Secretary of the Hà Nội Party Committee Đinh Tiến Dũng makes a speech at the ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of ‘Hà Nội - Điện Biên Phủ in the air’ victory on Monday in Hà Nội. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI – A grand ceremony was held in Hà Nội on Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of ‘Hà Nội - Điện Biên Phủ in the air’ victory, an important historical event and symbol of Việt Nam’s will, wisdom and revolutionary heroism.

Jointly organised by Hà Nội City and the Ministry of National Defence, the event took place at the Việt Nam Friendship Cultural Palace with the participation of current and former Party and State leaders, Vietnamese heroic mothers, and the families of martyrs and invalids.

Addressing the event, Secretary of the Hà Nội Party Committee Đinh Tiến Dũng said that the victory of the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign was an epic of the Vietnamese people in the 20th century and the pride of the nation.

He said it was one of the most glorious feats of arms in the country’s history of fighting foreign invaders and forever a symbol of the Vietnamese people’s mettle and wisdom in the Hồ Chí Minh era.

He highlighted valuable lessons from the triumph of the 12-day-and-night air battle, which marked a brilliant milestone for the Vietnamese army and people’s revolutionary heroism.

He said that the entire Party, people and army are determined to preserve and promote that glorious tradition in today's cause of national construction and defence.

In December 1972, the US launched a strategic airstrike called ‘Operation Linebacker II’ in the north of Việt Nam to destroy the North’s economic and defence resources, and force Việt Nam to sign the Paris Peace Accords with articles revised as the US wanted.

The US imperialists launched 4,583 sorties, including 663 sorties by the B-52s bombers, dropping tens of thousands of tonnes of munitions on the north of Việt Nam.

Hà Nội, Hải Phòng, and other localities became 'special' battlefields. During 12 days and nights of resisting the US Air Force, the troops and people of the north closely coordinated with the armed forces, especially the Air Defence–Air Force Service, shooting down 81 aircraft, including 34 B-52s, and capturing or killing hundreds of US pilots.

The triumph forced the US administration to deescalate, cease bombardments on areas north of the 20th parallel, and invite Việt Nam to return to the negotiations in Paris, leading to the signing of the agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Việt Nam on January 27, 1973.

At the end of March 1973, American troops withdrew from southern Việt Nam.

Lieutenant General and Hero of the People's Armed Forces Phạm Tuân reviewed the 12 days and nights of the battle in which he directly participated.

Tuân said over the past 50 years, the spirit of the 'Hà Nội – Điện Biên Phủ in the air' victory was still resonating. He expressed his belief that the development of the Air Defense–Air Force Service and its flexible and creative application provides valuable lessons today.

Major Bùi Thanh Bình, the battalion commander of Battalion 77, Regiment 257, Division 361 (Air Defense-Air Force), said that younger generations have inherited and promoted the spirit of victory as a driving force to promote intelligence and enthusiasm in the cause of building and defending the nation in the new situation.

A special art programme on the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign was held.

On the same day, Dũng led the delegation team to lay wreaths and offer incense at the Khâm Thiên Monument to pay tribute to those killed by B-52 bombs at the end of December 1972. – VNS

VNA File Photo

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