Vietnam-Dien Bien Phu ,Dominique D1 Hill The Vietnamese name (C1), 06/May/1954 Vietnamese troops take Complete control,D1 was the northern anchor of the Five Hills being located between Route 41 and the river. It was a poor position to hold, exposed to Viet Minh fire on two sides with lots of undergrowth nearby to give the enemy cover. It is really just the westernmost, and lowest, eminence of a series of hills running from the river all the way to Beatrice, the most easterly of all the French positions. Once Beatrice fell D1 was very vulnerable. Although its southern face could be protected from D2 the same Viet Minh juggernaut that overran the larger hill made short work of D1. Much has changed at D1 today. It is now.sandwiched between Dien Bien Phu’s main market and a road. . .. . . .