and precious archives of Việt Nam and about Việt Nam”, approved by then-Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng in 2012.

Đặng Thanh Tùng, head of the department said the book is an important source of archives about the Điện Biên Phủ campaign seen by the French side.

“The book is the result of long-term research by author Cadeau, who consulted a giant amount of archives and documents of France,” said Tùng.

“It provides a truthful and objective perspective on the war in Việt Nam and the failure of the French army.”

Tùng said the book contains secret documents that haven’t been released in Việt Nam and information from many historical witnesses.

“The book is not for sale, we will donate it to libraries, institutes and universities. The online version of the book will be completed soon to bring it closer to the public,” said Tùng.

Cadeau said he has a special love for Việt Nam and admires Vietnamese people.  

“The book was published for the first time in 2013 and has been reprinted many times. Now I am happy that it’s published in Việt Nam to provide more stories about the glorious resistance of Vietnamese people.” — VNS