Constructed in the mid-16th century, the Mường Luân Tower, located in Mường Luân 1 Village, has withstood the test of time, standing nearly 500 years later as a testament to Việt Nam’s rich historical and cultural heritage. It also symbolises the enduring friendship between Việt Nam and Laos.

"I’ve travelled to many places and experienced life in various regions, but I’ve never encountered people as friendly and united as those in Mường Luân," said Đào Hương Lan, a resident of Tây Hồ District, Hà Nội, during her visit to Điện Biên and the Mường Luân Tower to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ victory. "Life here is so peaceful. When I interacted with the locals, I felt an immediate sense of closeness, as if we’d been friends for a long time."

This sentiment is common among visitors to Mường Luân. The people here are genuinely warm and hospitable, with a natural kindness that transcends formalities.

Situated within the Mekong River basin and at the headwaters of the Mã River, Mường Luân’s fertile alluvial plains provide ideal conditions for settlement and agriculture. During the flood season, the rivers bring fish, irrigation water, and nutrient-rich silt that enriches the soil, fostering a thriving community. The Lao people here are industrious, cultivating rice and cotton. Elders pass down the traditional skills of selecting cotton, spinning yarn, and weaving durable, beautiful brocade garments for significant ceremonies such as the New Rice Festival, Water Splashing Festival, and Tower Worship Ceremony.

The Lao community coexists harmoniously with the Thái, Mông, Khơ Mú, and other ethnic groups, creating a blended cultural fabric through intermarriages between the Thái, Khơ Mú, and Xinh Mun communities in Luân Giói and Chiềng Sơ and Lao families. Historically, Mường Luân was predominantly inhabited by the Thái people, with the Lao arriving later, but they have always lived in unity, treating each other as family.

According to village elder Lò Văn Lám, the Mường Luân Tower has significantly influenced local culture, customs, and the spirit of unity among the people. Generations of Mường Luân residents have passed down the story that in 1569, when Myanmar attacked Laos, a group of Laotian refugees fled to Điện Biên Province. By 1594, after the war ended, some of these Lao people settled in Điện Biên, becoming Vietnamese citizens of Lao descent. It was during this period that the Mường Luân Tower was constructed.

"The land in Mường Luân is beautiful, resembling a person standing with their face towards Việt Nam and their back towards Laos, symbolising the solidarity between the two nations. This inspired them to build a special architectural work together, the Mường Luân Tower," said Lò Văn Lám.

Each year, about five days before Tết (Lunar New Year), a shaman selects an auspicious day for a ceremony to worship the spirits. The villagers contribute local produce for the ceremony, which takes place at the foot of the tower. Together with the village shaman, they pray for favourable weather, bountiful crops, prosperity, healthy offspring, and happiness. In early spring, couples and residents from surrounding areas gather at the Mường Luân Tower to celebrate the “Hốt Nặm” festival.

The Mường Luân Tower is a cultural relic in the remote northwestern region of Việt Nam, recognised as a national heritage site by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in 1991. Experts have praised it as a valuable architectural work of significant artistic merit. Beyond its historical, cultural, and artistic value, the Mường Luân Tower stands as a powerful symbol of the long-standing solidarity and friendship between Việt Nam and Laos. Today, this bond continues to be strengthened and nurtured.

Currently, the Lao community in Mường Luân accounts for over 30 per cent of the commune’s population. Known for their diligence and expertise in rice cultivation, cotton weaving, and fishing, the Lao people here enjoy stable livelihoods. Lò Văn Mai, chairman of the Mường Luân Commune People’s Committee, noted that alongside other ethnic groups, the Lao community has actively contributed to economic growth, cultural preservation, and rural development. Their efforts were instrumental in making Mường Luân the first commune in Điện Biên Đông District to meet the basic criteria for a new rural area by the end of 2018.