Dien Bien Phu Past and Present: 2-Night Trip from Hanoi by Air

Day 1: Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu (L, D)After hotel pickup in Hanoi, you’re transferred to the airport for your morning flight to Dien Bien Phu. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel for check-in.

After lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant, embark with your guide on an afternoon walking tour around town. View wartime gravesites at Dien Bien Phu’s cemetery, located on the banks of the Ron River, and hear your guide discuss the 1954 defeat of the French by the Viet Minh.

Then explore the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum (aka Vietnam Military History Museum), which features an eclectic collection of photographs, war documents, weaponry and other items commemorating the 20th-century battle.

Following a visit to a central market to browse among the vendors, enjoy a restaurant dinner with your small group, followed by an evening at your leisure.

Overnight: Accommodation in Dien Bien Phu

Day 2: Dien Bien Phu (B, L, D)Begin your day with breakfast at your accommodation before exploring former battlefield sites scattered around the city with your guide. Discover where the French forces — after nearly 100 years of colonial rule and nine years of war — were defeated by forces under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh.

Next, travel to the countryside of Muong Phang, an approximately 11-mile (17-km) drive from town. Visit the military headquarters of General Vo Nguyen Giap, used during the Dien Bien Phu campaign during the First Indochina War. At the re-created command center, learn about the network of tunnels and bunkers the troops used to advance toward victory. Conclude the tour with a brief stop in several local villages, home to both Thai and Hmong ethnic minority tribes.

Note: today’s lunch and dinner are enjoyed at local Vietnamese restaurants. Overnight: Accommodation in Dien Bien Phu

Day 3: Dien Bien Phu – Hanoi (B)Enjoy breakfast and then bid farewell to newfound friends. Relax with a transfer to the airport for your flight back to Hanoi, where you’re dropped off at your hotel.