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 Mention
Dien Bien Phu, and many will recall how the determined Vietnamese troops led by
President Ho Chi Minh, won the decisive victory over the French.
Enduring over 56 days and nights of intense battle, it was at this last
French stronghold that the Vietnamese army killed and captured some 16,200
French troops and destroyed 62 fighter planes of all sorts.
This historically important city, lying just 34 kilometres from the Laos
border, is full of significant reflections of the triumphant march to
independence in North Vietnam. Some
of the more significant battle sites are:
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The A1 hill where
some of the fiercest battles took place over 36 days and nights before the
astounding Vietnamese victory on 7 May 1954.
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The underground
office of General De Castries where he commandeered the French troops.
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The underground
tunnel of the Vietnamese troops led by General Vo Nguyen Giap hidden in a
secluded forest.
 Dien
Bien Phu is also home to many Black Thai ethnic people who are very skillful at
weaving beautiful Thai cloth. One contributing reason for such impressive
weaving skills is because young Thai men look for potential wives amongst Thai
ladies who weave well. Hence, young girls are taught the skills of weaving at a
tender age to ensure that they are marriageable when the time
comes.
The road journey into Dien Bien Phu from Son La
crosses over the spectacular Pha Din pass (1000m). Be sure to stop and take in the thrilling scenery of mountain
peaks and deep valleys from the top of the pass.
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