Top Things to do in Dien Bien Phu
Top Restaurants in Dien Bien Phu
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7 Things to Do in Dien Bien Phu That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam including A1 Hill, Bunker of Colonel de Castries, Dien Bien Phu Museum, Dien Bien Phu Military Cemetery, Hot Spring Uva, Border Post 0, Dien Bien Friendly Trip.
Restaurants in Dien Bien Phu
1. A1 Hill
Overall Ratings
4 based on 43 reviews
Reviewed By Scott S - Hue, Vietnam
I believe this is a very unique battlefield site. Well maintained trenches and bunkers but there no descriptions to read about them. A few monuments are scattered on the grounds. You can't help but feel the pain and suffering that soldiers from both sides experienced here.
2. Bunker of Colonel de Castries
Overall Ratings
4 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By Nguyen L
If you're the one who wants to understand how Vietnamese people could defeat the powerful military, especially when there was a big gap between the abilities of two sides. Furthermore, that was such an incredible strategy in which spirit and determination are the most powerful factors leading to the win of the weaker military force.
3. Dien Bien Phu Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By JungleSnaps - U.S.A.
By European standards, the Vietnamese establish pretty poor standards. Because museums are a new thing for the country, they simply don't know how to do it. This is a decent attempt. Although sparse and not very informative, it remains fairly interesting.
4. Dien Bien Phu Military Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By Me_n_my_rucksack - Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Regardless of any Political or National alegance any young man who goes willingly into battle with the knowledge they may sacrifice their life deserve gratitude and recognition for that special sacrifice should the worst come to the worst. I think this Military Cemetery provides that for the brave Vietnamese who find this as their final resting place.
Free to enter the cemetery is set within a walled enclosure opposite the Military Museum.
Perfectly tended and respected the cemetery is a solemn and respectful place. There are the graves themselves and the names of lost troops etched on a memorial on the walls. Each grave is obviously looked after with great care and attention - flowers and the like kept fresh. One can climb stairs to view the cemetery from above and appreciate the scale of the number of graves here.
I cannot but feel for the Vietnamese Algerians Morrocans Lao or Morrocan troops who willingly fought alongside the French - with similar bravery - who have no memorial for their sacrifice in Dien Bien Phu. In Europe there are German cemetries in what were occupied countries, Soviet memorials in Germany and so on - regardless of who won or lost the trajic loss of life of all sides is generally remembered - here the awfull sacrifice of those who fought with France have been almost removed from history as there is no memorial to their sacrifice.
The French themselves have a mall memorial in a compound on the other side of the river closer to their old command bunker and I found this small memorial an equally worthwhile site to visit as this site. At the French memorial there are many small messages and memorials from various French military and ex service groups - particularly from the Foreign Legion.
5. Hot Spring Uva
Overall Ratings
4 based on 5 reviews
6. Border Post 0
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By manatdollar - UK
Foreigners need to get a permit from the Immigration office straight across from the exit from the airport in Điện Biên Phủ. Impossible to miss. Vietnamese can skip that step.
It's then a 250kkm each way trip to A Pa Chải. Scenery is pretty nice. Not up to Ha Giang, but pretty nice.
You can (and if you are a foreigner, probably MUST) stay with the border guards in their base in A Pa Chải. Accommodation is pretty basic, bu I have paid to stay in worse places. Meals (vegetarian options available) are provided by the border guards. There are homestays in A Pa Chải, but I was told I wasn't allowed to stay anywhere else. One 'extra' of staying with the border guards is that the fellow in the gate house had a semi automatic rifle. Not something I saw at any of my other hotels.
From the base, there is a road/track, most of the way to the hill where Border Post 0 is located, then it's scramble up through the woods to the border post. Triangular pillar with each country: China, Laos, Vietnam getting their name and emblem. You must be escorted by a border guard on your visit.
Very quiet and peaceful when I was there, but possibly busy when larger groups visit.
View are probably quite nice, bu low cloud meant I didn't see much.
Visiting is more about the experience and the journey than any particular view.
We season can be a risky time to visit with frequent landslides along the road.
7. Dien Bien Friendly Trip
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
Dien Bien Phu vestiges of war are almost lying in the central city such as Bunker of Colonel De Castries, A1 hill, Victory Museum, Victory Monument. Furthermore, 35 km away from the city, Muong Phang commune is the place where General Vo Nguyen Giap, General Commander of Dien Bien Phu Campaign set up his headquarters battle in 1954.
Reviewed By NEV T - Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam
I first came to Dien Bien in 2009 and fell in love with the people, the history, the landscape, that first weekend. Sure it is no theme park ..... but much much more if you want it to be. The colourful ethnic minority people (mainly Thai and H'mong) largely retain their cultural and traditional lifestyles. The battle history, although tragic in some ways, none the less epitomises a simple peoples struggle for freedom and independence against their self imposed colonial masters. The landscape is incredible, in the valley itself and in any day trip you do beyond the towering Mountains that rim the Muong Thanh valley. Plenty of hiking, bird watching, bike riding and general enjoyment to be had for a 1 hour flight from Hanoi that costs around $100 return ... and lots of accommodation options. For mine, a trip to Dien Bien Phu, and around Dien Bien province is an unexploited tourist destination. And if you want to help people in one of the poorest rural provinces in the Vietnam ..... there is plenty of opportunity to open your heart without opening your wallet. Plan ahead and a trip to Dien Bien will change your life.
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