HCM CITY — Three photographs of Dien Bien Phu, all sporting the signature of General Vo Nguyen Giap, were auctioned for VND49 million at the Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City last Saturday.

A Glittering Dien Bien, the first photo to go under the auctioneer’s gavel was bought by Cao Tien Vi, director of Sai Gon Paper Company, for VND11 million from the opening bid of VND500,000. The photo, taken by Le Cong Ly, features an aerial view of Dien Bien town in present day. The second work, entitled The Highland Communes Get Access to the National Grid by Bui Van Tanh, went to Nguyen Ngoc Hieu, a manager at the Mai Linh Taxi Company at VND16 million.

After 30 minutes of auction, the third photo was sold to the highest bidder, Tran Minh Duc, a resident in District 5, for VND 22 million. The photo entitled The Muong Phang Village Lane, taken by Nguyen Ky Nam, depicts the tree-lined road that leads to Gen Giap’s headquarters in Dien Bien Phu. Also, a landscape made of thousands of gemstones, At Dawn, was sold to Mai Linh Taxi Company for US$21,500. Two hundred other photos about Dien Bien Phu, selling for VND5 million each, are also on exhibit at the city’s Youth Cultural House. — VNS