As the location of the Observatory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign Command, the top of Pu To Co mountain located in the middle of Muong Phang old forest (Muong Phang commune, Dien Bien province) is now becoming an attractive destination for those who are passionate about traveling and exploring nature.
According to the Thai ethnic language "Tó Cọ" means "cage to catch dragon", according to people's legend, this mountain used to be a dragon trapping place, so it is named Pu Tó Cọ.
During the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, reconnaissance soldiers chose Pu To Co peak to place the Observatory.
Ms. Lo Thi Thuy - Narator of the Dien Bien Provincial Relic Management Board - said that before transferring the Command Headquarters to Muong Phang, Chief of Staff Hoang Van Thai and the soldiers surveyed very carefully to choose this place as an observation deck.
From the top of Pu To Co mountain, the Campaign Command can closely observe all 3 sub-zones, 49 strongholds and 8 clusters of French army strongholds. A bamboo wooden bell was once placed here to warn whenever enemy aircraft were detected or forest fires occurred.
With strategic vision and close monitoring of every development on the battlefield, General Vo Nguyen Giap made accurate decisions, contributing to the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory" - Ms. Thuy said.
Currently, the Pu To Co Observatory relic belongs to the Dien Bien Phu Battlefield relic, a relic that has been ranked as a special national relic.
To get to the observation deck, visitors go from the front guard station of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign Command. The forest walking distance is about 9 km, after about 4 hours you will reach the top of Pu To Co mountain.
From the observation deck position, you can clearly see the locations: Dien Bien Phu airport, Pe Luong lake, Hong Khenh lake, Thanh Yen commune, Thanh An commune,...
Recently, this historic mountain has received great attention from trekking enthusiasts.
Experiencing this route for the first time, Ms. Dinh Thi Oanh Chau (Thanh Yen commune, Dien Bien) said: "Initially, I was very excited to go in the middle of nature. Although there are steep sections that make me a little discouraged, the higher up, the more beautiful the scenery becomes, so I have the motivation. If I have the opportunity, I still want to climb further, not necessarily too high mountains, just a new place to go, to feel and save memories".
Ms. Thao Trang (Dien Bien Phu ward) said: "The journey to Pu To Co is not just conquering a mountain, but also a journey to overcome your own limits and learn about the heroic history of the nation.
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dien Bien province emphasized that the journey of experiencing following in the footsteps of General Vo Nguyen Giap is both a historical tradition education, arousing love for the homeland for the young generation, and a community playground, helping to connect.
