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Dien Bien Phu will remain in my memory as somewhat of a disappointment. I was expecting some kind of voyage in the past, a place dedicated to the souvenir of what happened in this place 60 years ago. But nothing of the sort.
Actually, we arrived during the preparation of the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Vietnamese victory over the French. There were lots of veterans around, but the way things were being done was somehow unexpected. These people were being used for propaganda, as if this was still meaningful today.
At the French headquarter, whose capture ended the famous battle and settle the history of the French presence in Indochina, we met several veterans, being showed and interviewed around on TV.
At the memorial of the war, I met this old gentleman, veteran of the war, full of medals. We shaked hand and exchanged a few words and a good laugh.
No, what I will remember of Dien Bien Phu is not related to the past, but to the present, all these kind people of the Thaï minority, encountered around, on markets, in the streets, etc., like the woman above.
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