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The city is small but calm, people are friendly and generous. There is no Grab but it's easy to get a local taxi everywhere. Dien Bien Phu Museum was the highlight of my trip, the infamous panorama painting is so worth it. Many attraction sites in the city are newly renovated and built with impressive modern architecture. I also went on a few road trips to visit Muong Lay and Muong Phang and was so impressed with the beautiful scenic routes. I have a friend drive me, but your hotel front desk should be able to book a car and driver to take you everywhere. Come around Tet holiday to see the cherry blossoms, or in early March to see the famous local flower called Hoa Ban. I fall in love with Dien Bien and will definitely come back.

Must see site to get a feel for the 1954 battle. Really good museum and reconstructed A1 hill. Also the pineapples were to die for. Buy them at markets which are interesting of themselves. Smallest pineapples the best. There is also a Buddhist temple - Ling Son - to visit. The local cemetery is interesting as it is similar to a small town. Don't miss the hillside canons which were better sited than the French open air canons. When going for dinner at restaurants many are only open for lunch or dinner. There is a special local sauce called Moc which goes with a cold dish. Got a great haircut at a roadside barber - 50,000.

Sadly, Dien Bien Phu has been dragged kicking & screaming into the modern era with lots of new buildings and neon signs. There's still plenty of artifacts/ relics from the battle remaining but its all heavy on the propaganda side. With all the new neon frontage and building, it'd be nice to find the odd bar on the main drag. The people are very friendly and helpful and the scarcity of westerners affords you semi-celebrity status so don't go all Kardashian with it. Its my 3rd visit- have enjoyed each one but not sure the 'progress' is all that progressive.