With a community of 19 ethnic groups residing here, each group has distinctive customs, festivals, and spiritual cultural life, creating Điện Biên’s cultural diversity. In 2025, Điện Biên had 2 heritages, including the Thái people’s rattan and bamboo weaving technique and the Si La people’s New Rice Ceremony, added to the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list. With 2 more heritages inscribed, the entire province currently has 22 national intangible cultural heritages, of which Thái Xoè Art and Practices of Then by the Tày, Nùng, and Thái people are inscribed by UNESCO as Representative Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity. The system of historical relics, natural landscapes, festivals, traditional craft villages... are the potentials for Điện Biên to exploit and develop cultural-experiential tourism if it knows how to exploit, promote values, organize tours and routes with diverse services, and advertise effectively.

The restoration and embellishment of the national historical relic complex of the Điện Biên Phủ battlefield has been and is being carried out by the province, creating a highlight to attract tourists to Điện Biên. The Điện Biên Phủ battlefield relic site can be said to be the historical relic complex that many tourists know and come to Điện Biên to learn and explore. In addition, every locality has intangible cultural forms such as festivals, customs, traditional crafts, and peaceful natural landscapes... which create attractions for tourists to visit and experience Điện Biên. Ethnic sports and folk games such as tung còn (tossing a ball through a ring), stick pushing, crossbow shooting, ném pa pao (throwing a cloth ball), đánh tù lu (spinning tops), stilt walking... attract the enthusiastic participation of both residents and tourists.

The provincial government has paid attention to and implemented the incorporation of the cultural heritage system into tourism development. Visiting Điện Biên at any time, cultural exchange activities always end with the circle dance (xòe) of solidarity because the Thái people are the second-largest ethnic group in Điện Biên. The xòe dance of the Thái people has been inscribed as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, demonstrating the characteristic spiritual cultural life of the people. Similarly, the Hmông people’s Khèn dance attracts the curiosity of tourists due to the captivating sound from the wooden khèn (mouth organ) that the man plays while dancing. Or visiting Mường Lay ward to learn about the White Thái people’s Kin Pang Then festival, the swallow-tail boat racing festival along with experiential activities such as jet skiing, paragliding, and tourism on the Đà River reservoir... The Thái people’s rattan and bamboo weaving technique is the crystallization of folk knowledge, handicraft skills, and unique aesthetic thinking. Seemingly simple objects like baskets (gùi), flat baskets (mẹt), large round shallow baskets (nia)... carry the spirit of labor and the unique cultural beauty of the Thái people. This is what attracts the interest and engagement of residents and tourists.

Điện Biên has many agricultural products meeting OCOP standards that have been promoted, introduced, and participated in trade fairs in some localities and the first autumn fair held in Hà Nội last October. People coming to the fair not only visit and shop for goods and local products but also enjoy unique cuisine and cultural art. This is also an opportunity for localities to introduce the rich and diverse cultural life of the ethnic groups; introduce tourist spots and explorations for visitors to learn and experience.

The rich system of intangible cultural heritage, along with the unique cultural life of the ethnic communities, and the Điện Biên Phủ battlefield relic complex, have created a diverse and colorful picture of Điện Biên tourism. This is a rich potential source for Điện Biên to strongly promote the building of experiential tourism models associated with local culture, encourage creativity in conservation, and create sustainable livelihoods for ethnic minorities. The provincial Party Committee has identified the goal of developing Điện Biên tourism until 2025 with an orientation to 2030 in Resolution No.03-NQ/TU towards “developing tourism into a key economic sector of the province based on effectively exploiting potentials and advantages; relying on three main pillars: Historical-Spiritual Tourism; Ethnic Cultural Identity Tourism, exploring natural landscapes; Resort, Entertainment, and Health Care Tourism.” Closely following the Resolution’s objectives, cultural heritage continues to play an important role in the three pillars of tourism development, making tourism a key economic sector of the province.

Actual tourism operations in recent years show that the quality of services at tourist destinations; branding and product systemization; investment in promotion, regional linkage, and attracting domestic and foreign tourists to Điện Biên... are still limitations that need positive reform in the coming time. Many relic and cultural sites lack diverse services, making it difficult to attract the attention of large tourism companies to organize key, high-quality tours and routes. Furthermore, the quality of human resources and tour guides is still limited, meaning the exploitation and development of Điện Biên’s historical and cultural tourism have not been truly effective.

The process of economic and cultural exchange and integration is taking place increasingly strongly, making the development of cultural heritage tourism a highlight imbued with the cultural identity of the ethnic groups in Điện Biên. With a diverse and rich system of intangible cultural heritage creating a cultural identity, it serves as a highlight for tourists to visit, learn, experience, and explore the land, people, and culture of Điện Biên.