Dien Bien Phu

Formerly known as Thaeng, Dien Bien Phu is the capital of Dien Bien Province in the northwestern region of Vietnam. It is among the most historically eminent cities in Vietnam. It is here that the French were finally defeated in the year 1954 by the Viet Minh Communist Revolutionaries.

Initially, just a small settlement with very less population, it achieved town status in 1992 and became a city only in 2003. The quaint town is full of natural beauty as you make your way through dense forests and hills and slopes.

Currently populated by only a handful of locals, it acts as a commercial trade centre of Vietnam. The laidback rhythm of Vietnamese life can still be witnessed here as you see locals mill about their daily chores and businesses in traditional dresses.

This small town resides in the lap of Muong Thanh valley and is bordered by Vietnamese provinces Lai Chau and Son La in east and south, Chinese Pu'er City in the north and Phongsaly in Laos in the west.  Vietnamese ethnic groups which form about one-third of the population live on the plains which essentially form the city.

After the fierce battle in 1954, the city has witnessed humongous change, and many civic buildings and promenades have been constructed since then. The spirit of the city is like a phoenix rising after war and it is slowly but surely catching up to its current status as an economic hub.