Vietnam celebrates 70 years since Dien Bien Phu battle that ended French colonial rule

DIEN BIEN PHU, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam on Tuesday celebrated the 70th anniversary of the battle of Dien Bien Phu in which the French colonial army was defeated by Vietnamese troops, marking the end of the French occupation of Indochina.

At Dien Bien Phu, Vietnamese troops led by General Vo Nguyen Giap, surprised French forces with heavy artillery fire at their mountainous garrison in northwestern Vietnam.

When Dien Bien Phu fell in 1954, it spelled the end of almost a century of French colonial rule.

“The historic Dien Bien Phu victory is a remarkable event, not only for the Vietnamese revolution,” Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said in a speech at the ceremony. “It is also a monumental saga that inspired countries rising up to fight for independence and freedom, marking the collapse of the colonialism all over the world.”

On Tuesday morning, the commemoration was held at a stadium in the center of Dien Bien Phu, once a valley dense with trenches, barbed wires and bomb craters. It is now a city of more than 80,000 people.

Thousands of locals and veterans with chests full of medals, most of them in their 90s, cheered and waved Vietnamese flags as the military parade marched by under a brief tropical shower.

One of the veterans, Nguyen Trung Dung, 94, said the event was a good opportunity for him to meet up with his friends, those he fought alongside in the Dien Bien Phu battle.

Also in attendance was French Defense Minister Sebastian Lecornu, the first time such a high ranking French official visited the former battlefield and attended the commemorations in Dien Bien Phu.

A day earlier, Lecornu visited several wartime relics, including the preserved bunker of Commander General Christian de Castries.

The bunker, now reinforced with cement and covered with a roof, is the location where de Castries surrendered, ending the fierce battle of nearly two months.

As time passes, relations between Vietnam and its former colonial power also evolved.

“When we were fighting, we were enemies. But now, we shake hands with them,” said another 94-year-old veteran, Pham Duc Cu, who commanded an artillery company during the battle.

“Together we unite to build a world of peace and happiness and no war,” Cu added.

French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu listens as he visits a French wartime bunker preserved in Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam on Monday, May 6, 2024. Lecornu is in Vietnam to attend a ceremony to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, where the French army was defeated by Vietnamese troops, ending French colonial rule in Vietnam. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

Veteran Phạm Duc Cu waves to the gathering during a parade commemorating the victory of Dien Bien Phu battle in Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Vietnam is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, where the French army was defeated by Vietnamese troops, ending the French colonial rule in Vietnam. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

Soldiers participate in a parade commemorating the victory of Dien Bien Phu battle in Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Vietnam is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, where the French army was defeated by Vietnamese troops, ending the French colonial rule in Vietnam. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

Veterans watch a parade commemorating the victory of Dien Bien Phu battle in Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Vietnam is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, where the French army was defeated by Vietnamese troops, ending the French colonial rule in Vietnam. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

Participants march in a parade commemorating the victory of Dien Bien Phu battle in Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Vietnam is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, where the French army was defeated by Vietnamese troops, ending the French colonial rule in Vietnam. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

People participate in a parade commemorating the victory of Dien Bien Phu battle in Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Vietnam is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, where the French army was defeated by Vietnamese troops, ending the French colonial rule in Vietnam. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh walks to the podium during a parade commemorating the victory of Dien Bien Phu battle in Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Vietnam is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, where the French army was defeated by Vietnamese troops, ending the French colonial rule in Vietnam. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

Soldiers participate in a parade commemorating the victory of Dien Bien Phu battle in Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Vietnam is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, where the French army was defeated by Vietnamese troops, ending the French colonial rule in Vietnam. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu listens as he visits a French wartime bunker preserved in Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam on Monday, May 6, 2024. Lecornu is in Vietnam to attend a ceremony to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, where the French army was defeated by Vietnamese troops, ending French colonial rule in Vietnam. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addresses a gathering at a parade commemorating the victory of Dien Bien Phu battle in Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Vietnam is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, where the French army was defeated by Vietnamese troops, ending the French colonial rule in Vietnam. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

Veterans attend a parade commemorating the victory of Dien Bien Phu battle in Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Vietnam is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, where the French army was defeated by Vietnamese troops, ending the French colonial rule in Vietnam. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

Soldiers participate in a parade commemorating the victory of Dien Bien Phu battle in Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Vietnam is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, where the French army was defeated by Vietnamese troops, ending the French colonial rule in Vietnam. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

DALLAS (AP) — A smiling Luka Doncic pumped his fist as he settled in next to Kyrie Irving to answer questions about the Dallas Mavericks advancing to the Western Conference finals for the second time in three seasons.

Doncic's co-star wasn't there for the run that ended with a five-game loss to eventual champion Golden State two years ago. Irving hasn't played this deep in the playoffs since he and LeBron James were together in Cleveland seven years ago.

And don't think that didn't occur to the eight-time All-Star in the locker room, considering all the chaos and controversy — plenty of it self-inflicted — surrounding Irving since then.

“I had to make an impromptu speech, and I was doing my best not to let some tears come down from my eyes because it feels like it’s been a long time coming just being back in this position,” Irving said after Dallas ousted top-seeded Oklahoma City with a 117-116 victory in Game 6 on Saturday night.

“It’s just a long way back,” Irving said. “Look back, parts of my career where I took it for granted, getting to conference finals three years straight, and then not getting back for a little bit can weigh on you as a competitor. That’s what made the celebration feel that much better.”

It wasn't just conference finals, either. James and Irving went to three straight NBA Finals together, winning once and losing twice before Irving was traded to Boston.

The Celtics made the East finals in their first season with Irving in 2018, but he missed the entire postseason because of a knee injury.

Teaming with Kevin Durant in Brooklyn never worked, for many reasons, before a trade request landed Irving in Dallas.

The series victory over the Thunder wasn't about offensive dominance for Irving. Instead, the score-first guard has played what coach Jason Kidd called the best defense he's seen Irving play in any postseason.

Irving had two big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Mavs rallied from 17 points down in the second half of the clincher against the Thunder. But the intangibles always seemed to come first.

“When you look at his series, yes, he didn't have the offensive explosion,” Kidd said. “He was the glue in this series. He kept everybody together. He kept everybody positive. Yes, it was the hardest thing. But it only gets harder. And that's what makes it fun for the great ones.”

The first two months of the Doncic-Irving pairing last year were a dud for the players now with 13 All-Star appearances between them. Same for Dallas, which decided to tank at the end of last season to try to preserve a draft pick even with a mathematical chance to make the play-in tournament.

The plan worked and landed center Dereck Lively II, who had a significant impact as a rookie. But the roster still didn’t seem quite right, with the Mavs just three games over .500 after blowing a 25-point lead in a loss to Milwaukee to start February.

This time, the trade-deadline efforts worked, with the additions of P.J. Washington Jr. and Daniel Gafford shortly after the loss to the Bucks boosting Dallas on both ends of the court.

The Mavericks finished 24-9 to rise to fifth in the West and ousted the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round with the same sequence of wins and losses that beat Oklahoma City.

“This group has been together for like five months,” Doncic said. “We’re capable of more and more. Big-time trades and big-time adjustments. Keep bringing them.”

For his first deep playoff run two years ago, Doncic didn't have a sidekick with nearly the playoff pedigree of Irving.

The 25-year-old superstar is still the headliner, and the Mavs will have to play without home-court advantage for the third time in three series this postseason.

That was the case for the second round in 2022, when Dallas pulled a Game 7 stunner by blowing out Phoenix. The Mavs were never much of a threat against the Warriors.

Now it's time to see what the addition of Irving will mean against the Denver-Minnesota winner starting Wednesday night. The Nuggets and Timberwolves play Game 7 on Sunday night.

From the 32-year-old Irving's point of view, it's more about what it means for him having Doncic, who has playoff career averages of 31 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.2 assists, next to him for the first time in the postseason.

“We all know how skilled he is, we all know his numbers and stuff like that, but I want to be a teammate and brother next to him that helps him grow like a man and helps him achieve the things that he wants to achieve,” Irving said. “I know he feels the same way.”

After a second playoff series victory, Doncic sure seemed happy sitting next to Irving.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, rear, helps Dallas Mavericks' Derrick Jones Jr. (55) to his feet after Jones Jr., sunk a shot in the second hald of Game 6 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Fans cheer in the second half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks' Kyrie Irving reacts to play in the second half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic (77) celebrates a basket in front of Oklahoma City Thunder's Cason Wallace (22) in the second half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks' Derrick Jones Jr., center, celebrates the team's win as Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, and Jaylin Williams walk away following Game 6 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks' Kyrie Irving hugs his child after the team's win in Game 6 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic celebrates the teams win in Game 6 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks' Kyrie Irving (11) pauses as he waits to do a broadcast interview following the teams win in Game 6 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)