Dien Bien Phu is a historic city of Vietnam, named after the greatest military victory of Vietnamese people in the Resistance War against France. Although more than 60 years have passed, the outstanding historical relics of Dien Bien Phu’s old battlefield still remain virtually intact, promising to be an interesting and meaningful historical destination.
About nearly 500 kilometers to the northwest of Hanoi, Dien Bien Phu is a provincial city of Dien Bien Province, located in the Northwest Region. Dien Bien Phu is known as the country’s most eminent historical city because of the impressive victory in the battle between Viet Minh communist-nationalist revolutionary (under the command of General Vo Nguyen Giap) and French Union’s French Far East Expeditionary Corps (led by General Christian de Castries). Along with the historic victory, Dien Bien Phu has long been a favorite historic site of many travelers. Visiting the city, travelers can first-hand witness the old battlefield with prominent historical sites such as A1, C1, C2, D1 Hills, Hong Cum and Him Lam Entrenched Fortifications, Independent Hill, Muong Thanh Bridge and Airport, Dien Bien Phu Victory Monument, Headquarter of Dien Bien Phu Campaign, Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum, Bunker of Colonel de Castries, and so forth.

Not just a place where the remaining vestiges of wars are retained, Dien Bien has also great potentials for intangible cultural values. This is home of 21 ethnic minority groups living together, each group has its own cultural nuances. This land is associated with the legend of the appearance of Thai ethnic group. It is also considered as ancestral land of Thai people around Southeast Asia. In addition to numerous historic sites, Dien Bien Phu is endowed with majestic landscapes and attractive sightseeing spots. Once traveling to this city, tourists should spend a couple of day to visit its beautiful attractions such as Muong Thanh Field, Pa Khoang Lake, Pha Din Pass, Pa Thom and Xa Nhe Caves, A Pa Chai, U Va and Hue Pe Hot Streams, Ta Sin Thang Market, etc.
With regards to the cuisine, Dien Bien Phu has no shortage of exotic specialties. Dried beef and buffalo meat, fresh bamboo shoots, Tuyet Shan Tua Chua tea, orchid salads, bitter bamboo shoots are all grate delicacies which can be found easily in this land. Besides, do not miss to sample Sau Chit wine, a special wine soaked with a worm to get exotic flavors.

Other attractions in Northwest Vietnam: Moc Chau Plateau; Mu Cang Chai; Son La prison; Mai Chau