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Dien Bien was named by the King Thieu Tri (Thiệu Trị) in 1841 with meaning was that "Dien" means "solid", "Bien" means "border", Dien Bien means a solid border. This land used to be named Muong Thanh (Mường Thanh), meaning heaven place, ancestral land of the Thai.

Bomb crater on the hill A1.

Dien Bien has been the residence of the Thai for many centuries till now. Formerly, though being a part of Vietnam, Thai people have their own administration governed by chieftains, headed by the King. They established their own administration to govern an immense area which also functioned as an effective shield for Thang Long (Thăng Long) capital, against aggressors from the North. In 18th century, Dien Bien became the base of farmers' revolt named Hoang Cong Chat (Hoàng Công Chất) to fight against the corner of Trinh (Trịnh) dynasty, its trace is known with Ban Phu (Bản Phủ) and Tam Van (Tam Vạn) citadel.

In 1954, Dien Bien again gained its worldwide fame after the war between Viet Minh (Việt Minh) military (commanded by General Vo Nguyen Giap - Võ Nguyên Giáp) and French military (commanded by General Christian De Castries). This war has a tremendously significant role in completing the French's role in The Indochinese peninsula, leading to the Convention to be signed that split Vietnam into the South and the North. Dien Bien Phu is nowadays referred to as the tremendous victory of Asian countries against Western powerful country.

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