2 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
One hour from Hanoi by plane
When to go
From November to May
Minimum stay
One day
Dien Bien Phu (Vietnam)
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flickrcc Nomad Tales
Practical information on Dien Bien Phu
Expériences inoubliables à vivre Dien Bien Phu
Reviews of Dien Bien Phu
Điện Biên Phủ is a city located in Điện Biên Province in the extreme north-west of Vietnam. It is famous for being the site of a terrible battle that resulted in the defeat of the French at the end of the First Indochina War.
My suggestion:
Though people normally visit Điện Biên Phủ for its history, the surrounding area is also worth exploring: it has some beautiful landscapes and scenery to offer.
My review
I went to Điện Biên Phủ with the intention of going to Laos, the border of which lies close by, With the area simply brimming with history, I decided it was worth spending a little time exploring Điện Biên Phủ, and in fact the city does have some interesting things to see, even if they're not exactly light-hearted in nature.
The main places to visit are all associated with the battle that took place here in 1954 and ended in a resounding defeat for the French. If you're interested in this particular chapter of history, there's the Victory Museum to visit as well as both the bunker of General Christian de Castries and the site known as Hill A1, from where you can look out over the surrounding area. Exploring Điện Biên Phủ when visiting Vietnam means exploring an important chapter in the country's history.
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FlickrccPilip
Dien Bien Phu city, capital of the province with the same name, is not in itself a tourist destination but constitutes a vestige of the war in Indochina.
My suggestion:
Like all frontier towns, Dien Bien Phu transforms when night falls into a sad and unsavoury place. My advice would be to just pass through without stopping and staying the night.
My review
If Dien Bien Phu had not been the former site of the historic battle which marked the victory for national liberation on 7th May, 1954, it is unlikely that it would appear in any tourist guide. Moreover, it was due to a lack of planning that I stopped there during my trip to Vietnam and Laos. As one of the main crossing points between the two countries, Dien Bien Phupresents in reality little interest.
Interested as I am in the history of the region, I thought that, nevertheless I would discover the last vestiges of one of the greatest battles of the war in Indochina. Closely involved with the history of French colonialism in Vietnam, Dien Bien Phu could be a fascinating place, surrounded by splendid views, but it is more of a historically loaded site with museums less than mediocre. So, I cannot say that the few trips I made in the region (the war museum, the command post of General Giap or the military cemetery at Elliane Hill) left me with any lasting impressions.
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flickrcc Nomad Tales
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flickrcc Tom Winker
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