A cultural exchange event introducing the culture and tourism of northwestern Dien Bien province is being held in the vehicle-free area surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi from January 19 to 21.

The event aims to introduce the beauty and people of the northwestern province and honor its culture to serve tourism development in localities in particular and the country in general, according to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Highlights include performances of traditional art, exhibitions of the costumes of local ethnic minority people, and the introduction of tourism sites.

A photo exhibition will showcase tourism sites and the customs of local ethnic minority people. Typical agricultural products, specialties, and souvenirs will also be available.

Popular tours and travel information and consultancy will be provided, which include the Ban Flower Festival from March 17to 19. A film providing more details on tourist sites and the flower festival will also be screened.

Ban (Bauhinia) flowers grow in Vietnam’s northwestern region, blooming in March and covering the region with a beautiful white color. The flower is considered one of the symbols of the culture and pride of the ethnic minority people in Dien Bien and nearby Son La, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, and Hoa Binh provinces. Dien Bien holds the now-annual flower festival in March, to introduce its landscape, culture, and people and boost local tourism.

As a typical mountainous northwestern area, Dien Bien is known for its beautiful natural landscapes of immense mountains and terraced rice fields. It also possesses natural wonders such as Pha Din Mountain Pass, Pa Thom Cave, and Pa Khoang Lake.

Pha Din Mountain Pass is located at a height of 1,000 meters about sea level, with a cliff on one side and a deep ravine on the other. With a number of twists and turns, the pass is a challenge for any driver. Pa Thom Cave, meanwhile, consists of stalactites, stalagmites, and stone arrangement in amazing shapes, such as an elephant’s head and a giant snake. Pa Khoang Lake offers hundreds of species of floating plants and animals, with unique sightseeing trips by boat available.

Together with beautiful nature and rich culture, Dien Bien also retains a wide range of historical sites from the victory against the French at its provincial capital, Dien Bien Phu, in 1954.

The underground bunker of French General Christian De Castries serves as eloquent evidence of the bravery of Vietnamese troops, who fought incessantly for 54 days and nights to seize it. The historical monument has been well preserved and maintains its original shape, dimensions, and structure.

Hill A1 played a critical role in the battle at Dien Bien Phu. Standing atop Hill A1 while hearing the details of the 1954 campaign provides a sense of what occurred, while visiting the cemeteries of Vietnamese soldiers from the campaign is a moving experience.

Another key site of historical interest is the command post of the Vietnamese military hidden inside the forests of Muong Phang commune, where renowned General Vo Nguyen Giap and his officers planned the glorious Dien Bien Phu Victory.

Muong Thanh Airfield, Doc Lap Hill, Him Lam Hill, the Dien Bien Phu Victorious Statue, and the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum are also well worth visiting.

Despite its tourism potential, the province still welcomes few tourists. The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has therefore cooperated with other localities to introduce and promote its tourism attractions among tourists.

Dien Bien welcomed 600,000 visitors, including 120,000 foreigners, in 2017, up 25 per cent and 71.4 per cent against 2016. Total revenue from tourism was VND960 billion ($42.3 million), a 34 per cent year-on-year increase.

VN Economic Times