CORRECTED – Vietnam marks 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu’s ‘historic’ victory

(Removes from paragraph 2 the inaccurate reference to 2004 as the end of colonial rule)

HANOI (Reuters) – War veterans, party leaders and diplomats gathered in Vietnam’s Dien Bien Phu province on Tuesday for an event marking the 70th anniversary of the country’s victory over French colonial forces.

The bloody 56-day battle in the remote northwestern valley ended on May 7, 1954, precipitating the collapse of French colonial rule.

The historic battle of Dien Bien Phu is considered one of the great battles of the 20th century. The French defeat led to the signing of the Geneva Accords on July 21, 1954.

Undeterred by the relentless rain, tens of thousands of people packed Dien Bien Phu’s main stadium to watch military parades and variety shows, and listen to rousing speeches, which were broadcast on national television.

“It was a victory for colonized countries around the world,” said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the opening ceremony. “Our goal is to achieve another Dien Bien Phu victory, but in terms of expanding the economy.”

During the battle, artillery exploded throughout the valley and hand-to-hand fighting ensued. Dien Bien Phu and the surrounding hills were littered with the bodies of soldiers from both sides.

French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu attended Tuesday’s ceremony in Dien Bien Phu.

“One lesson from the Dien Bien Phu campaign is that Vietnam must clearly identify its national interests and pursue those interests strategically,” said Carl Thayer, Vietnam’s senior security expert, in a statement. “Vietnam has codified this approach in the expression ‘bamboo diplomacy’ – being firm and unyielding in basic principles, but flexible in the ways and means of achieving its strategic objectives.” (Reporting by Phuong Nguyen; Editing by Gerry Doyle)