Aspiration to make Dien Bien tourism 'take off'

Dien Bien is a land of majestic and poetic nature, fresh climate; heroic history, unique culture; a place where the quintessence of the Northwest region converges. These are important potentials and strengths that help Dien Bien make a breakthrough in tourism development, strongly rising to become the tourism center of the Northwest Sub-region.

Dien Bien is a mountainous border province in the Northwest region of the country, with a particularly important strategic position in terms of national defense and security and is famous for the Dien Bien Phu victory that "resounded throughout the five continents and shook the world". Dien Bien is a locality that shares a border with both China and Laos, famous for the three-sided landmark No. 0, located at the westernmost point of the country - where a rooster crows and three countries can hear it. Dien Bien has majestic and poetic nature; heroic history, unique culture, fresh climate, and is a place where the quintessence of the Northwest region converges. This is an important potential and strength that helps Dien Bien rise strongly and make a breakthrough in tourism development with many unique and special tourism products.

Since the beginning of March, the number of tourists coming to Dien Bien has increased sharply. Tourist attractions include Hill A1, De Castries Bunker, Dien Bien Phu Historical Victory Museum, Dien Bien Phu Campaign Command Headquarters...

The most special and unique tourism product of Dien Bien is historical and spiritual tourism. The heroic Dien Bien Phu battlefield has left Dien Bien a complex of relics with 45 component relics, notably Hill A1, Muong Thanh Bridge, Dien Bien Phu Campaign Command, De Castries bunker... These relics attract a large number of tourists every year. This is a distinct advantage, the core for Dien Bien to promote its historical value and attract tourists. In addition, a series of other famous works such as: General Vo Nguyen Giap Memorial Area, Dien Bien Phu Battlefield Martyrs Temple, Dien Bien Phu Victory Monument, Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum, A1 National Martyrs Cemetery, Hoang Cong Chat Temple... are also impressive destinations that tourists want to stop by.

Regarding the potential for cultural and ecological tourism, by the end of 2023, Dien Bien has 33 ranked intangible cultural relics, including one special national relic, 14 national relics and 18 provincial relics. Along with that, the province has 18 national intangible cultural heritages, including two heritages recognized by UNESCO: Thai Xoe Art and Then Practice Heritage. Besides, Dien Bien also has strengths in developing community tourism, eco-tourism, cultural tourism, cuisine, discovery tourism, resort tourism... Dien Bien is a land of diverse cultures with 19 ethnic groups, carrying many unique and attractive traditional cultural values. Dien Bien is also famous for its beautiful landscapes and caves such as Pa Khoang Lake, Huoi Pha Lake, Pa Thom Cave, Kho Chua La Cave, Muong Nhe Nature Reserve, hot mineral springs, Pha Din Hill, Tua Chua Stone Plateau, ancient Shan Tuyet tea garden recognized as a Heritage Tree Garden...

Dien Bien province has 18 national intangible cultural heritages, including two heritages recognized by UNESCO: Thai Xoe Art and Then Practice Heritage.

Along with the potential for intra-provincial tourism, Dien Bien has the strength to expand connections with other provinces in the region and the whole country, especially international tourism routes. Currently, a number of travel companies have surveyed international routes such as: Yunnan - Dien Bien - Luong Pha Bang - Phong Sa Ly; U Dom Say - Dien Bien - Ha Long - Ha Tinh; Yunnan - Sa Pa - Dien Bien - Ha Long... More specifically, Dien Bien is the only province in the Northwest region with an airport, currently exploited by airlines on the Dien Bien - Hanoi and Dien Bien - Ho Chi Minh City routes. This is considered a great advantage to attract tourists as well as investors to this land.

Dien Bien has many rich, diverse and unique tourism resources, which are a solid foundation for sustainable tourism development. However, for tourism in the far western region to develop, the province also faces many difficulties and challenges. The most obvious difficulty for most of the northern mountainous provinces is the unfavorable traffic system. The complex terrain has greatly affected investment in construction, repair and upgrading of Dien Bien's traffic routes, hindering tourists' access to tourist attractions in the area. This is also a weakness in attracting large investors with capacity, experience and financial potential to invest in the tourism sector.

Dien Bien becomes even more attractive to tourists when the plum blossom season comes. Phieng Ban is the place with the largest plum growing area in Dien Bien province.

In addition, the lack of synchronous development of technical facilities and tourism services is also a major bottleneck that needs to be resolved. According to surveys and assessments by experts, the accommodation system, restaurant system, entertainment system, etc., although developing, are slow and uneven, mainly concentrated in Dien Bien Phu city, the districts are very weak and lacking. Moreover, the province's tourism human resources are limited, lacking professional skills, so they cannot meet the needs of local tourism activities.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quang Hung, Chairman of Dien Bien Phu City People's Committee, in addition to the clearly defined historical - spiritual tourism products, other tourism products such as community tourism, eco-tourism, resort tourism, agricultural tourism... in the area are quite vague, not attractive to tourists. The uniqueness, original value and ideas for making tourism products are still poor, there are many overlaps, similarities, and have not yet come up with tourism products that are different from other localities... In addition, Dien Bien's tourism products do not have regional connectivity, connectivity with major tourism centers of neighboring provinces and the whole country. This is also one of the major obstacles that makes it difficult for Dien Bien tourism to break through. Another obstacle for Dien Bien tourism is that the awareness of tourism and the importance of tourism for economic development of a part of the people, businesses, and management staff is still inadequate, limited, and there are no specific solutions for sustainable development...

Brilliant flowers at Pha Din Top Tourist Area on Pha Din Pass.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics, in reality, Dien Bien's tourism potential is only at comparative advantage because it has not yet created its own highlights. Therefore, Dien Bien tourism is completely "inferior" when compared with other localities in the region, not to mention other major domestic markets. It is forecasted that in the coming time, Dien Bien tourism industry will not only be under great pressure from competition between domestic markets, but also face fierce competition from the world tourism market, especially countries in the region such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand... Immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism industry of these countries has returned strongly with thorough investment and careful preparation to improve competitiveness in the international arena...

Resolution No. 03-NQ/TU dated May 7, 2021 of the Dien Bien Provincial Party Committee and the Dien Bien Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 clearly state: Taking tourism as a spearhead economy for development. In which, the province identifies "Tourism development is a continuous, long-term task and the responsibility of the entire political system; encouraging businesses and communities to participate in tourism development...". With a clear viewpoint, the Dien Bien Provincial Planning identifies that tourism development is the responsibility of the entire political system, all levels and sectors, with close leadership and direction from Party committees at all levels; encouraging businesses and communities to participate in tourism development. The province determines to develop tourism sustainably, with focus and key points on the basis of promoting potentials and advantages, preserving and promoting historical and cultural values of ethnic groups, linking development with management, effective use of natural resources, environmental protection, proactive adaptation to climate change, and ensuring national defense and security.

Village by Pa Khoang Lake.

According to Provincial Party Secretary Tran Quoc Cuong, Dien Bien tourism will promote the advantage of "coming later" to create a difference, thereby enhancing competitiveness in the process of integration with regional and national tourism. To realize this issue, the province is determined to develop tourism in a professional, quality and effective direction; promote the application of science and technology and information technology in promotion, advertising, and creating new tourism products; focus on human resource development; strengthen domestic and international cooperation. In addition, the province synchronously develops all types of services and tourism from popular to high-end, serving domestic and international tourists, creating long-term and stable revenue, ensuring the harmony of interests of people, businesses and the state...

With a strategic vision in planning, Dien Bien province has determined to develop tourism into a spearhead economic sector and based on three main pillars: Historical - spiritual and cultural tourism; eco-tourism, exploring natural landscapes and resort tourism, entertainment, health care. The province has set a number of specific goals for each stage such as: The number of tourists in 2025 will reach over 1.45 million, including 300,000 international visitors, with an average growth rate of 15%/year. Total revenue from tourism activities in 2025 will reach over 2,380 billion VND, an average increase of 15%/year, contributing about 10% of the province's average GRDP. The average number of days of stay of tourists will reach 3 days. Dien Bien strives to have over 2.65 million tourists by 2030, including 600,000 international visitors. The average growth rate of visitors is 15%/year. Total revenue from tourism activities in 2030 will reach over 5,000 billion VND, an average increase of over 14%/year. The average number of days of stay of tourists will reach 3.5 days, an increase of 0.5 days compared to the period 2021 - 2025. The province aims to welcome over 7 million visitors by 2050, including over 1.2 million international tourists. Total revenue from tourism activities will reach 50,000 billion VND, contributing over 15% of the province's average GRDP; creating direct and indirect jobs for over 155,000 workers...

Pa Khoang Lake is located in the middle of a majestic natural area, with a fresh climate and rich vegetation, very suitable for developing nature exploration and resort tourism.

According to the Plan, Dien Bien province will focus on attracting investment in a number of breakthrough projects in tourism development such as: Project to develop the Dien Bien Phu Battlefield National Historical Relic Site into one of the most attractive cultural and historical experience tourist areas in Vietnam and reach international stature; Dien Bien Phu - Pa Khoang National Tourist Area Project with the orientation of developing into a National Tourist Area - an attractive tourist destination, exploiting the potential of ecology, landscape, community culture and history...; Vietnam - Laos - China International Tourist Area (A Pa Chai), with the orientation of exploiting the uniqueness of the brand "3-border landmark" to develop into an international tourist area with entertainment, sports, golf, conferences, seminars... products; Uva Hot Spring Tourist Area - Hong Sat Lake with products such as Thai-style Onsen, golf course, Thai-style hotel, Thai ethnic ancestral temple, sustainable agriculture...

In 2023, Dien Bien province will reach the milestone of 1 million tourists for the first time, an increase of nearly 25% compared to 2022; total revenue from tourism activities is estimated at 1,750 billion VND. In particular, at the end of 2023, great joy will come to Dien Bien when the Dien Bien Airport Investment, Construction and Expansion Project is completed and put into operation. The operation of large-sized aircraft flights connecting Dien Bien with the two major political and economic centers of the country, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, has given the province a competitive advantage over the Northwestern provinces.

Opening of National Tourism Year - Dien Bien and Hoa Ban Festival 2024.

In 2024, Dien Bien is honored to be chosen to host the National Tourism Year 2024. Chairman of Dien Bien Provincial People's Committee Le Thanh Do affirmed that the event has many important meanings for the mountainous province of Dien Bien. The activities of the Tourism Year will contribute to promoting the socio-economic development of the whole province. This is an opportunity for the locality to actively call for and promote investment with the expectation of comprehensive innovation, creating a breakthrough in socio-economic development, continuing to improve the material and spiritual life of the people... In particular, right after the announcement ceremony of the Dien Bien Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, the province organized a National Scientific Conference "Dien Bien: Promoting the potential and advantages for sustainable tourism development" co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha. At the workshop, managers, scientists, experts, leaders of business units... analyzed and evaluated the tourism potential of the province, and shared good experiences, creative ways, suggestions, proposals... to contribute to promoting the sustainable development of Dien Bien tourism industry. According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dien Bien province, from February 8 to 18 (ie from December 29 to January 9 of the year of Giap Thin), the number of tourists in the province increased by 3.8 times compared to the same period in 2023. Of which, the number of tourists during the Lunar New Year holidays in 2024 reached nearly 84,000. Total revenue from tourism activities reached nearly 150 billion VND, an increase of 3.84 times over the same period in 2023. From March 13 to 18, the time of activities within the framework of the opening of the National Tourism Year - Dien Bien and the 2024 Ban Flower Festival, the locality welcomed 80,300 visitors with total revenue from tourism activities reaching 140 billion VND... These are considered good signs, creating confidence and motivation for the Dien Bien tourism industry to achieve the goal of welcoming 1.3 million tourists in 2024 with total revenue estimated at about 2,200 billion VND; the average number of days of stay of tourists reached more than 3 days...

The panorama painting, at the Dien Bien Phu Historical Victory Museum, attracts a large number of visitors.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, developing tourism according to the newly approved plan will contribute to highlighting the hidden beauty of Dien Bien tourism. To implement the plan, Dien Bien needs to have specific directions, creating differences from unique and exclusive tourism products; seeking and calling for investors, making cultural investment plans to create great appeal for local tourism, thereby forming on the world tourism map, becoming an attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists. In addition, the province needs to quickly transform digitally, apply information technology to promote tourism, create new space for tourism development; promote linkages and cooperation with localities to form a chain of destinations. In particular, Dien Bien Phu must be the highlight to attract tourists to the Northwest region... Provincial Party Secretary Tran Quoc Cuong affirmed that with a strategic vision, high spirit and responsibility in planning the tourism industry, it promises to open a new era with many opportunities for breakthrough development. Mr. Tran Quoc Cuong believes that with the potential, strengths and distinct advantages, along with the determination of Party committees and authorities at all levels, combined with the strength of great solidarity of ethnic groups in the area, Dien Bien tourism will firmly take off and reach far.