(VOVworld) – Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh published an article in the People’s Army newspaper analyzing Vietnam’s victory over the US air blitz in Hanoi in December, 1972.

The article said on Monday that “the Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the air victory” 40 years ago was a brilliant feat of arms by Vietnamese soldiers and people, which represented the heroic spirit and brainpower of Vietnam in the Ho Chi Minh era. During the 12 days and nights of the American air strike, Vietnamese soldiers and people were far from being defeated by the unimaginable power of the US Air Force, shooting down dozens of B52 warplanes in Hanoi. The article quoted an explanation by former US Defense Secretary Robert McNamara of the US’ failure to understand Vietnam’s people and culture. According to minister Thanh, Vietnamese people and Vietnam’s wisdom shone during the war against the US and the aerial campaign in particular. The triumphant victory in late December, 1972 surprised the international public and reminded them of the Dien Bien Phu victory over the French colonialists in 1954.