◊ Location

Dien Bien Phu City is 474km from north-west of Ha Noi, surrounded by mountains and lies in the Muong Thanh Valley, 20km long and 6km wide heart-shaped basin. Nam Rom River runs across the valley. 

◊ The City Associated with the Glorious Victory of Dien Bien Phu

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu is a well-known historical event symbolizing the glorious victory of the Vietnamese people and army. After 1953, French expeditionary corps occupied Dien Bien Phu and set up a group of fortresses equipped with many state-of-the-art weapons. Dien Bien Phu Victory created a great echo in the world.

The heroic struggle of the Vietnamese people's army against the French expeditionary corps lasted for 55 days in 1954. General De Castries and his entire command were taken alive and 16,000 enemy troops were put out of action. The relics of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu include Doc Lap Hill, the airport and the command tunnel of General De Castries. Much of the Viet Minh's brilliant strategy was planned in a 320m long tunnel, dug into a small hill, some 30km east of Dien Bien Phu.

A corner of Dien Bien Phu City

◊ Culture of Ethnic Groups

Dien Bien Phu City is alive with colour, as the Vietnamese, Thai and H'Mong residents go about their daily affairs like carrying their wares into city, shopping in the crowded market, and holding xoe dancing parties in their stilt houses. These people, whose cultures are as different as their clothing styles, share the same warmth and hospitality for visitors.

Dien Bien Phu is a historic site and the natural scenery is stunning. But it is the city's forward looking people who make a trip to Dien Bien Phu truly memorable.