Sixty years ago today in Vietnam, communist Viet Minh forces attacked an isolated French military outpost in the north-western town of Dien Bien Phu. The battle lasted two months, claimed thousands of lives, and effectively ended French colonial rule in Indochina. Afterwards, Vietnam was split into North and South. Our reporter Cyril Payen travelled to the former battlefields for this special report.

Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com

Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English

Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en