Dinh Hoa is a valley surrounded by high mountains. In the valleys, there are hills and mountains of various heights. The area housed the seat of the Viet Minh's government during the Franco-Viet Minh War (1947-1954). Visiting Dinh Hoa, you'll travel back in time to learn about a very important period in the modern history of Vietnam.

Him Lam Hills are a group of three hills one next to another located 2-3km to the northeast of Dien Bien Phu City center (or The French Commander Post during the Dien Bien Phu Battle). During the Dien Bien Phu Battle Him Lam (or Beatrice) was the most-fortified and strongest French post in Dien Bien Phu which protected the Hedgehog from the northeast.

The French started attacking Vietnam in 1857 and managed to invade Sai Gon, southern Vietnam in 1858. From 1858 to 1865, the French marched northward and gradually invaded all of Vietnam. Along with its neighbors Laos and Cambodia, Vietnam was put into a French colony called Indochina.

Ban Keo Hill, which included Anne-Marie 1,2,3,4 strong-points, protected the French Dien Bien Phu Hedgehog from the northwest. Anne-Marie 1,2 are on a hill called Ban Keo in Vietnamese, and the other two are on paddy fields right on the northern edge of the Muong Thanh Airfield.

A1 Hill (Eliane 2) belonged to the Eliane Group protecting the French Hedgehog at Dien Bien Phu from the east. 

C1 Hill (Eliane 1) belonged to the Eliane Group protecting the French Hedgehog at Dien Bien Phu from the east. Eliane 1 was located 1.2km slightly to the northeast of the French Commander Post.

C2 Hill (Eliane 4) belonged to the Eliane Group protecting the French Hedgehog at Dien Bien Phu from the east. Eliane 4 was located 1.1km to the east of the French Commander Post.

E1 Hill (Dominique 1) belonged to the Dominique Group protecting the French Hedgehog at Dien Bien Phu from the northeast. 

The Tham Pua Cave is at the base of the Pu Hong Cay Mountain on the edge of the Ban Bo Village, Chieng Dong Commune (before 2013 it was Chieng Sinh), Tuan Giao District, Dien Bien Province. 

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu helped the Vietnamese to gain independence to half of the country. The Battle of Dien Bien Phu was an inspiration to other countries which had been under control of colonialism that they could fight off colonialism to gain back independence to their own country and people.

The battle of Khe Sanh which took place from 21 January to 8 April 1968 commanded wide attention from the world media. For 77 days, Khe Sanh was under constant ground and artillery attacks by the People's Army of Vietnam.

Paradissa’s guide to battlefields in Vietnam are dedicated providing information on the former battlefields in Vietnam which could be of interest to those who love to learn about the Vietnamese history.

Cu Chi is 65 km (1.5 hour drive) northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. The tunnel network of Cu Chi became legendary in the war for facilitating the local guerrillas to gain victory over the American troops. 

Dien Bien Phu is the capital city of Dien Bien Province in the Northwest of Vietnam. Dien Bien Phu was the combat site of the Dien Bien Phu Battle which helped to change the course of the World History in the 20th century.

Gulf of Tonkin is the sea area between Vietnam and China. Hai Phong Port in the Gulf of Tonkin was the biggest port in North Vietnam at the time. Via Hai Phong, North Vietnam received aids from outside during the war. Historically a lot of conflicts in Vietnam started in Hai Phong thanks to its strategic location.

Ham Rong Bridge of Thanh Hoa Province, 163km south of Hanoi, was considered to be one of the symbols of the Vietnamese resilience during the war. Ham Rong Bridge was the only bridge across the Ma River ensuring the flow of man-force and war materials by road from North into South Vietnam.

By 1959, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) and the elements of what later became known as the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam had realized that it was not possible to have the country re-unified via a general election as stated by the Geneva Accord in 1954, and that  the only way to bring the 2 pieces of the country together again was through a military victory.

The Battle of Hoa Binh in 1951-1952 during the Franco-Viet Minh War or the First Indochina War was among the most important battles that helped to shape up the course of the war.

6-December-1950: De Lattre was appointed the high commissioner of Indochina and military commander of French forces in Indochina. De Lattre wanted the supreme powers in the army and in the politics to have all tools to make his plan into reality.

Hoang Hoa Tham Campaign was from 23-March to 28-March-1951 and from 4 to 5-April-1951. During the campaign there were important battles around and at Mao Khe, and it is known as the Battle of Mao Khe to the French. Viet Minh's targets included French positions along Route 17 and 18.