The struggle of early days

71 years ago, under the leadership of the Party and President Hồ Chí Minh, our army and people achieved the resounding victory at Điện Biên Phủ, smashing the colonial rule of the French and ending the war, bringing peace to Indochina. After the victory, the people of Điện Biên entered another “battle” - the fight against poverty, and to rebuild and develop their homeland.

Reflecting on the early days after liberation, Vũ Kiệm, now in his 90s, from Mường Thanh ward, Điện Biên Phủ city, shared: “At that time, the scenery was completely desolate, there were only 3-4 houses with tiled roofs. From A1 Hill to the current Central Market 1 area, there were no government offices. Liberation came, but the people were still poor, especially the ethnic minorities, barely having enough food. Today, everything has changed completely; even those of us who witnessed the beginning can hardly imagine how things have transformed.”

With the slogan “Take the Northwest as our homeland,” many officials, soldiers, youth volunteers, and civil servants from all parts of the country came to Điện Biên to work alongside the local ethnic communities to restore and improve the land and fields.

As a volunteer in the economic development of Điện Biên, Lê Huy Tờm, 90 years old, from Group 2, Thanh Trường ward (Điện Biên Phủ city), understands more than anyone the transformation of this land. In 1959, at 24 years old, Tờm moved to Điện Biên and participated in building an economic zone in Thanh Xương commune (Điện Biên district). Only later, after starting a family and stabilizing his economy, did he move to live in Thanh Trường ward.

“At the time I arrived, nearly 5 years after liberation, transportation was almost non-existent, and infrastructure was non-existent as well. I, along with many other youth volunteers, had to clear land, defuse bombs, and turn the land into fields for rice, coffee, and sugarcane cultivation. I feel so happy knowing that the blood and sweat of the previous generation and our own labor have not been in vain. Điện Biên is not only changing but is developing and expanding its influence in the region,” Tờm shared.

Emerging and integrating

What excites Tờm the most is that the Điện Biên Phủ Airport has been upgraded and completed, helping to connect Điện Biên with all regions of the country. The house he currently resides in has also been built thanks to this project. Particularly, his home is only a few steps away from the historical monument at Bản Kéo Hill - the site of the military operations during the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign. Despite not being assigned the task, Tờm often observes and cleans the monument.

Nguyễn Thị Liên, Secretary of the People’s Cell of Residential Quarter 2, Thanh Trường ward, shared that the life of the people in the Bản Kéo historical site has been continuously improving. The entire residential area has over 100 households with about 500 people, with no poor households. In 2023, when the Điện Biên Phủ Airport upgrade project was implemented, 50% of the households in the residential area agreed to donate land and move to a new location for the project.

Today, the lives of the people in the resettlement area have stabilized, and half of the households in the original area have rebuilt more solid homes. The people are happy and focused on protecting and promoting the historical values of the Bản Kéo site.

“Life is continuously improving in every aspect. Like in other areas, people in the residential area have a strong sense of responsibility in preserving the Bản Kéo historical site. All roads are kept clean, and youth and women’s groups are assigned to enhance sanitation, ensuring that when tourists visit the site, they will still see it as it was in the past,” added Liên.

71 years after the victory at Điện Biên Phủ, the Party, government, and people of Điện Biên continue to uphold the revolutionary tradition, strengthen the Điện Biên Phủ spirit in economic development, solidarity, and overcoming the aftermath of the war. From a battlefield covered in bombs, with the blood and sweat of our people, Điện Biên has transformed, rising as a young, dynamic, modern city that is strongly integrating with the rest of the country. Many large projects have been completed, including the Điện Biên Phủ Airport, which connects Điện Biên to the two major economic regions of the country, Hà Nội and Hồ Chí Minh City.

The province’s urban network is also expanding and developing in line with the planning direction. Urban planning and construction have been emphasized to ensure comprehensive development and to lay the foundation for planning and implementing investment projects for construction and urban development.

With the effort and solidarity of the entire political system, officials, and the people of Điện Biên, the province recorded an 8.51% GRDP growth rate in 2024. The province’s goal for this year is to achieve a GRDP growth rate of 10.51%. To achieve this goal, the province has issued a program with specific leadership guidelines and key solution groups.

It can be said that Điện Biên is not only a revolutionary land associated with the victory at Điện Biên Phủ, which “shook the world,” but also a province with many potential advantages for economic development, especially in historical, cultural, and spiritual tourism.

After 71 years of liberation, the Party, authorities, and people of Điện Biên are striving every day, united in overcoming difficulties, gradually building Điện Biên into a bright spot on the path of innovation.