Nong Khiaw to Dien Bien

By bus or minivan the journey from Nong Khiaw to Dien Bien is scheduled to take 10 hours.

Bus Times from Nong Khiaw to Dien Bien

There is currently 1 service a day from Nong Khiaw to Dien Bien available to book online.

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Nong Khiaw Bus Stop

The services from Nong Khiaw to Dien Bien listed above all commence with a pick up from any hotel in Nong Khiaw.

Dien Bien Bus Stop

The services from Nong Khiaw to Dien Bien listed above all terminate at Dien Bien Phu Bus Station.

About Travel to Dien Bien

Dien Bien Phu is the main city in Dien Bien Province, which is in the north western corner of Vietnam, bordering the northern most part of Laos. Dien Bien Phu has a population of around 100,000, the majority of whom identify as members of minority ethnic groups. A relatively small number of tourists come to Dien Bien, some specifically to visit historic sites, more still to see the spectacular scenery, and some adventurous travellers who travel by public transport between Dien Bien Phu and Northern Laos along mountainous roads.

Accommodation in Dien Bien Phu

There are around 40 hotels and guesthouses to choose from in or near Dien Bien Phu ranging in price from the equivalent of around $5 USD a night for a bed in a shared dormitory to around $50 USD a night for a room in the city’s most luxurious hotel, which is the ornately decorated Đông Thắm Hotel.

Out of town accommodation in rural located ‘homestays’, such as the A Thía Homestay, costs from as little as $7 USD a night rising in price to around $20 USD for the most desirable rooms. If, however, you want to stay at a hotel within walking distance of independent restaurants which you can visit in the evenings then you should choose a hotel in the busier Muong Thanh district of the city, immediately to the east and south east of the airport.

Food and Drink in Dien Bien Phu

In addition to the good value food stalls at Him Lam Plaza, Dien Bien Phu has around 15 sit down restaurants all but one of which, the Thaisphere Restaurant, is located in the Muong Thanh district of the city. Visitors staying in more rural locations will need to either rely on eating at their accommodation or travel fairly long distances to find alternative food options.

The range of cuisines available in Dien Bien Phu is limited. Sushi is available (A1 Restaurant) but little else in the way of international cuisine except for some Thai or traditional Chinese style dishes. Visitors to Dien Bien Phu need to be slightly adventurous when it comes to eating local dishes because the options are limited.

Dien Bien Phu has one establishment where tourists might want to go out for a drink in the evening, the Hestia Cocktail & Wine bar. It closes at 01:00 every night of the week.

Muong Thanh Valley

Dien Bien Phu is located at the northern end of the Muong Thanh Valley. The Muong Thong Valley is an area of immense beauty. The floor of the valley is around 20 km long and 5 km wide. Most of the valley floor is used for rice farming. The valley is extremely fertile partly due to its elevation, 400 metres above sea level, and partly because of the water flowing from the large hills on either side of the valley. The rice grown in the Muong Thanh Valley is generally considered to be the best in Vietnam.

Visitors can enjoy the valley either by staying in a hotel with a view looking south or by walking in the hills around the side of the valley. It’s a beautiful place and worth the effort to get there.

Historical Sites

A very important landmark in Vietnam’s struggle for independence happened in Dien Bien in 1954. This is where a Vietnam military force won a convincing victory over a French armed force for the first time in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. The victory led directly to the French withdrawing entirely from French Indochina giving not only Vietnam its independence, but also Laos and Cambodia.

There are several places to visit related to the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. The main site is the ‘A1 Hill’ where the fighting was its fiercest. Trenches and other fortifications from the time have been maintained. Near the battle ground is the Museum of Dien Bien Phu Victory, which has some interesting exhibits related to the battle. The ‘A1 Hill’ is very easy to visit. It’s located a short distance to the south of the cluster of hotels and restaurants in the Muong Thanh district of the city.

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