Featuring some 120 photographs, documents and artifacts, including some related to the Geneva Accords that were presented to the public for the first time, the exhibition "Geneva Accord on the Cessation of Hostilities in Vietnam - A Historic Milestone of Vietnam's Revolutionary Diplomacy" depicted the process of negotiating, signing and enforcing the agreement, helping to deepen the understanding of its significance among the Vietnamese people and the international community.

The exhibition examines the significance of the Geneva Accords for peace and development in Vietnam. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said the signing of the agreement 70 years ago opened up a new strategic direction for Vietnam to fully realize the goals of peace, national independence and territorial unity, and the construction of socialism.

The Geneva Accords and the glorious victory of Dien Bien Phu, which "echoed across the five continents and shook the globe", inspired and encouraged national liberation movements for independence, freedom, peace, democracy, progress and social justice, Son stressed, adding that this marked the beginning of the collapse of old colonialism worldwide.

The articles and flags are an expression of the French people's support for the Vietnamese negotiating delegation. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

According to Minister Son, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the signing of the treaty is an opportunity to deeply understand the historical lessons whose values remain intact and to build a better present and future.

Having endured numerous struggles against foreign aggression, Vietnam highly values the importance of peace, consistently upholds and respects the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, and fully contributes to world peace, national independence, democracy, cooperation for development and social progress.

Minister Son added that the diplomatic sector plays a leading role in maintaining a peaceful and stable environment that is conducive to the country's rapid and sustainable development, with the goal of a prosperous people and a powerful, democratic, just and civilized nation.

A panoramic view of the Geneva Conference. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

On this occasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Publishing House launched a photo book on the 1954 Geneva Accords.

It contains over 250 photographs from the VNA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the archives of the Party Central Committee Office, the Vietnam National Museum of History, the National Archives Centre III, and the collection of the family of Ta Quang Buu, who participated in the Geneva Conference negotiations.

The exhibition and photo book, together with the activities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Geneva Accords, the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Hanoi and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People's Army of Vietnam, have greatly contributed to arousing the patriotism and national pride of the present generation, as well as their motivation and desire to rise up and firmly follow the path of innovation, national development and national defence.

Gifts from people around the world to President Ho Chi Minh.  Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

"It constitutes an effort to promote the nation's heroic historical traditions and to continue to deeply understand and creatively apply President Ho Chi Minh's ideology, style and art of diplomacy, as well as the still-valuable lessons of the Geneva Accords," said Minister Bui Thanh Son.

The exhibition will run until September 5 at the National History Museum, 25 Tong Dan Street, Hanoi.