With its grandiose history and exceptional natural beauty, Dien Bien has long attracted tourists with unique and impressive Northern Vietnam tour experiences. Located in the northwest of Vietnam, this city is not only a witness to significant historical events but also a museum of the cultural diversity of its peoples.
In this article, we will guide you through the essential information and unique experiences to be had in Dien Bien – an ideal destination for those wishing to discover and understand the culture and history of Vietnam.
Dien Bien: Exploring a Historical Territory and Cultural Diversity of Ethnic Groups
Where is Dien Bien located?
Dien Bien, a province situated in the northwest of Vietnam, is renowned for its majestic mountains and rich cultural diversity, with numerous ethnic minorities residing there. This region is closely linked to major historical events, particularly the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, a decisive turning point in the Indochina War, paving the way for the unification of Vietnam.
In addition to its historical significance, Dien Bien attracts visitors with its remarkable natural landscapes, including waterfalls and lakes, as well as its unique ethnic villages, offering visitors an immersion into the distinctive cultural life of these communities.
Ripe rice fields in Dien Bien
By visiting Dien Bien, travelers can not only appreciate the natural beauty of the region but also discover a fascinating cultural diversity, providing a unique and unforgettable tourist experience. Dien Bien is home to 19 ethnic groups (Thai, Hmong, Kinh, Dao, Kho Mu, Ha Nhi, Lao, Hoa, Khang, Muong, Cong, Xi-mun, Si La, Nung, Phu La, Tho, Tay, San Chay, and other ethnic groups), each bringing its own language, customs, and culture, thus creating a rich cultural mosaic for the province of Dien Bien.
When is the best time to visit Dien Bien?
Dien Bien enjoys a cool climate throughout the year and is located in the western part of northwest Vietnam, making it an ideal destination for an eco tourism in Vietnam.
Tourists typically visit Dien Bien in March or from September to December. March is the time when Dien Bien is covered in blossoms of the ban flower. December is when the roads are tinted yellow by marigold flowers. As for September, it’s the time when rice fields ripen and turn golden. In winter, Dien Bien experiences little rainfall but is very cold, so if travelers choose this period to experience the cold of the Vietnamese mountains, it is advisable to bring thick warm clothing.
How to get to Dien Bien?
Currently, there are three ways for tourists to get to Dien Bien: by plane, bus, or car rental. Dien Bien Airport is an international airport, so travelers can search for direct flights to Dien Bien from their home country. Otherwise, travelers can purchase bus tickets or rent a car to travel to different provinces of Vietnam to Dien Bien.
From the center of Hanoi, Dien Bien is approximately 456 kilometers away. As for the distance between Ho Chi Minh City and Dien Bien, it’s about 1946 kilometers through the provinces and cities from north to south.
Although the distance is quite long, with the development of transportation means, travel is no longer complicated. However, the terrain is mostly hills and steep mountains, which can make travel difficult and fragmented, so travelers are advised to exercise caution when traveling here.
What to visit in Dien Bien?
1. Pa A Chai
For trekking and mountain climbing enthusiasts, A Pa Chai is a must-visit destination during a trip to Dien Bien. Located within the territory of Sin Thau commune, Muong Nhe district, Dien Bien, it’s also a place situated at the border between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
To experience the best moments during your visit, it’s recommended to come here in mid-January or February to admire farmers in the fields of young green rice paddies. Or come between September and December when A Pa Chai is immersed in the vivid yellow of ripe rice fields; it’s also the season when wildflowers begin to bloom.
In addition to this, the experience of climbing, conquering the landmark number 0 is probably what attracts most tourists here. It’s also the place where you can admire the most beautiful sunset in Dien Bien. However, note that A Pa Chai is located in a border area of Vietnam, so if you wish to conquer this mountain range, make sure to have all the necessary identification documents to register at the Border Guard Station 317.
2. Pa Khoang Lake
Pa Khoang lake
The lake is located on the border between the two communes of Muong Pang and Ba Khoang, 8 km west of the Dien Bien Phu battle site, and is the largest lake in Dien Bien.
Around the lake, more than 300 animal species and 700 plant species have been recorded, making the air extremely pure and fresh, ideal for family vacations.
3. Pha Din Pass
Nicknamed one of the Four Great Peaks of the West, it’s truly an experience everyone wants to have. When you’re here, you must be mentally prepared to enjoy the exhilarating sensation of conquering winding turns and curves.
According to legend, this place was once considered the separation between Dien Bien and Son La. Back then, men and horses from both provinces set off together for a race. Both sides were evenly matched, making it difficult to determine the winner. At the last minute, the horse from Lai Chau took the lead, so the Pha Din Pass in Dien Bien was slightly longer.
4. Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum
This place has a very impressive design with a symbol shaped like a truncated helmet. Inside, it’s decorated with an image of a helmet, symbolizing the camouflage of Ho Chi Minh’s old conical hat.
By coming here, you will discover and learn more about the culture, the difficult combat process of our ancestors. It’s the tourist attraction in Dien Bien that you cannot miss.
Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum
5. A1 Hill
The historical site of A1 Hill is one of the must-visit places when visiting Dien Bien, Vietnam. It is here that a significant part of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 took place, a decisive event in the Indochina War that paved the way for the unification of Vietnam. A1 Hill symbolizes the spirit of resilience and sacrifice of Vietnamese soldiers and people during the war, and to this day, it is considered an important historical symbol of the country. Visiting A1 Hill not only allows visitors to better understand the history of Vietnam but also to pay homage to the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the nation.
6. Ban Phu Citadel
Listed as a national monument by the state, the Ban Phu Citadel is a tourist attraction in Dien Bien. Built over 200 years ago, it was the scene of many significant events for the heroism of Hoang Cong Chat. He was a symbol of the great unity spirit of the people in the struggle against foreign invasion.
It spans 80 hectares. Around the walls, the inhabitants piled up earth and planted thorny bamboo for protection. Thanks to this, the fortress walls have been solidly protected until now.
Dien Bien Cuisine
1. Xoi Dien Bien (Dien Bien sticky rice)
Dien Bien rice is famous not only for Vietnamese but also for foreigners because of its fragrance and fluffy texture. That’s why during your visit to Dien Bien, you shouldn’t miss dishes made from rice, especially xoi nep (sticky rice).
Xoi Dien Bien with lots of colors
Dien Bien Sticky Rice is renowned for its delightful fragrance and extremely fluffy rice grains. Although glutinous rice is common in the Northwest provinces, thanks to the superior quality of Dien Bien rice, the sticky rice here remains the most famous. Dien Bien Nep rice, once cooked, has round and tender grains with a distinctive sweet aroma and characteristic fluffy texture.
- Recommended Address: Dan Toc Restaurant – Thanh Truong, Dien Bien Phu, Dien Bien.
2. Pa Pinh Top
This is probably a special dish of Dien Bien that surprises many tourists with its name, but in reality, Pa Pinh Top is a regional term for a grilled fish dish. It’s also a traditional dish of the Thai people in the Northwest region.
This grilled fish dish is carefully prepared from various freshwater fishes such as carp, tench, and catfish, etc. After cleaning, the fishes are longitudinally incised for easy flipping during cooking, and seasonings are then stuffed inside the fish’s belly to give it an intense flavor. Once grilled, the fish has a distinctive flavor and is very different from other grilled fish dishes in other provinces.
- Recommended Address: Huong Dong Noi Restaurant – 68B, Quarter 6, Thanh Truong Ward, Dien Bien Phu City, Dien Bien.
3. Grilled Mac Khen Chicken
Grilled Mac Khen Chicken is a famous dish of the Thai people in Dien Bien. The chicken is expertly grilled over a warm wood fire, and the chicken is grilled slowly until the chicken fat naturally flows to make the skin and meat firm and tender. This ensures that the chicken meat remains juicy.
Once the chicken is well-cooked, the spicy Mac Khen sauce is then applied on top, and when heat is encountered, the aroma of the sauce will naturally spread.
- Recommended Address: Cong Hoan Restaurant – 563 Street 7 – 5, Tan Thanh, Dien Bien Phu, Dien Bien.
4. Steamed Pork in Banana Leaves
This special dish from Dien Bien is prepared from finely minced pork meat marinated with various seasonings, then tightly wrapped in banana leaves. It is then steamed for 1 hour. When opened, you are assured that everyone will be delighted by the smell of the pork meat and banana leaves mixed together.
- Recommended Address: Song Hy Dien Bien Restaurant – 236 Nguyen Chi Thanh Street, Muong Thanh, Dien Bien Phu, Dien Bien.
5. Buffalo Meat Hung Over Fire
Buffalo meat hung over the fire is surely a special dish of Dien Bien that all tourists should try at least once. This buffalo meat is carefully selected, all fatty and tough parts are removed, then sliced and marinated for 2 to 3 hours. Finally, it is hung over the fire to cook slowly.
Once grilled, the buffalo meat will have a delicious taste, firm yet tender texture. It is also a special dish that tourists can choose to purchase and take home as a souvenir.
- Recommended Address: Hai Tan – 6 Tran Dang Ninh, Muong Thanh, Dien Bien Phu, Dien Bien.
Some Events and Festivals
1. Bauhinia Flower Festival
In order to pay homage to and celebrate the beauty of the bauhinia flower, affirming its value and place in the cultural and spiritual life of the ethnic groups of the northwest, since 2014, Dien Bien province has been organizing the Bauhinia Flower Festival.
The bauhinia flower in Dien Bien
The festival serves as an opportunity to promote the traditional cultural beauties and values of the 19 brotherly ethnic communities of Dien Bien province to both domestic and international tourists. It aims to preserve and develop the typical forms of cultural heritage of these ethnic groups, to transform heritage values into internal resources to boost tourism, and to connect with other potentials and forces to contribute to the socio-economic development of Dien Bien province.
2. Ban Phu Citadel Festival
A rich traditional festival in local color in Dien Bien is the Ban Phu Citadel Festival. It takes place on the 24th and 25th of the 2nd lunar month every year to honor the exploits of Hoang Cong Chat and other commanders and soldiers in the resistance against the Phe invaders in Muong Then.
The festival consists of two parts: the ceremony and the festival. The ceremony includes processional rites, incense offerings, and prayers to commemorate the heroes and martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the homeland. The festival part provides an opportunity for people to engage in recreational, entertainment, and cultural activities such as peach picking, fishing, pig chasing for reward, duck-shaped boat racing, archery, go game, pole shooting, and men-women tug of war…
Additionally, in the festival part, ethnic minorities in Dien Bien showcase their distinctive artistic performances such as dance, theater, and circle dance… The Ban Phu Citadel Festival is an important historical and cultural event of Dien Bien.
In summary, Dien Bien is not only a fantastic tourist destination but also a place to deeply discover and experience the culture, history, and people of Vietnam. Dien Bien will surely leave your Vietnam tour with unforgettable impressions and beautiful memories for a lifetime.
