Dien Bien, March 8 -- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 8 attended the inauguration of the second phase of a project to preserve and restore the Him Lam historical relic site, also known as the Him Lam resistance centre, in Dien Bien Phu ward, Dien Bien province.

Him Lam was regarded as the "steel gateway" guarding the Dien Bien Phu stronghold complex built by the French colonial forces. The site was chosen by the Vietnamese campaign command as the opening target of the historic battle. On March 13, 1954, Vietnamese troops launched an attack and captured Him Lam, marking the start of the Dien Bien Phu Victory that famously "resounded across the five continents and shook the world."

Located about 3km northeast of Dien Bien's centre...