A panorama of the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign has made its official debut in Điện Biên Province to mark Điện Biên Phủ Victory over French colonial rule. Photo tienphong.vn

ĐIỆN BIÊN — A massive mural painting of the historic Điện Biên Phủ Campaign is now display at the Điện Biên Phủ Victory Museum in the northern province of Điện Biên.

The artwork was created by painter Nguyễn Văn Mạc and more than 20 other young painters, most of them fresh graduates from the Việt Nam University of Fine Art. It aims to commemorate the 67th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory (May 7, 1954).

It took the painters more than 1,200 days to finish. VNA/VNS Photo Xuân Tư

It took the painters more than 1,200 days to complete, of which more than 500 days were spent on sketching and more than 750 days of painting at the museum to finish the work.

At 132m long and 20.5m high and covering a total area of 3,225sq.m, the mural painting is the largest panorama work on the subject of war that has ever been carried out in Việt Nam.

Soldiers pulling artillery into the battlefield. VNA/VNS Photo Xuân Tư

The painting is divided into four sections. One focuses on the people going out to battle, another on the grandiose prelude, the third on the historical confrontation and the final section on the ultimate victory.

Painting with oil on canvas, the artists painted 4,500 characters, extracted from 1,500 photos, combined with the embossed models of the landscapes and exhibited items to create a panorama of the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign.

The Vietnamese flag flying on the roof of French General De Castries’ tunnel at the end of the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign. VNA/VNS Photo Xuân Tư

The painting has aroused a great deal of emotion among viewers, particularly veterans who fought in the battle.

“I felt as if I was participating in the campaign just days ago, though it is almost 70 years ago, on seeing the paintings,” said veteran Nguyễn Hữu Chấp.

“The whole painting seems to revive that historic wartime in which many of my comrades sacrificed themselves for today’s national peace and independence”.

According to painter Lương Xuân Đoàn, Điện Biên Phủ is an epic painting that depicts the panorama of the battlefield in a multi-dimensional space.

“The group of young artists has really taken the senior painters with their tremendous efforts and creativity,” he added.

Vũ Thị Tuyết Nga, the deputy director of Điện Biên Phủ Victory Museum, said the painting is expected to help viewers not only perceive art but also understand more about the arduous sacrifices made by the soldiers in the battle of Điện Biên Phủ nearly 70 years ago.

The painting features 4,500 characters, extracted from 1,500 photos. VNA/VNS Photo Xuân Tư

“At the same time, it will also be an address to educate revolutionary traditions, patriotism and national pride for younger generations,” she added.

The Điện Biên Phủ Campaign lasted for 56 days from March 13, 1954. It ended on May 7, 1954, with the Điện Biên Phủ Victory, Việt Nam's greatest victory in the war against the French that led to the signing of the Geneva Accords, ending the war in Việt Nam and restoring peace in Indochina. VNS