A Ha Nhi ethnic minority militiawoman gets ready for a parade during a ceremony yesterday to mark the 50th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu battle. The ceremony and parade were held at the site of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, some 500km northwest of Hanoi. Fifty years ago on May 7, the Vietnamese army defeated French troops at their stronghold in the valley. The battle of Dien Bien Phu ended 100 years of French colonial rule in Vietnam.May 08, 2004

PHOTO: AFP