‘Wake up’ Dien Bien Phu Campaign Observatory

Recently, Dien Bien Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Unesco Travel Club conducted a survey on the tourist route to Pu To Co Peak, where Dien Bien Phu Campaign Monument is located with the desire to let more people know about the place. this history.
Dien Bien Phu Campaign Observatory

The historical site of Dien Bien Phu battlefield is historical evidence of the illustrious victory of the Vietnamese people in the long-term resistance war against the French colonialists, demonstrating the will and determination of the whole nation in front of a military force. mighty, modern war means With special significance and stature, the historical site of Dien Bien Phu Battlefield was ranked as a special national relic by the Prime Minister in 2009. However, there are still a number of places that are marked by the campaign This history has not been identified inventory, scientific profiling to rank. From the top of Pu To Co, you can look at Muong Thanh valley, Dien Bien Phu city today. Therefore, the additional research on Dien Bien battlefield relic sites continues to be carried out. After a period of collecting and supplementing, in December 2015, the Prime Minister signed the Decision on ranking and adding 23 relic sites to the historical complex of Dien Bien Phu Battlefield; including the Dien Bien Phu Campaign Observatory located on the top of Pu To Co mountain. According to the announcement of the Department of Cultural Heritage (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), the Dien Bien Phu Campaign Observatory relic in Muong Phang has an area of ​​160m2 of protected area I and protected area. II is 5,230.5m2. Pu To Co mountain was chosen by Chief of Staff Hoang Van Thai to set up the Observatory, located near the Operation Headquarters. The Operation Command was stationed in the forest of Muong Phang. The observatory of the Headquarters stationed on the top of Pu To Co was kept absolutely secret, from the time it was moved to the end of the campaign. According to documents of Dien Bien Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Pu To Co peak has an altitude of 1700m, the highest of the three mountains of Pu Don mountain range. The observatory is located near the headquarters in the forest of Muong Phang, at the foot of the Pu Don mountain range. At the observatory, there are always soldiers scouting, observing the Dien Bien Phu stronghold and reporting the situation to the headquarters. On May 6, 1954, General Vo Nguyen Giap went to the Battle Observatory before deciding to switch to a general offensive. After 56 days and nights of fierce fighting, the Dien Bien Phu campaign was completely won on May 7, 1954. Survey to find new destination đến To better understand the relic site, Dien Bien Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has also organized a number of times to survey and determine the location of the Observation Deck on Pu To Co peak, but the traces are no longer present. The journey to Pu To Co peak starts from Kha village, Muong Phang commune (Dien Bien Phu city, Dien Bien province) with a distance of more than 4km following the trail of people in the region. The survey team took pictures on the top of Pu To Co, where the Observation Deck was located during the Dien Bien Phu campaign. On the road leading the survey team to the top of Pu To Co, Mr. Lo Van Hoang, head of the protection of the Muong Phang relic site, said: For skilled foresters, it only takes about 1 hour to climb to the top, but for those who are proficient in the forest, it only takes about 1 hour to climb to the top. It usually takes about 4 hours going up and 2 going down. Nearly the first 3 km, the trail is still gentle, along the mountainside, it is easy to go, creating conditions for visitors to just go and watch the flowers to buy, forest passion fruit, medlar (apple and cat) … However, the last 1 km is steep. tall, slippery, with many dense trees, so few people set foot there. Therefore, to get to the top of Pu To Co at the end, sometimes visitors have to pass through the forest trees, need local people to guide because many paths are difficult to identify. From the top of Pu To Co, on a clear day, you can look at the Dien Bien Phu basin, enjoy the panoramic view of Pa Khoang lake and Muong Thanh basin. Ms. Pham Thi Thao, Deputy Director of Dien Bien Provincial Monuments Management Board said: Due to the remote location, this relic site is still little known. The unit also organized several times for officials of the Board to survey with the purpose of making people understand better about the sites under management. The survey by the press and businesses and placing a pyramid symbol marking the height of the mountain peak and the location of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign Observatory will form a check-in point and attract tourists who love to explore in the near future. . According to the opinion of Hanoi travel businesses participating in the survey, this is a destination suitable for trekking to better understand a relic site that plays an important part in the Dien Bien Phu campaign. However, to become a tourist destination, first of all, the route to Pu To Co peak will soon install road signs because there are many trails, and at the same time set up a garbage collection point in combination with community tourism services. Climbing mountains and forests is also an experience to show the younger generation the hard work and hardship that their fathers went through to get the famous Dien Bien Phu victory in 5 continents, shaking the world.