Symposium celebrates 45 years of Dien Bien Phu in the Air victory

Permanent Vice Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Ngo Thi Thanh Hang affirmed that the victory marked a glorious milestone in the revolutionary cause of Vietnamese army and people who defeated the largest strategic strike by air of the US.

The victory forced the US to sign the Paris Agreement in January 1973, putting an end to the war in Vietnam, making significant contributions to the Great 1975 Spring Victory as well as the liberation of the south and the national reunification.

It demonstrates the judicious leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and the Government and the close coordination between armed forces, military units, localities, Party Committee, authorities and people of Hanoi capital, she said.

Hanoi, Hai Phong and their vicinities were heavily bombarded in an aerial raids in December 1972, known in Vietnam as "Dien Bien Phu in the Air” and in the West as the 1972 Christmas bombing.

It was the last US military campaign during the war and lasted for 12 days from December 18 to 29.

Over 12 days and nights, the Hanoi air defence grids and all across the north of Vietnam shot down 4,181 airplanes, including 34 expensive B52s.