Mường Thanh rice paddy field, the largest of its kind in northwestern Việt Nam, spans over 140sq.km across communes and wards in Điện Biên District and Điện Biên Phủ City in the northern province of Điện Biên.

Besides its economic value of yielding the renowned Điện Biên rice brand, the paddy field also holds historical significance intertwined with the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign.

Mường Thanh paddy field has nurtured the lives of the local ethnic communities for generations. However, in November 1953, when thousands of French soldiers parachuted into the heart of the Mường Thanh area to seize Điện Biên, the locals were forced into concentration camps while their properties were looted and the rice fields were devastated and abandoned.

Throughout the following months, the field became a stronghold of the French colonial forces, witnessing the fierce battles between the Vietnamese soldiers and the French colonists. During the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign in 1954, it transformed into a fortified battleground, with numerous trenches and bunkers scattered throughout.

After 56 days and nights of fierce and resilient resistance, Vietnamese soldiers forced the French forces to surrender and leave the Mường Thanh rice field, as well as withdraw from Điện Biên Phủ.

Following the victory of the resounding campaign, a movement was launched to fill bomb craters, clear landmines and collect barbed wire to restore the prosperous Mường Thanh rice field.

After 70 years, the ravages of war have receded. Today, the field has become a vast rice granary in the northwest region.

Benefiting from favourable natural conditions and climate, the Mường Thanh rice field is renowned nationwide for its delicious and famous rice varieties such as séng cù, nếp nương (sticky rice), lứt đỏ (red rice), lứt đen (black rice), nếp than (black glutinuous rice), and tám thơm (fragrant rice).

According to Chairman of the People's Committee of Điện Biên District, Điện Biên Province, Bùi Hải Bình, the rice cultivation area in Mường Thanh rice field covers 3,990 hectares, with an average yield of 6,3 tonnes per hectare. The average annual production of the entire field reaches over 47,000 tonnes, accounting for 79.94 per cent of the district's total rice production.

"Mường Thanh rice field has provided an abundant source of food and a prosperous life for the people of Điện Biên. Now, we are focusing on promoting the Điện Biên rice brand even further," he said. VNS