The Bauhinia Flower Festival in Dien Bien 2025

Located in the northwest of Vietnam, Dien Bien is not only known as the land marking the historic victory “glorious across five continents, shaking the planet”, but also as the homeland of the Bauhinia flower — a symbolic bloom tied deeply to local culture and legends. If you plan to customize your journey in the northwest, you may also explore our tailor-made Vietnam tours to design an itinerary that fits the Bauhinia Flower season and your preferred pace.

The Bauhinia Flower Festival, held every March in Dien Bien, celebrates the cultural, spiritual, and artistic values of this iconic flower among ethnic communities of the northwest. For travelers, the festival has become an annual highlight and a memorable stop on any Northern Vietnam tour.

The Bauhinia Flower Festival – celebrating the beauty and culture of northwest ethnic groups

Where is Dien Bien located?

Dien Bien is a mountainous province in the northwest of Vietnam, famous for rugged landscapes, ethnic diversity, and its essential role in Vietnamese history.

The region is deeply tied to the landmark 1954 Battle of Dien Bien Phu, a turning point in the Indochina War that led to Vietnam’s path to reunification.

Beyond its historical importance, Dien Bien attracts visitors with its waterfalls, lakes, and ethnic minority villages where travelers can engage with unique cultural traditions.

The myth of the Bauhinia flower

The Bauhinia flower

The Bauhinia flower is tied to a tragic love legend of the Thai ethnic groups. The story tells of a beautiful girl named Ban who was forbidden to marry her true love. Heartbroken, she fled into the forest in search of him until she collapsed on a rock. From where she fell, a pure white flower appeared — the Bauhinia flower — which has since spread across the mountains of the northwest.

For generations, the flower has become a symbol of purity, loyalty, and the inner strength of the people of the region.

Meaning of the festival

Each March, paths leading to Dien Bien city and nearby villages turn white with blooming Bauhinia flowers. Whether growing on hillsides or clinging to rocky cliffs, the flowers embody simple yet striking beauty.

To honor this symbol, Dien Bien province has organized the Bauhinia Flower Festival annually since 2014. The event highlights cultural identity, spiritual values, and traditional lifestyles of the 19 ethnic groups in the province.

Opening ceremony of the Bauhinia Flower Festival 2022

The festival aims to preserve cultural heritage while transforming these values into resources for tourism development, helping Dien Bien connect cultural identity with economic growth.

When is the Bauhinia Flower Festival?

The festival takes place every March, coinciding with the peak bloom of the Bauhinia flower.

When did the 2025 Bauhinia Flower Festival take place?

The 2025 Bauhinia Flower Festival was held from March 13 to 18, 2025, in Dien Bien Phu city.

The event was also an occasion to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory, the 116th anniversary of the establishment of Dien Bien province, and the 76th anniversary of the provincial Party Committee.

Main activities during the event

The festival incorporates rituals and cultural elements of the Thai ethnic community, including ceremonies praying for favorable weather, abundant crops, and family happiness.

Visitors coming to Dien Bien during the blooming season can admire vast forests of Bauhinia flowers near historical sites, cultural villages, and scenic viewpoints.

The Bauhinia Flower in Dien Bien

Dien Bien also offers many attractions including: Uva hot springs, Pe Luong, Pa Thom cave, Pa Khoang lake, Muong Phang historical site, Hoang Cong Chat temple, Linh Son cultural site, and Linh Quang spiritual complex.

The Dien Bien Phu Battlefield remains one of the most visited sites, especially during festival season.

Travelers can also enjoy local cuisine, traditional music, and ethnic performances.

Activities at the 2025 Bauhinia Flower Festival

The opening program showcased both tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Dien Bien, highlighting local crafts, music, history, and tourism products.

Community activities included traditional dances, cultural spaces built by artisans, and a fireworks display.

The festival also featured highland cultural villages, local agricultural products, traditional food, and folk games such as ball throwing, wrestling, blindfolded games, tightrope walking, and javelin throwing.

Exhibitions presented artifacts, traditional clothing, tools, and cultural practices of Dien Bien’s ethnic groups.

This year marked the first introduction of a live performance featuring legends, stories, and folk dances of the Thai people — designed to enrich the visitor experience and connect cultural identity with tourism.

The festival also recreated wartime scenes, including wheelbarrow and ammunition-loading competitions.

Bicycles transporting food during the war

These activities paid tribute to the strength and resilience of the people who contributed to the Dien Bien Phu campaign. Visitors and locals were invited to participate, creating an engaging and memorable experience — a meaningful highlight of any Vietnam tour.

Learn more: Mai Chau: Meet the northwest masterpiece of Vietnam