Dien Bien province
Dien Bien Phu city is located in Muong Thanh Valley with around 20km long and 6km wide. That is one of the bordered cities as it is around 35km to Laos border, 474km to Ha Noi. This is a historical site which its name was in the mind of most of Vietnamese and French people of that generation. This place was a battlefield between the Viet Minh Army and French Army in 1954 . The result was the role of French in Indochina was cut and Viet Nam was divided by two parts : North and South.
Pa Khoang Lake in Dien Bien
Located in Muong Phang commune, Dien Bien district, the position of Pa Khoang lake is very convenient, near the road 279, about 20 km from Dien Bien Phu city, linking Dien Bien Phu city with Muong Phang historical and cultural forest where the relics of the Command of Dien Bien Phu compaign remains.
Pa Khoang Lake in Dien Bien - Photo: taybacsensetravel.com
More specially, Pa Khoang lake is an interesting ecotourism destination to visitors in Vietnam tourism. It’s the fact that there are a number of animals and various kinds of orchids in the forest around the lake. There are many species of fish and floating plants in the lake (about 65 kinds of floating plants, 14 species of floating animals and 6 species living at the bottom of the lake).
Pa Khoang lake lies in the centre of ranges of mountains, in a place of beautiful natural sceneries. Visitors joining tours in Vietnam can enjoy the natural beauty in the distance or row a boat for sight-seeing. In the lake region, there are the villages of Thai and Kho Mu ethnic groups who still follow traditional customs and habits of ethnic groups in the North West of Vietnam. This is also an interesting human tourist potential.
Pha Din Pass
As not so far from Hanoi, only about 32 kilometers long to reach Dien Bien province, visitors in Vietnam tourism have to pass Pha Din pass, known as the longest pass in Vietnam. Pha Din, in the local language, means “Heaven and Earth.” Accompanied by local legend, Pha Din Pass is the place where the sky meets the earth, so it is considered as the frontier between “Heaven and Earth.”
Pha Din Pass - Photo: didauchoigi.com
Above 1,000m high, the pass is full of twists and turns, one side is an upright cliff and the other is a deep gulf. So, climbing and descending the slopes with their many bends and deep gorges, amid such magnificent scenery, is one of the most unforgettable tours in Vietnam to most foreign tourists.
Statue of Dien Bien Phu Victory
The statue of Dien Bien Phu Victory is situated atop Hill D1, Dien Bien Phu City. It is inaugurated in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7th, 1954 - May 7th, 2004).
The Statue of Dien Bien Phu Victory - Photo: yatlat.com
The statue of Dien Bien Phu Victory represents the images of three Dien Bien soldiers, standing atop De Castries’s bunker, looking at three directions. One of them holds a rifle, one a flag and one holding a child with a bunch of flower. The words “Resolutely fight to win” are put in the flag under the suggestion of General Vo Nguyen Giap.
Historical Sites of Dien Bien Phu Victory
After the victorious battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, almost all historical sites of this battle lying to the east of the Muong Thanh Field have been preserved intact.
Following are a list of recommended places to visit in Dien Bien:
1. The Museum of Dien Bien Phu victorious battle: The museum houses a great deal of documents and objects relating to the 55-day arduous battle of Vietnamese soldiers and people to make the glorious victory of the whole nation in spring 1954. The museum exhibits its objects both indoors and outdoors.
The Museum of Dien Bien Phu Victorious Battle - Photo: news.zing.vn
2. The cemeteries in Hill A1 (644 tombs) and Doc Lap Hill (2432 tombs): This is the resting place of Vietnamese soldiers who sacrificed heroically in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. In Hill A1 lie the tombs of heroic martyrs such as To Vinh Dien, Be Van Dan, Phan Dinh Giot and Tran Can.
3. Hill A1: This height stands block the way to the northeast sub-section. It has a significant role, controlling the whole battle of Dien Bien Phu. During 36 nights and days, the fierce battle claimed the lives of 2516 Vietnamese soldiers. Only until the night of May 6th, 1954 did Vietnamese soldiers win this decisive battle.
Hill A1 - Photo: yatlat.com
4. Muong Thanh Airfield: This was the stronghold 206 and the central airport of the entrenched camp of Dien Bien Phu. Currently this airport is renamed Dien Bien Phu and becomes one of the destinations in the flight system of the Vietnam Civil Aviation.
5. The Command bunker of the Dien Bien Phu entrenched camp: De Castries worked inside the bunker. The original shape and size, structure and arrangement of the bunker are kept intact.
6. Him Lam Hill: On March 13th, 1954, Vietnamese troops fought the first battle in Him Lam Hill, which is situated to the northwest of the valley.
7. Doc Lap Hill: Vietnamese troops liberated the hill on March 15th, 1954.
8. Hills C, D and E are well preserved. From afar, one can easily recognize the name of these hills. Atop D1 Hill stands the newly-erected Statue of Dien Bien Phu Victory.
9. The Command post of the Vietnamese soldiers from January 21st to May 8th, 1954.
Source: holidaytoindochina