Điện Biên Province is blessed with beautiful and peaceful landscape. — Photo courtesy of Điện Biên Province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism

ĐIỆN BIÊN — With the theme Glorious Điện Biên - Infinite Experiences, the National Tourism Year 2024 that begins in the northern province of Điện Biên on March 16 will offer travellers more than 165 captivating experiences throughout the year.

This is a prominent cultural, economic and social event of national and international scale, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory (7/5/1954 - 7/5/2024).

Its aim is to promote the values and potentials of Điện Biên tourism, the northwestern region and Việt Nam as a whole, contributing to realising the goal of developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector.

According to Deputy Chairman of Điện Biên Province People's Committee Vừa A Bằng, the province hopes to welcome 1.3 million tourists this year, reaching a total tourism revenue of around VNĐ2.2 trillion (US$95.65 million).

Điện Biên achieved the milestone of welcoming over one million tourists for the first time last year, an increase of nearly 25 per cent compared to the figure of 2022, reaching 107 per cent of the annual plan; of which international tourists reached 7,500.

The organisation of the National Tourism Year will also be a significant boost for the socio-economic development and for the tourism sector of Điện Biên Province in particular, he added.

It will create conditions to attract investment resources for development, build new and attractive products and generate momentum for the socio-economic development of the province in 2024 and the following years.

The highlight of the National Tourism Year is the opening ceremony, combined with the Ban Flower Festival 2024 that is themed Returning to the Land of Ban Flowers, scheduled to take place on March 16 at the 7-5 Square in Điện Biên Phủ City.

During this time, tourists will have the opportunity to admire the white ban (Bauhinia) blossoms blooming in the mountainous forests and explore the distinctive cultures of the ethnic groups in Điện Biên by participating in Thái ethnic traditional dance performances and Mông ethnic art events.

Many activities commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory will be organised during May, including special arts programmes and high-altitude fireworks displays, as well as the commemoration ceremony of victory.

In August, tourists and travel businesses will be connected at the Northwest – Điện Biên Tourism Fair, the National Cuisine Festival, and many other festivities.

Visitors to this year’s National Tourism Year can also contemplate local tourist attractions and scenery like Mường Thanh rice fields, the Tủa Chùa stone plateau, Pha Đin Pass or the border landmark at the A Pa Chải tri-border junction.

There are three flights to Điện Biên every day, two flights from Hà Nội and one from HCM City. Tourists from Hà Nội can also choose to travel to Điện Biên by coach or private car.

Điện Biên Province is home to 19 ethnic groups, including the Mông, Thái, Dao, Hà Nhì, and Lao, with distinctive cultures. — Photo courtesy of Điện Biên Province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Located about 320km from Hà Nội, Điện Biên mountainous province boasts favourable natural conditions, friendly and hospitable people and a diverse cultural identity. It is home to 19 ethnic groups, including the Mông, Thái, Dao, Hà Nhì, and Lao, and is famed worldwide for the glorious Điện Biên Phủ Victory in 1954.

The province has 33 ranked historical sites, including one particularly significant national historical site, the Điện Biên Phủ Battlefield. Additionally, it has 18 recognised intangible cultural heritages, among which Thái traditional dance and the Tày, Nùng, and Thái people's practice of then singing have been inscribed by UNESCO as representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. — VNS