Dien Bien

Dien Bien Phu, sometimes called Dienbien Phu is a city in the northwestern region of Vietnam. It is the capital of Dien Bien Province. The city is best known for the events which occurred there during the First Indochina War, the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, during which the region was a breadbasket for the Viet Minh. The city was formerly called Thaeng.

Dien Bien Phu lies in Muong Thanh Valley, a 20 km (12 mi)) long and 6 km (3.7 mi) wide basin sometimes described as “heart-shaped.” It is on the western edge of Dien Bien Province, of which it is the capital, and is only about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the border with Laos. Until the creation of the province in 2004, it was part of Lai Chau Province. The Vietnamese government elevated Dien Bien Phu to town status in 1992, and to city status in 2003.