Battle of Điên Biên Phu

Battle of Điên Biên Phu, climactic battle between the French and the Vietnamese Communist forces called the Vietminh in 1954 that led to the division of Vietnam into two countries. The battle took place at the town of Điên Biên Phu (also known as Điên Biên) in north-western Vietnam, along the country's border with Laos. The defeat of the French in the battle led to the end of the First Indochina War (1946-1954) and the surrender of French claims in Indochina.

The French reinforced their garrison at Điên Biên Phu in November 1953 to prevent the Vietminh from gaining control of northern Laos and the middle and lower Mekong River Valley. The outpost was strategically linked to the cities of Hanoi and Louangphrabang, then the royal capital of Laos. The Vietminh, led by General Vo Nguyen Giap, began besieging the French at Điên Biên Phu on March 13, 1954. After months of fighting, with the French forces supplied only by air, the base was overrun by the Vietminh on May 7, 1954. The battle, as well as the international peace conference that began the next day in Geneva, brought the war to an end on July 20, 1954. As a result of the conference, the French relinquished control of all of Vietnam north of the 17th parallel to a new Communist government led by Ho Chi Minh. The country was also partitioned into the separate states of North and South Vietnam.