Dien Bien

Country: Vietnam

Province: Dien Bien

Dien Bien Phu Holiday Weather today

Date/time of update: November 5, 2024, 12:30 am, Timezone: GMT+7
Broken Clouds

Temperature: 21.04°C
Temperature feels like: 21.18°C
Minimum Temperature: 21.04°C
Maximum Temperature: 21.04°C
Atmospheric pressure: 1020hPa
Humidity:76%
Visibility: 10000m
Wind speed: 1m/sec
Wind Direction: 76 degrees
Cloudiness: 73%
Sunrise: 2024-11-04 11:13:06
Sunset: 2024-11-05 10:29:56

Dien Bien Province is located in the North-West of Vietnam. Dien Bien shares border with China to the north-west, with Lai Chau to the north and north-east, with Son La to the east and south-east and south, with Laos to the south-west and west. Dien Bien has an international border-crossing with Laos at Tay Trang (Vietnam) – Sop Hun (Laos).

Terrain

Most of the terrain of Dien Bien Province is mountainous with peaks up to nearly 2,000m above sea level. There are various valleys created in between mountain ranges, of which the largest is the Muong Thanh Valley with total area of over 150km2. The province has 2 plateaus at A Pa Chai (Muong Nhe) and Ta Phing (Tua Chua).

Muong Ang Town, Dien Bien Province
Muong Ang Town

The terrain of Dien Bien is higher to the north, lower to the south; and higher to the west and lower to the east. The highest points to the northwest of Dien Bien are in Muong Nhe District (1,085m, 1,162 m, 1,856m, peak Pu Den Dinh – 1,886m). The highest points to the west include 1,127m, 1,649m, 1,860m and the peaks in Muong Phang.

Rivers

- The Da River starts its flow from the Chinese border through Lai Chau, then through Muong Lay and Tuan Giao (of Dien Bien) before going further into Son La…

The Da River at Muong Lay, Dien Bien Province, Vietnam

- The Nam Rom and Nam Nua Rivers: the former flows north-south and the latter flows south-north; they meet in the Muong Thanh Valley then continues westward into Laos to discharge the water into the Mekong River.

The Nam Rom River at Dien Bien Phu, an important obstable to the Viet Minh in the Dien Bien Phu Battle

- The Ma River (Nam Muc, Nam Hua, Nam Co,…) flows through Tuan Giao, Muong Ang, Dien Bien Dong.

The Nam Hua River at Tuan Giao which flows southward and discharges its water into the Ma River

Dien Bien Climate, best time to visit Dien Bien

Dien Bien has a tropical monsoon climate on high altitude with big difference in temperatures during the day and during the night which is attributed to the geographical location far inland and the mountainous terrain. There are two main seasons in Dien Bien. The rainy season is from May to November. The dry season is from late November or December through April. The annual rainfall is 1,300-2,000mm most of the rainfall is found in June, July and August.

Dien Bien Phu City at sunset

Daily temperatures during March-October normally fluctuate between 20-30 Degrees Celsius. The highest temperatures are found in April – July which may be above 40oC. During the coldest period December - February, daily temperatures are between below 10-20 Degrees Celsius.

In July and August, sometimes September there may be typhoons and tropical depressions which may have impact in Dien Bien even with weakened winds. They often cause torrential rains, flash floods and landslides with much damage to the province.

The best weather in Dien Bien is found in late October – November and February-March. These periods offer dry air and pleasant temperatures.

Muong Cha Town, Dien Bien Province
Muong Cha Town

People and Population

There are 21 ethnic groups in Dien Bien Province of which the Thai is the biggest community (42%), Hmong (27%), Kinh (19%), Khmu (4%), Lao, Hoa, Ha Nhi, Khang, La Hu, Xi Mun, Si La, Nung, Phu La, Tho, Tay...

Tuan Giao rice field, Dien Bien Province

Dien Bien Travel Guide, What to see, Tourist Attractions in Dien Bien

1/ Former Dien Bien Phu Battlefield

Dien Bien Phu Battlefield with relics from the famous Dien Bien Phu Battle between the Viet Minh and the French troops. Important sites of the former battlefields are within the Muong Thanh Valley, or Dien Bien Phu City nowadays. These sites are carefully preserved and we can see them as they were during the battle. Visiting these two sites can take from one day to two days. If you want to get in-depth information, then you’d need at least two days.

Former French Commander Post at Dien Bien Phu

2/ Muong Phang

Muong Phang was the head quarters of the Viet Minh forces conducting the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. The valley is a miniature of the Muong Thanh Valley (in Dien Bien Phu) that the Viet Minh also used to train the commanders of different units before a major battle of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Also, there are the Pu Huot and Pu To Co Mountain which General Giap trek to the summits each day to watch the battles and to issue commands timely and correctly.

There are several Black Thai villages and the serene Pa Khoang Lake in the valley of Muong Khoang, too.

The headquarters of Viet Minh at Muong Phang (Dien Bien Province) during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign

3/ Pa Khoang Lake

Pa Khoang Lake is in Muong Phang, 26km from Dien Bien Phu City. The lake, surrounded by thick forest, is great for relaxing holidays and eco tourism. There are villages of the Thai and Khmu ethnic groups around Pa Khoang. While here you can have a boat trip or have leisurely bicycle tours around the lake and the Muong Phang Valley, or to Dien Bien Phu City.

The Pa Khoang Lake at Muong Phang, a great site for ecotourism

4/ Tham Pua Cave

Tham Pua is in Tuan Giao, near the sublime mountain pass of Pha Din, 60km east northeast of Dien Bien Phu City. Tham Pua was the first headquarters of the Viet Minh at the start of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign before it was moved to Muong Phang.

The front of the Tham Pua Cave at Tuan Giao, Dien Bien Province

But Tham Pua is a beautiful site with spectacular mountains, the Nam Hua River (Ma River tributary) and scenic valleys.

Landscape at the Tham Pua Cave in Tuan Giao, Dien Bien

5/ Pha Din Pass

The mountain pass of 32km in length and over 1,000m in elevation is just sublime! The mountain pass is between Dien Bien Province and Son La Province on Route 6.

The Pha Din Pass on the National Road 6 between Son La Province (Thuan Chau District) and Dien Bien Province (Tuan Giao District)

Things to do, Adventure Travel, Historical Trips, Battlefield Tours in Dien Bien Province

Dien Bien is an interesting destination for the travelers who love to learn about the famous Dien Bien Phu Battle. You can visit the major sites on a full day tour. It should take another day if you would like to visit Muong Phang and climb the mountain that General Giap observed the battle from.

Pristine mountains at Na Tau in Dien Bien District of Dien Bien Province

If you like trekking or cycling tours, then you need to have up to one week to visit different attractions in the province. Alternatively, you can also have a relaxing holiday at Pa Khoang Lake for a couple of days during which time you can have a boat trip on the lake and visit different Thai villages in the neighborhood.

Paradissa Travel organizes a number of trekking tours, motorbike tours, leisurely bicycle tours and mountain-biking adventures around Dien Bien and the North West of Vietnam.

Road amid mountains at Na Tau, Dien Bien District, Dien Bien Province

1/ Adventure Travel: Cycling Tours, Trekking Tours, Motorbike Adventures

1.1 Bike Tours

Dien Bien Province is a great place for cycling tours given the sublime mountains, idyllic valleys and untouched villages. Paradissa offers cycling tours in and around Dien Bien Phu with the duration each ranging from 1 day to 3 days.

Biking in the Muong Thanh Valley amid the former battlefield of Dien Bien Phu is a great experience!

2.2 Trekking Tours, Hiking Trips, Walking Tours

There are several places in Dien Bien Province that we can go on hiking adventures or leisurely walking tours. Paradissa offers trekking tours, walking trips in Dien Bien for half a day, a full day and 2 days.

Trekking to the summit of the Pu Huot Mountain where General Giap observed and commanded the battle of Dien Bien Phu

2.3 Motorcycle Tours

It is great fun to travel in Dien Bien Province by motorbike. You can actually combine the trip to Dien Bien with other places in the Northwest of Vietnam for an adventure of a lifetime: sublime landscape and untouched ethnic cultures!

Muong Lay Town, Dien Bien Province
Muong Lay Town

2/ Battlefield Tours, Historical Trips

Paradissa offers veteran tours to Dien Bien Phu City and other historically important sites in the Northwest of Vietnam. Taking part in these tours, you will have a good understanding of some pieces of the Vietnamese history, the strategies implemented by the different parties taking part in these battles. Our tours take from 3 days to 7 days.

A1 Knoll (Eliane 2), a hardshell French stronghold during the Dien Bien Phu Battle

3/ Adventure Tours by car

Paradissa offers adventure trips by car/jeep which combine Dien Bien Phu and other destinations in the North West of Vietnam. The trip takes up to 6-7 days from Hanoi. The travel pace is moderate with some short-distanced hiking and walking.

The Muong Thanh Valley in Dien Bien Phu where the famed battle took place

Accommodations

There are hotels of basic facilities and luxury holiday hotels in Dien Bien Phu City. You can also have good comfort accommodations at Muong Lay Town. In other towns and townships, there are only guest houses.

Homestay used to be an interesting choice for travelers who love a more engaging experience. But as of our last check, there are no villages which offer homestay to foreign travellers.

The bus station at Muong Cha Town, Dien Bien Province

Restaurants and bars

There are decent restaurants, cafes and bars in Dien Bien Phu City. At other towns in the province, there are only local restaurants with a limited choice of food.

Getting there and away

By road

Dien Bien is 500km from Hanoi via the National Road No6; other inter-provincial roads are Road 12 to Lai Chau, Road 279 to Son La, Yen Bai, Lao Cai,...