Điện Biên Province
| Điện Biên Province Tỉnh Điện Biên | |
|---|---|
| Province | |
|
Mường Ảng district | |
| Nickname(s): Stable frontier | |
 Location of Điên Biên within Vietnam | |
| Coordinates: 21°23′N 103°1′E / 21.383°N 103.017°ECoordinates: 21°23′N 103°1′E / 21.383°N 103.017°E | |
| Country |
 Vietnam |
| Region | Northwest |
| Capital | Điên Biên Phủ |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9,560 km2 (3,690 sq mi) |
| Population (2004) | |
| • Total | 440,800 |
| • Density | 46/km2 (120/sq mi) |
| Demographics | |
| • Ethnicities | Vietnamese/Kinh, H'Mông, Dao, Thai |
| Time zone | ICT (UTC+7) |
| Calling code | 23 |
| ISO 3166 code | VN-71 |
| Website | dienbien.gov.vn |
Điện Biên (
listen) is a province in the Northwest region of Vietnam. It is bordered by Lai Châu and Sơn La provinces of Vietnam to the east and south, Pu'er City, Yunnan, China, to the north, and Phongsaly Province in Laos to the west.
History
The province's name derives from Sino-Vietnamese "奠邊", meaning "stable frontier".[1] Dien Bien has various ancient monuments including the caves Thẩm Khương, as well as Thẩn Búa in Tuần Giáo.
In the 9th and 10th centuries, the Lự ở Mường Thanh people were the most developed in the area and controlled Sìn Hồ, Mường Lay, and Tuần Giáo.
In the 11th and 12th centuries, Thai people 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, Mường Lò and Mường Thanh (Điện Biên).
In early 2004, Điện Biên was created from Lai Châu Province, both themselves were once part of the Lan Xang kingdom, then switched ownership to Vietnam during the French Colonial period. Điện Biên includes all the land to the south of the Đà River (Black River), and New Lai Châu Province includes all the land to the north of the Đà River.
Administrative divisions
Điện Biên is subdivided into 10 district-level sub-divisions:
- 8 districts:
- 1 district-level town:
- Mường Lay (formerly called Lai Châu)
- 1 provincial city:
- Điên Biên Phủ (capital, also a world-famous battlefield)
They are further subdivided into 5 commune-level towns (or townlets), 116 communes, and 9 wards.
Places in Điện Biên
References
- ↑ "Điện Biên, hành trình trở về cội nguồn" (in Vietnamese).
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dien Bien Province. |
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Yunnan,  |
Lai Châu Province | | |
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Sơn La Province | |||
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Phongsaly Province,  Laos |
Luang Prabang Province, Laos |
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