Dien Bien Phu Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
city in Điện Biên, Vietnam
About Dien Bien Phu
Điện Biên Phủ was the site of a major French defeat in the War of Independence in 1954. The Battle of Điện Biên Phủ was fought between the Việt Minh (led by General Võ Nguyên Giáp), and the French Union (led by General Henri Navarre, successor to General Raoul Salan). The siege of the French garrison lasted 57 days, from 13 March to 7 May 1954. An important factor was that the defenses had been designed on the assumption that the enemy would not have artillery, but the Vietnamese did. The US had provided the Nationalist Chinese with guns for their civil war against the Chinese Communists, and corrupt generals sold some of those to Vietnamese Communists who dismantled them and hauled the pieces over difficult terrain to Dien Bien Phu. Giáp's victory ended major French involvement in Indochi
Top Attractions in Dien Bien Phu
Explore the best things to see and do in Dien Bien Phu:
- ★A1 hill, Vietnam Military History Museum and cemetery
- ★D1 hill
- ★French Command Bunker
- ★Strong point "Elaine"
Dien Bien Phu Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 9 sections including: