| Ðiện Biên Phủ | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 21 ° 23 ′ 0 ″ N 103 ° 1 ′ 0 ″ E | |
Ðiện Biên Phủ is a city of North West of Vietnam
Understand
The French heard at school the name of Ðiện Biên Phủ, site of a terrible defeat of the French army against the Viet-Minh in 1954. The city is in a basin of 15 km sure 10 km.
The city, which became the capital of the region of the White Thais following the disappearance of Lai Chau, drowned under the waters of a dam, is in full economic development. From Hanoi, we get there either by bus (very long trip of 12-14 h) or by plane. Very frequented by Vietnamese tourists - who come to visit the sites of the battle - it is also the easiest gateway - or exit - to pass from Vietnam to northern Laos (Luang Prabang) or vice versa. Direct buses connect it to the large trekking center of Sapa.
Plan 2 days on site to appreciate the city, and rest from the trip.
Weather
It can be very hot in the bowl. Already in April, it hits hard.
To go
By car
We can come from Hanoi or from Sa Pa.
By bus
From Hanoi
Dien Ben Phu Bus => Hanoi - in "express" with lunch included, 250,000 dongues, departure at 5 h 30, 420 km12 h travel with relative comfort (It depends on the number of travelers in the minibus). Be careful, do not take the bus at 200,000 dong, it often stops to load and unload, it is much longer.
From Sa Pa
Sapa direct bus => Dien Ben Phu - 150,000 dong
By plane
| Airline company | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Vietnam Airlines | HAN Hanoi-Nội Bài (Bi-weekly link) |
Circulate
The city, relatively small, can be visited on foot.
- Rent a motorbike – The traffic is much less dense than in Hanoi, it is much less dangerous. A motorbike will allow you to ride in the basin. The guardian of the Dien Bien Phu Hanoi Hotel will rent you his for 25,000 dongue per hour, gasoline included.
See
- Historical Museum of Victory – Very recent - and not of attractive architecture - it is an excellent introduction to visiting the sites of the battle, therefore to visit before.
- General de Castries' bunker – Rebuilt - and sheltered under plexiglass - it is one of the few remaining sites of the battle. Do not forget to continue a little on the road to see the miserable little stele to the French dead of the battle, built with his hands and his pocket by a ... German legionnaire; the French government took 20 years to reimburse it !!!
- Hill A1 Eliane – From there, we dominate the city and we can see the mountains that close the basin. The last French stronghold of the battle. Concrete trenches (sandbags too !!!) and, in the middle, a crater, frightening when you know what it is: a mine of 100 kg of TNT placed by the Vietminh soldiers, and the French soldiers could hear the Viets digging the tunnel, unable to stop them.
- Vietnamese soldiers cemetery – Beautiful cemetery adjacent to Eliane 2 (called Á1 by the Vietnamese)
- French war memorial – Very well run by a local, don't forget to thank him warmly. This place is very moving. You can leave a note in a notebook.
Buy
- Marlet (near Muong Thanh bridge)
Eat
- Tuoi Link 27 Muong Thanh – one of the only restaurants in the city, in the European sense - have a pho bo for lunch next to the large roundabout, 30,000 dongues, in harmony with the locals.
Make
Have a drink / Go out
Have a glass of squeezed cane juice or a coconut by the side of the road
Housing
- Dien Bien Phu Hanoi Hotel – The best new hotel in town is on the Eliane 2 side, hence the name Hotel Á1. Another notable, but less conveniently located hotel is the Dien Bien Phu Hanoi (and don't expect delicious meals, the city is a gourmet desert!).
- 1 Cafe 73 (near the bus terminal)
250 000 VND without breakfast. – Good wifi, hard mattress and relatively noisy hotel because near the bus terminal
Around
Not to be missed: the beautiful site of General Giap's HQ in 20 km from DBP (Thai village of Muong Phong); It should be noted that, to judge the situation with confidence, Giap never set foot in DBP during the whole battle; he was studying Muong Phong's situation upon receiving reports from his officers. We visit the bamboo huts and bunkers in a pretty setting.
