Geographic location: bounded by Lai Chau province to the North, by Son La province to the East and North-East, by China (Yunnan province) to the North – West, by Laos (Luong Pha Bang and Phong Xa Ly) to the South – West
Area: 9, 562. 9 km2.
Topographic features: Dien Bien has a very complex topography formed by high mountain chains, valleys, steep, narrow streams and rivers.
Administrative units: include Dien Bien city, Muong Lay town and 6 districts: Tua Chua, Tuan Giao, Dien Bien Dong, Muong Nhe, Muong Cha, Dien Bien
Population: more than 459,100 (statistics of Year 2006)
Transportation system: Unlike other mountainous provinces, Dien Bien has a diversified transportation network including roadway, airway, waterway. There are 3 national highways crossing the province: National highways No. 6A, No. 12 and No. 279. Besides, Dien Bien Phu Airport constructed during French domination is being upgraded to become an international airport with airlines to Southeast Asia countries. The province has a dense stream and river system but not favourable for developing waterway transportation because of its unconnected topography with many waterfalls and rapids which are only suitable for short distance transportation.
Power supply system: Nam Muc hydroelectricity plant is the largest one of the province’s development plan with the capacity of 44 MW, production of 161 kWh per year.
Industrial zones: Dien Bien now has two industrial zones. One situated in the South-East of Dien Bien Phu city with the area of 60 hectares specializes in construction materials, engineering repair, food and forest product processing. The other situated in the West of Dien Bien hollow specializes in processing sugar, coffee, fruits, pulp and rattan and bamboo handicrafts
GDP growth rate: GDP is planned to reach the rate of 9-1-% yearly; average GDP per head is planned to reach the rate of 500 USD yearly, in which agriculture – forestry’s production value increase by 5% yearly, industry – capital construction increase by 12% yearly, services increases 10% yearly
Sectors’ development plan:
+ Service: It is planned to develop markets, promote goods exchanges among areas in the province and with other provinces; strongly promote export to meet the demand of the industrialization and modernization cause; upgrade cultural and historical monuments and promote traditional festivals for tourism, etc.
+ Agriculture – Forestry – Fishery : It is planned to reach gross food product equivalent to 220,000 ton of paddy; average food per head reach 430 – 450 kg/year. 100 hectares of tea trees, 50 hectares of coffee trees, 80 hectares of fruit trees are newly grown each year, which raises the total growing area of tea trees to 1,000 hectares, of coffee trees to 700 hectares, of fruit trees to 1,000 hectares; soybean growing area is 10,200 hectares; the growth rate of cattle is 5 – 5.5% yearly.
+ Industry: A detailed plan has been made for using mineral resources in specific stages; expanding ore exploitation area to promote industrial production, etc. The province also make full use of Na Loi, Thac Trang hydroelectricity plants. It also creates favourable conditions for the construction of hydroelectricity plants such as Nam Muc, Pa Khoang. Besides, attentions are also paid to developing tea, coffee, maize, fruit juice processing.”
Thing to do in Dien Bien
With favor natural conditions like diversified topographies, rivers, mountainous beautiful sceneries that help Dien Bien province to develop its tourism potentiality. There are many places with naturally, historically or artificially man-made can draw tourist such as Pa Khoang Lake, virgin forest in Muong Nhe, Muong Toong, Muong Phang Forest, Pa Thom Cave, Tham Pua Cave, hot spring in Hua Pe, U Va ( Dien Bien District), Sang village, Son La Dam. Especially, Dien Bien province owns many monumental histories attached to the build and protect process of Vietnam like Muong Luan Tower, Tam Van Citadel, Ban Phu Citadel, Hoang Cong Chat Temple and most special is Dien Bien Phu Victory Monument.
How To go Dien Bien Phu
Bus Ha Noi Dien Bien Phu
It is very convenient to get to Dien Bien from Hanoi or to Hanoi from Dien Bien by bus. You can either go to the My Dinh or Yen Nghia station to take a night sleeper bus. It is about 480 km from Hanoi to Dien Bien and will take you about 10 to 12 hours sleeping on bus.
Hai Van express Bus
Dien Bien to Hanoi (Dien Bien bus station):
Departure time: 7 pm
Hanoi to Dien Bien (My Dinh bus station):
Departure time: 7.30 pm
Hanoi to Dien Bien (Yen Nghia bus station):
Departure time: 7.15 pm
Tel: Ha Noi 04 37223588 – 0988 882727 Dien Bien 0215 6277277 – 01688 272727
Trung Dung Bus
Dien Bien to Hanoi (Dien Bien bus station):
Departure time: 20h00
Hanoi to Dien Bien (My Dinh bus station):
Departure time: 20h30
Add: No 223, Vo Nguyen Giap street, Him Lam ward, Dien Bien Phu city, Dien Bien province.
Tel: 0215 3810657 – 0912 394657 – 0912 837248 – 0977 667999
Thong Lan Bus
Dien Bien to Hanoi (Dien Bien bus station):
Departure time: 6 pm
Hanoi to Dien Bien (My Dinh bus station):
Departure time: 4.30 pm
Add: No 45, Group 10, Nam Thanh ward, Dien Bien Phu city, Dien Bien province.
Tell: 0215 3927460 – 0948 057099 – 0976 399048 – 0948 131155
Nam Lien Bus
Dien Bien to Hanoi (Dien Bien bus station):
Departure time: 17h15
Hanoi to Dien Bien (My Dinh bus station):
Departure time: 19h15
Tel: 0215 3811143 – 0913 322248
Khanh Le Bus
Dien Bien to Hanoi (Dien Bien bus station):
Departure time: 17h00
Hanoi to Dien Bien (My Dinh bus station):
Departure time: 16h30
Tel: 0215 3927127 – 0913 099278 – 0167 3428624 – 0948 101999
Le Dung Bus
Dien Bien to Hanoi (Dien Bien bus station):
Departure time: 20h30
Hanoi to Dien Bien (Yen Nghia bus station):
Departure time: 20h00
Tel: 0215 3810205 – 0915 055694 – 0987 898999
Tien Tue Bus
Dien Bien to Hanoi (Dien Bien bus station):
Departure time: 20h00
Hanoi to Dien Bien (Yen Nghia bus station):
Departure time: 20h00
Tel: 0215 3811791 – 0912 676791
Bus Dien Bien to Sapa
It is about 280 km from Dien Bien to Sapa and it will take you about 7 to 8 hours.
Chau Hanh Bus
Dien Bien to Sapa (Dien Bien bus station):
Departure time: 6.30 pm
Sapa to Dien Bien (Sapa bus station):
Departure time: 6.30 pm
Add: Group 13, Him Lam ward, Dien Bien Phu city, Dien Bien Province.
Tel: (+84) 915 57 26 77
Bus Dien Bien To Lao
It is pretty easy to get to Laos from Dien Bien through Tay Trang border gate by bus. The border cross is straight forward with no additional fee to be made because it is included in the ticket price. The road from Dien Bien to Lao is much better than it was mentioned on the internet few years ago and the scenery is still stunning.
Hung Hue bus
Departure time: 6.30 am
Dien Bien bus station to Muang Khua, Oudomxay, Luang Nam Tha
Add: Group 10, Tan Thanh ward, Dien Bien Phu city, Dien Bien province.
Tel: (+84) 916 063 380
Long Chau bus
Departure time: 6 am and 7.30 am
Dien Bien bus station to Muang Khua, Oudomxay, Luang Nam Tha, Luang Prabang
Add: No 92, Group 2, Him Lam ward, Dien Bien Phu city, Dien Bien province.
Tel: (+84) 913 066 652
Flight To Dien Bien Phu
Dien Bien – Hai Phong flights
The flights between Hai Phong and Dien Bien are operated with normal flights/week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, by plane ATR72. The schedule starts from Hai Phong at 12:05 and from Dien Bien to Hai Phong at 14:10. The flight will take about an hour and 25 minutes.
Dien Bien Phu Airport is located very near the centre of town, along the road to Muong Lay.
Address: Group 10 – Thanh Truong Ward – Dien Bien Phu City – Dien Bien Province •
Phone : 0230.3824411 • Fax : 0230.3826060
Ha Noi to Dien Bien Phu Flight
Currently, only the national airline Vietnam Airlines operates this route with a frequency of 2 flights/day. During major holidays, the airline will increase 2 flights/day to serve the needs of customers. For customers in other areas who want to come to Dien Bien, they need to fly via Noi Bai airport (Hanoi). The flights from Hanoi to Dien Bien depart at 10:00 and 13:30 daily. The flight will take about an hour.
Dien Bien Phu Airport is located very near the centre of town, along the road to Muong Lay.
Address: Group 10 – Thanh Truong Ward – Dien Bien Phu City – Dien Bien Province •
Phone : 0230.3824411 • Fax : 0230.3826060
Bamboo Airways opens Hanoi – Dien Bien route
The airline operates three return flights a week on the route using Embraer 190 aircraft. The flight frequency will gradually increase depending on actual travel demand.
Bamboo Airways General Director Dang Tat Thang said the new service will facilitate the travel of locals and tourists, helping attract investment to Dien Bien and increasing exchanges between Dien Bien and other socio-economic and cultural hubs of the nation.
He unveiled that the carrier will launch a direct route linking the province and Ho Chi Minh City in December, serving surging travel demand during the holidays.
Le Thanh Do, Chairman of the Dien Bien People’s Committee, expected the new air route will help open up opportunities for the province to develop tourism and attract investors./.
