A stage is being decorated for the Ban flower festival (Photo: VNA)Dien Bien (VNA) – The northwesternprovince of Dien Bien, most famous for the Dien Bien Phu victory against Frenchcolonists, is preparing for its peak tourism season.
According to Vu Thi Tuyet Nga, Deputy Directorof the Museum of Dien Bien Phu Victory, the number of tourists visiting theDien Bien Phu battlefield complex began to surge this March.
The complex features 45 relic sites, ofwhich eight have been put into operation to serve tourists. They include Museumof Dien Bien Phu Victory, victory statue, A1 Hill, Him Lam relic site and thecommand tunnel of French General De Castries.
The battle occurred in Dien Bien betweenMarch and May, 1954 under the command of General Vo Nguyen Giap. Its victoryled to the signing of the 1954 Geneva Accords in which France agreed towithdraw its forces from the colonies in Indochina.
To sever increasing demand ahead of thecelebration of the 65th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 –2019), the museum has mobilised more tour guides as well as repaired andsupplemented its display items, Nga added.
Meanwhile, between the end of 2018 and early2019, the province upgraded a series of important relic sites within thecomplex, including Muong Thanh bridge and A1 Hill.
Various events have also been scheduled to entertainvisitors.
A highlight of them is the Ban FlowerFestival 2019, which will take place from March 13-18. The annual festival,named after the most beautiful flower in the region, is set to feature the culturallife in the north and northwestern region – home to 19 ethnic minorities.
Between March 18 and May 7, the museum plansto hold a series of activities, including an exhibition on Dien Bien Phuvictory and tours around the complex.
Dien Bien is planning to develop tourisminto a spearhead economic sector, expecting to create a driving force to boostother industries in the locality.
In the first quarter of 2019, the localbattlefield complex welcomed about 87,000 visitors, including some 3,000foreigners. The number of tourists to the site increased in recent years, from310,000 in 2016 to 380,000 in 2017 and more than 400,000 in 2018.-VNA
VNA
