Dien Bien is a famous destination in the northwestern region of Vietnam, known for its historical significance, vibrant culture, and delectable local specialties. Located in the western outskirts of the Northwest region, Dien Bien offers a plethora of attractions, including the renowned Dien Bien Phu Campaign and Hoa Ban Festival. Beyond its historical and cultural allure, Dien Bien also delights food enthusiasts with its unique and exotic delicacies, perfect for personal indulgence or as gifts for loved ones.
1 An Introduction to Dien Bien Tourism
Nestled in the western outskirts of Vietnam’s Northwest region, Dien Bien enjoys a pleasant year-round climate, making it an ideal destination for exploring the area’s scenic beauty. The terrain is predominantly rugged and mountainous, so visitors should exercise caution when navigating the area. Winters here are dry but chilly, so be sure to pack warm clothes if you’re visiting during this season.
Dien Bien is quite a distance from the country’s major cities. From Hanoi, the capital, it’s approximately 456 kilometers to Dien Bien city, while the journey from Ho Chi Minh City covers a distance of about 1946 kilometers, traversing numerous provinces and cities from north to south.
While the distance may seem daunting, modern transportation options make traveling to Dien Bien relatively straightforward, so there’s no need to worry about the journey.
March is a popular month for tourists to visit Dien Bien as it coincides with the spring season, offering a chance to admire the stunning Ban flower forests. In December, the region is adorned with the vibrant yellow blooms of wild sunflowers. Summer, on the other hand, showcases golden rice fields, so you can choose your travel time based on the scenery you wish to experience.
There are three main ways to get to Dien Bien: by plane, bus, or driving from Hanoi.
An overview of Dien Bien’s attractions
2 Top 16 Dien Bien Specialties to Try
Delicacies to Indulge in When Visiting Dien Bien
Grilled Chicken with Mac Khen
Macken, a distinctive spice found in the Northwest mountains, is the key ingredient in this dish. The chicken is grilled over charcoal, ensuring the fire isn’t too strong. There’s no need to baste the chicken with oil during grilling, as the chicken’s natural fat will melt and keep it moist. Once the chicken is nicely charred, it’s brushed with Macken spice, enhancing its flavor and imparting a distinctive aroma.
Grilled Chicken with Macken Spice
Estimated Price: VND 20,000 – 50,000/person
Recommended Restaurant: Cong Hoan Quan, 563 Road 7 – 5, Tan Thanh Ward, Dien Bien Phu City, Dien Bien Province
Pa Pinh Top (Grilled Fish)
The name of this dish may sound unusual, but it’s simply the local name for grilled fish, a highly valued and revered dish among the Thai people of the Northwest region. The primary ingredient is typically fish from the local streams, such as carp, chub, or grass carp.
Pa Pinh Top (Grilled Fish)
The fish is cleaned and butterflied before being stuffed with a mixture of spices that permeate the flesh, resulting in a flavorful and mouthwatering dish.
Estimated Price: VND 110,000/serving
Recommended Restaurant: Huong Dong Noi Restaurant, 68B, Group 6, Thanh Truong Ward, Dien Bien Phu City, Dien Bien Province
Duck Stewed with Banana Flowers
This dish is a humble yet delicious local specialty. The duck meat is marinated with a blend of spices, including chili, galangal, lemongrass, and Macken spice, before being wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked for about three hours over low heat.
Duck Stewed with Banana Flowers
While it may not be the most visually appealing dish, the aroma that escapes when you unwrap the banana leaves is sure to tantalize your taste buds.
Recommended Restaurant: Dien Bien Phu Restaurant, 279A 7/5 Road, Muong Thanh Ward, Dien Bien Phu City, Dien Bien Province
Steamed Ground Pork Wrapped in Banana Leaves
This dish is a testament to the simplicity and ingenuity of Dien Bien’s cuisine. As the name suggests, it’s made by grinding pork, mixing it with spices, and then wrapping it tightly in banana leaves before steaming it for about an hour.
Steamed Ground Pork Wrapped in Banana Leaves
The result is a dish that delights the senses with the aroma of banana leaves and the tender, fatty pork that sticks together in a unique and mouthwatering way.
Recommended Restaurant: Song Hy Dien Bien Restaurant, 236 Nguyen Chi Thanh Street, Muong Thanh Ward, Dien Bien Phu City, Dien Bien Province
Canh Bon (Buffalo or Cow Skin Soup)
This soup is a humble yet flavorful dish enjoyed by the local Thai people. It’s made with buffalo or cow skin, bon (water yam), wild eggplant, herbs, and a blend of spices, resulting in a hearty and distinctive soup.
Canh Bon (Buffalo or Cow Skin Soup)
The combination of chewy skin, slightly bitter eggplant, fragrant Macken spice, and warming ginger creates a unique flavor profile that can’t be found anywhere else.
Recommended Restaurants: Various restaurants and eateries in Dien Bien serve this dish.
Cham Cheo (Spicy Dipping Sauce)
Cham Cheo is a popular dipping sauce in the Northwest region, particularly among the Thai people. It’s made with Macken spice as the main ingredient, which is first cleaned, then roasted until crispy, and finally ground into a powder. This powder is then mixed with chili, garlic, galangal, and other spices to create a harmonious blend of flavors.
Cham Cheo (Spicy Dipping Sauce)
Cham Cheo is typically served as a dipping sauce for various dishes, including cabbage rolls stuffed with green jujube, dried beef, grilled fish, and more.
Recommended Places to Buy: Available at highland markets in Dien Bien.
Xoi Chim (Sticky Rice with Quail)
Xoi Chim is a humble yet delicious dish commonly served during festivals and holidays in Dien Bien. What sets it apart is the combination of fragrant sticky rice, grown in the Northwest region, and quail meat, which is known for its tenderness, aroma, and firmer texture compared to other types of poultry.
Xoi Chim (Sticky Rice with Quail)
Recommended Place: Opposite the People’s Committee of Nam Thanh Ward
Xoi Nep Nương (Sticky Rice Grown in Highlands)
Sticky rice is a specialty of the Northwest region, and Dien Bien is renowned for producing some of the best sticky rice, known as “Nep Nuong.” The rice grains from this region are round and plump, and when cooked, they have a sweet taste, a delightful aroma, and a soft, sticky texture.
Xoi Nep Nuong (Sticky Rice Grown in Highlands)
Preparing perfect sticky rice requires skill and attention to detail to ensure it doesn’t become mushy and that it cooks evenly. You can enjoy it plain with a pinch of salt or pair it with savory dishes.
Recommended Restaurant: Dan Toc Quan Restaurant, Thanh Truong, Dien Bien Phu City, Dien Bien Province
Bap Cai Cuon Nhot Xanh (Cabbage Rolls Stuffed with Green Jujube)
This dish is a testament to the simplicity and ingenuity of Dien Bien’s cuisine. It’s made by stuffing green jujubes, which must be neither too ripe nor too raw, into steamed cabbage leaves, along with coriander, and then dipping them in Cham Cheo sauce.
Bap Cai Cuon Nhot Xanh (Cabbage Rolls Stuffed with Green Jujube)
The result is a delightful combination of the sourness from the jujubes and the slight spiciness from the Cham Cheo sauce, creating a memorable flavor profile.
Recommended Restaurant: Dien Bien Phu Restaurant, 279A 7/5 Road, Muong Thanh Ward, Dien Bien Phu City, Dien Bien Province
Mang Dang (Bitter Bamboo Shoots)
Bitter bamboo shoots are a specialty of Dien Bien and a popular choice for souvenirs. They are known for their distinctive bitter taste, which is difficult to forget.
Mang Dang (Bitter Bamboo Shoots)
Mang Dang can be prepared in various ways, including boiling, stir-frying, braising with bones, or making a salad. Additionally, it can be grilled and served with Cham Cheo sauce, resulting in a delicious and unique dish.
Estimated Price: VND 10,000 – 12,000/kg.
Recommended Places to Buy: Available at highland markets in Dien Bien.
Reu Da (Rock Algae)
Rock algae is a unique delicacy sourced from clear mountain streams in the Northwest region. It can be prepared in several ways, including steaming, grilling, making soup, or using it in salads. However, grilled rock algae is considered the most delicious option.
Grilled Rock Algae
To prepare the dish, fresh rock algae are mixed with spices such as chili, Macken spice, galangal, and ginger, and then wrapped in banana or dong leaves before being grilled on a bamboo skewer.
Rock algae are also believed to have medicinal properties, promoting blood circulation, detoxification, and the treatment of high blood pressure.
Recommended Restaurant: Lac Huong Quan, Phan Dinh Giot Street, Dien Bien Province
Dien Bien Specialties to Buy as Gifts
Sau Chit (Silkworm)
Sau Chit is a type of insect that lives inside Chít trees for many years, and it is highly valued for its nutritional content. These white, plump worms are often soaked in alcohol
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