Why were the Viet Minh able to defeat the French by 1954?

The Viet Minh defeated the French in 1954 due to the strong leadership of Ho Chi Minh. Vietnam's sense of nationalism and the determination to rid the foreign intruder, and the Viet Minh's political and military tactics were decisive factors which would contribute to their victory at Dien Bien Phu. When the French colonised in Indochina, they introduced their western way of living to the traditional people of Vietnam. To the French, Vietnam was simply an …

…by the French, lead the Vietnamese further to establish their sense of national identity. The contrast of political and military strategies used resulted in the French underestimation of the power of the Viet Minh. The battle of Dien Bien Phu was the end of the war against the French, as the French no longer had support from the homefront. All these aspects contributed to the final result of peace, presented at the Geneva Convention in 1954.