In March and May of 1954, in what is now northwest Vietnam, the decisive Battle of Dien Bien Phu took place. The French were trying to establish a foothold in the region when the Viet Minh, led by General Vo Nguyen Giap, laid siege to their positions. With the help of the rough terrain, the Viet Minh successfully deployed guerrilla tactics and surrounded the French force, marking a crucial shift in modern warfare.

The French had more weapons, but the Viet Minh’s greater strategic acumen, fortitude, and resolve won the day. The French defenses eventually gave way after months of fierce combat, and the country capitulated on May 7, 1954. This triumph ended French colonial power in Indochina and set the door for the Geneva Accords, which partitioned Vietnam along communist and anti-communist lines.

The significance of asymmetric warfare and local expertise in defeating better-equipped forces was demonstrated at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, which became a symbol of colonial battles and a forerunner to the greater Vietnam War.