Dien Bien Phu Travel Guide

Situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, this town has historical significance: It's where the French fought the last, losing battle that marked the end of colonialism in Vietnam. At the battlefield, you can visit a small museum, the Revolutionary Heroes Cemetery (a monument to Viet Minh casualties), the French War Memorial and The Victory—a bronze sculpture of three Vietnamese soldiers standing atop Gen. de Castries' bunker. But unless you're particularly interested in the history of the place, it's not worth the time or effort to get there. 260 mi/420 km northwest of Hanoi.