On A1 Hill.

Nhan Dan- In a State project on the development of Vietnam tourism in 1995-2010 period, the government has defined Dien Bien north-western mountainous province as one of the national tourism destinations. Many places of interests of cultural and historical values in the provinces should be further exploited for tourism development.

Apart from the normal forms of tourism like most of other provinces in the north-western region, Dien Bien is also a famous destination for the Dien Bien Phu battle site. As a mountainous province, Dien Bien has attractive caves such as Pa Thom, Muoi Loi in Dien Bien district, Phi Nhu, Muong Tinh in Dien Bien Dong district, Tham Pua , THam Khuong in Tuan Giao district.

Rice cultivation in Dien Bien Phu.

Ecological tourism is also available with forests of Muong Phang and Muong Nhe with an area of 31,216 hectares on 1,500 metres above the sea.

River tourism with Pa Khoang, Huoi Pha, Pa Luong, Hong Khenh, U Va rivers is also an attraction of Dien Bien.

Dien Bien also owns tangible cultural values of traditional musical instruments, costumes and intangible cultural values of folk festivals, folk dances, songs and games.

Most notable is the Dien Bien Phu Campaign site where the famous  battle took place 54 years ago.

With a great determination to make tourism a key economic industry, over the past years, Dien Bien province has issued various policies to best exploit its local tourist potential. The most recent project of the province is expected to welcome around 650 thousand domestic tourists and 220 thousand international tourists by the year of 2020, and earn about VND 925 billion. To that goal, from now to 2020, Dien Bien needs an investment of VND 2,820 billion to improve tourism infrastructure.

The Dien Bien Phu Campaign site will be restored or newly built to mark 55th anniversary of the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory (may 7, 2009). However, at the moment, only one project to improve of relic complex has been completed while others are waiting for more investment.

Attention should be paid not only to improving the relic sites but also to developing the cultural and ecological tourism, the community and places of interest tourism.

To fulfil  the overall plan on tourism development, the provincial administration should call for more investments for its infrastructure, so that Dien Bien can become   a favourite destination for tourists, not only for its historical value but also for cultural and natural values, not only for the normal tourism purposes but also for research purposes on culture, history, military and ethnology.