Tủa Chùa Karst Plateau in Tủa Chàu District of Điện Biên Province boasts a magnificent natural landscape, which has attracted many domestic and international visitors. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The northwestern mountainous province of Điện Biên aims to become a national cultural, historical and ecological tourism hub by 2050, towards international standards with strong growth of trade services.

According to the provincial overall planning scheme for the 2021-30 period with a vision to 2050 recently approved by the Prime Minister, Điện Biên aims to become a tourism centre of the northwest sub-region after 2030. This is the driving force contributing to tourism development of the northern mountainous midland region. It is an important destination and connection point for tourism development between the northern provinces of Laos and Thailand with the northwestern and northern provinces of Việt Nam, and Yunnan Province of China.

Treasure on high mountains and jungles

Điện Biên is a mountainous border province in the northwestern region of Việt Nam. The uplands locality has a particularly important strategic position in defence and security and it is famous for the Điện Biên Phủ Victory. The province has a majestic and poetic nature, heroic history, unique culture, and fresh climate, and is the quintessence of the northwestern region.

The heroic battlefield of Điện Biên Phủ has left the locality a complex of relics with 45 component relics, such as Hill A1, Mường Thanh Bridge, Điện Biên Phủ Operation Command Headquarters, and De Castries Tunnel, among others. These monuments annually attract a large number of visitors. There is a series of other famous works such as General Võ Nguyên Giáp Memorial Area, Điện Biên Phủ Battlefield Martyrs Temple, Điện Biên Phủ Victory Museum, A1 National Martyrs' Cemetery, and Hoàng Công Chất Temple.

As of the end of 2023, Điện Biên is home to 18 national intangible cultural heritages, of which two have been recognised by UNESCO, namely the Art of Xoè Thái and Then Practice.

Điện Biên is a land of rich culture with 19 ethnic groups, famous for sites such as Pa Khoang lake, Pa Thơm cave, Mường Nhé Nature Reserve, Pha Đin hill, Tủa Chùa rock plateau, and ancient shan tuyết tea garden recognised as a heritage garden.

Along with the potential of intra-provincial tourism, Điện Biên has advantages to expand links with other provinces in the region and in the country, especially international tourism routes. Currently, some tour operators have surveyed international routes such as: Yunnan (China) - Điện Biên - Luang Pha Bang - Phong Sa Lu (Laos); U Dom Say (Laos) - Điện Biên - Hạ Long - Hà Tĩnh; and Yunnan (China) - Sapa - Điện Biên - Hạ Long.

Điện Biên is the only province in the northwestern region to have an airport, connecting the province with big cities such as Hà Nội and HCM City. This is considered a great advantage to attract tourists as well as investors.

Strategic vision

With a strategic vision in the provincial overall planning scheme, Điện Biên Province is determined to develop tourism into a spearhead industry based on three main pillars, including historical - spiritual - cultural tourism, ecotourism exploring natural landscapes, and resort - entertainment - health care tourism.

The province aims to welcome more than 1.45 million visitors in 2025, including 300,000 international visitors, with an average growth rate of 15 per cent a year.

Điện Biên will strive to receive more than 2.65 million visitors in 2030, of which 600,000 are international visitors. The average stay of tourists is expected to reach 3.5 days, an increase of 0.5 day compared to the period 2021-25.

By 2050, it hopes to serve 7 million visitors, including over 1.2 million international tourists. Total revenue from tourism activities will contribute over 15 per cent of the province's GRDP and the tourism sector is likely to create direct and indirect jobs for over 155,000 labourers.

In 2023, Điện Biên Province welcomed 1 million tourists for the first time, an increase of nearly 25 per cent compared to 2022. Điện Biên was chosen to host the tourism promotion programme Visit Việt Nam Year 2024.

Chairman of the Điện Biên provincial People's Committee Lê Thành Đô affirmed that the event is of great importance to Điện Biên, adding that activities of the Visit Việt Nam Year 2024 will contribute to promoting the province's socio-economic development.

Meanwhile, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Trần Quốc Cường expressed his belief that with potential, strengths and distinct advantages, along with the determination of authorities at all levels, combined with the great strength of national unity among ethnic groups, Điện Biên's tourism industry will steadily "take off". — VNS