Hill A1 - from a place where blood stained every inch of land to a tourist attraction that attracts thousands of people

70 years ago, when the Dien Bien Phu Campaign entered its decisive phase, Hill A1 was the site of the most fierce battles. Today, this relic has become a tourist attraction attracting thousands of people.

Hill A1 (called Eliane 2 by the French) is a fortified stronghold in the system of defensive heights in the East of the central sub-sector of the Dien Bien Phu stronghold. Right at the foot of the hill is the A1 National Martyrs' Cemetery. Photo: Van Thanh Chuong

This is a stronghold with an extremely important strategic position located about 500m as the crow flies from General De Castries' Command Headquarters, so a lot of troops and strong firepower were deployed.

The French army divided the A1 hill base into 3 defensive lines, the outermost line deployed the most forces, the middle line concentrated firepower, and the innermost line on the highest hilltop was the defensive line and command post.

To liberate Dien Bien, our army determined that we must capture the A1 hill stronghold. Therefore, 2 regiments (Regiment 174, Division 316 and Regiment 102, Division 308) were assigned the important responsibility of destroying this important stronghold.

The battle at Hill A1 lasted for 39 days and nights, starting from the afternoon of March 30, 1954. We and the enemy fought for every inch of land, every trench while the enemy continuously counterattacked. Here, more than 2,500 of the nation's best sons were laid to rest, their blood soaked every inch of land.

At 8:30 p.m. on May 6, 1954, when the 1,000kg explosive was detonated, shaking the entire battlefield, it was also the signal for the final general attack of the Vietnamese army.

With the spirit of determination to fight and win, at exactly 4:30 a.m. on May 7, 1954, our army took complete control of Hill A1 and by the afternoon of May 7, 1954, our troops captured the entire command post of the French army at the Dien Bien Phu stronghold and created a victory that "resounded throughout the five continents and shook the earth".

After 70 years of Dien Bien Phu Victory , Hill A1 relic has been restored many times and has become an unmissable destination for any tourist when setting foot on the historic land of Dien Bien Phu.

Hill A1 is also one of the most important component relics of the special national historical site of Dien Bien Phu Battlefield.

Every year from March to May - the time of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign - Hill A1 attracts tens of thousands of domestic and international tourists, including many veterans from all over the country.

Especially since the direct flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Dien Bien Airport, many tourists from the southern provinces have had the opportunity to set foot on the historic land of Dien Bien for the first time. According to statistics from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dien Bien province, in the last days of March and April, there were days when the A1 Hill relic welcomed tens of thousands of visitors.