VT2: Dien bien phu valley battle 8 days 7 nights

In November 1954 General Navarre, commander in chief in Indochina. Ordered the French expeditionary force’s parachute battalions to establish a base in DienBienPhu. The French had committed 10,800 troops, with more reinforcements totaling nearly 16,000 men, to the defense of a monsoon-affected valley surrounded by heavily wooded hills that had not been securedArtillery, as well as ten M-24 light tanks and numerous aircraft were committed to the garrison as well. The garrison comprised French regular troops, Foreign Legionaires, Algerian and Moroccan tirailleurs, and locally recruited Indochinese infantry.
All told, the Viet Minh had moved 50,000 regular troops (Davidson 223) into the hills surrounding the valley, totaling five divisions including the 351st Heavy Division made up entirely of heavy artillery. Artillery and AA guns, which outnumbered the French artillery by about four to one (Davidson 223-224), were moved into camouflaged positions overlooking the valley. The French came under sporadic Viet Minh artillery fire for the first time on january31,1954 and patrols encountered the Viet Minh in all directions. The battle had been joined, and The French were now surrounded and after 65 days and nights. The final assault was on may 7, the General Christian De Castries was captured alive with about his 14,000 surrender troops. The victory by the Vietminh led to the 1954 Geneva accords, which partitioned Vietnam into north and south.

Itinerary in Brief:

Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)
Day 2: Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu (B, L, D)
Day 3: Dien bien phu – Paso village (B, L, D)
Day 4: Paso – Sapa town (B, L, D)
Day 5: Sapa – minority ethnic village (B, L)
Day 6: Sapa – train Hanoi  (B, L)
Day 7: Hanoi city tour (B, L)
Day 8: Hanoi departure (B)

Itinerary in Details:

Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)
Arrival at Noi Bai Airport, Welcome and transfer to hotel by Asia View Travel guides with signboard, check in, relax. This evening, your guide will take you out to sample some of Hanoi’s superb cuisine. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu (B, L, D)
Pick you up at hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to the former battle field of Dienbienphu. Some 45minutes of fly. On arrival Na San airport, transfer to the hotel for check in. Next will be guided tour to visiting to the war museum, the headquarter of De Castries general, A1 hill and other strongpoint hills are surrounding Dienbienphu valley. Transfer back to your hotel and free time for dinner, overnight at hotel in Dien bien Phu.

Day 3: Dien Bien Phu – Paso village (B, L, D)
After breakfast, check out the hotel and driving some 190km on the mountain road to Paso, a small township. Along the way we will be passed plenty of beautiful minority villages inhabited by Red H’mong, Black Thai, Mang, Black Dao and other ethnic people. Along the roadsides we will be passing through rice paddies, banana plantations among tree-clad limestone hills. Stop over to visit some the minority villages and take some photographs of the local people and scenery. At late afternoon we will be reaching to Paso village, check in a local guesthouse built on stilts.

Day 4: Paso – Sapa town (B, L, D)
From Paso village to Sapa town, the road is started ascending up, more steeply. We will be passing through two passes this morning and of course the highest one in Vietnam, named Hoang lien son. We will have to reach to its peak at tram ton about 1900 meter. And also the breathtaking scenery overlooking of binh Lu valley can be seen. Take some memory pictures before driving descending to Sapa town. Home to of the Black H’mong minority people. Free on your own to exploring Sapa town after check in the hotel.

Day 5: Sapa – minority ethnic village (B, L)
Start our guided trekking tour today, but first will transfer by the Russian jeep car to load chai village, about 12km from Sapa town. Our trekking will be from Lao chai to Ta van, this route is considered as one of the most enjoyable trek. We will trek along rice paddy terraces, through lush bamboo forest and local villages inhabited by Zay, Black H’mong or Red Dao ethnic people. On the other sides at Ta van village, our driver and car will be waiting and transfer back to Sapa town for lunch and relax. This afternoon we will drive for Taphin village about 15km from Sapa, where is the inhabitance of Red Dao ethnic people. Red Dao women wear elaborate headgear, usually a triangular-shaped turban and they shave their eyebrows or sometimes the whole forehead. Return back to Sapa, overnight at hotel.

Day 6: Sapa – train back Hanoi (B, L)
After breakfast in the Hotel, next is an easy climb up the mountain of dragon’ jaw to visit a beautiful park with rocky formations, many kinds of wild orchid and other flower plants have been collected from the Vietnam’s highest mountain, fansipan (3143m).
Following is lunch in town. This late afternoon we will be transferred by car down to Laocai town, near china-Vietnam border, take a quick visit to the border gate and photographs. Tonight we will be staying overnight on the train.

Day 7: Hanoi city tour (B, L)
Early morning, pick up at train station, transfer to hotel for freshen up and breakfast. Then start city tour  with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh (Close on Monday, friday & November), the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city, continue to the Army Museum, nearby Flag Tower Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam, the Restored Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake) and Ngoc Son Temple. Take a cyclo tour  around the 36 streets of the Hanoi old quarter to learn more about simple life of Hanoian. Enjoy water puppet show - a remarkable Vietnamese art form that combines traditional music, fireworks, underwater puppeteers, and elaborate puppets floating gracefully over water. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 8: Hanoi Departure (B)
Breakfast at hotel, free time until  transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Say goodbye Vietnam.

Thank you for travelling with Asia View Travel.

Accommodation Options

Tour includes:
• Accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels
• 1 night on train
• All tours & transfers in private air-conditioned vehicle or Jeep as stated in the itinerary
• Private English or French  speaking guide
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary at local restaurant with local foods (B = breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
• Domestic arifare & airport taxes: Hanoi – Dien bien phu
• Train ticket with soft sleep 4 berth/cabin  Lao cai - Hanoi
• Entrance fees and permits for all sights visited
• Mineral water & towel
• Government taxes & Service charges

Tour excludes:
• International flights to and from Vietnam
• Vietnam visa arrangement (upon request visa on arrival at 15 USD, not including stamping fee at 25 USD)
• Meals not indicated in the itinerary
• All other services which are not mentioned above
• Personal travel insurance (Compulsory)
• Personal expenses such as  Telephone and Laundry bills
• Tips and gratuities