Điện Biên (Vietnamese: [ʔɗiən˧˨ʔ ʔɓiən˧˧] ^ⓘ) is a province in the Northwest region of Vietnam. It is bordered by Lai Châu to the northeast, Sơn La to the southeast, Pu'er City, Yunnan, China, to the northwest, and Phongsaly province in Laos to the west. The province covers an area of about 9,540 km² (3,683 sq mi)^[1] and as of 2022 it had a population of 635,920 people.^[2]

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Quick Facts Tỉnh Điện Biên, Country ...

Điện Biên province Tỉnh Điện Biên
Province
Relic Battle of Điện Biên Phủ  • View of the mountains on way from Điện Biên Phủ to Sơn La  • Mường Lay skyline  • Field in Điện Biên Phủ City  • A Water stream in Mường Chà  • Phadin Hotel  • The local community center in Mường Chà
Seal
Location of Điên Biên within Vietnam
Coordinates: 21°23′N 103°1′E
Country	Vietnam
Region	Northwest
Capital	Điên Biên Phủ
Subdivision	1 city, 8 rural districts and one town
Government
• Type	Province
• Body	Điện Biên Provincial People's Council
• Chairman of People's Council	Mùa A Sơn
• Chairman of People's Committee	Lê Thành Đô
Area [1]
• Province	9,539.93 km2 (3,683.39 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]
• Province	635,920
• Density	67/km2 (170/sq mi)
• Urban	90,300
Ethnic groups [3]
• Mông	38.12%
• Thái	35.69%
• Vietnamese[4]	17.38%
• Khơ Mú	3.30%
• Dao	1.11%
• Others	4.4%
GDP[5]
• Province	VND 15.750 trillion US$ 0.684 billion
Time zone	UTC+7 (ICT)
Area codes	215
ISO 3166 code	VN-71
Website	www.dienbien.gov.vn

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The name "Điện Biên" means "stable frontier" (referring to Điện Biên's location on the border between Lan Xang and Vietnam).^[6] Điện Biên has various ancient monuments including the caves Thẩm Khương, as well as Thẩn Búa in Tuần Giáo. The original settlers were the Ai Lao or Tai people who are a direct ancestor of Lao people in Laos today. The names of some villages and towns still use words of Tai origin, such as Mường (city) and Tham (cave).

In the 9th and 10th centuries, the Lự in Mường Thanh were the most developed in the area and controlled Sìn Hồ, Mường Lay, and Tuần Giáo.

In the 11th and 12th centuries, Tai people (not to be confused with the Thai people of Thailand) from Mường Ôm and Mường Ai occupied Mường Lò in Nghĩa Lộ and Mường Thanh in Điện Biên. They eventually gained control of the whole area between Mường Lò and Mường Thanh (Điện Biên).

Chua ta cave: Located at an altitude of nearly 1,000m above sea level, in a limestone mountain range with a geological tectonic process of millions of years, Tham Khen cave in Muong Dun commune, Tua Chua district has also been recognized by the Ministry of Culture. Sports and Tourism ranked national relics and scenic spots according to decision No. 3086/QD-BVHTTDL dated October 27, 2020. In addition to being unique like other caves, Chua Ta cave also has two typical types of ecosystems: Limestone mountain ecosystem and cave ecosystem. This place converges the diverse properties of nature.^[7]

Điện Biên province has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa).

Điện Biên is subdivided into 10 district-level sub-divisions:

They are further subdivided into five commune-level towns (or townlets), 116 rural communes, and nine wards.

• Mường Thanh Valley