Original version

BBC World Service South Asia

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: The siege of Dien Bien Phu

Documentaries

Dien Bien Phu

07/05/2019 GMT

The siege of Dien Bien Phu

BBC World Service - Witness History, The siege of Dien Bien Phu

The French surrender at the siege of Dien Bien Phu ended their colonial rule of Vietnam

On May 7th 1954 French forces surrendered after a 56-day siege of their base at Dien Bien Phu in the north of Vietnam. It signalled the end of French colonial rule in Indochina.

On May 7th 1954, French forces surrendered after a bloody 56-day siege of their base at Dien Bien Phu in the north of Vietnam. Their defeat by the communist independence movement, the Viet Minh, signalled the end of French colonial rule in Indochina. We hear from two veterans who fought on opposing sides in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. (Photo: A French military Red Cross helicopter preparing to land, while French soldiers try to defend their positions in Dien Bien Phu against the Viet Minh, 1954 Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

The siege of Dien Bien Phu

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service South Asia

About BBC World Service