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The Capital of the Tai Dam People, Dien Bien Phu
mr.hotsia travel Vietnam Dien Bien (Điện Biên) HOT07920
The Capital of the Tai Dam People, Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam
When talking about Dien Bien Phu, many people probably think of the historic battlefield famously depicted in the Thai movie "Escape from Dien Bien Phu Hell Camp." But for me, mr.hotsia, this visit to Dien Bien Phu was not just about old war stories. I also experienced the lifestyle of the Tai Dam people, locally called “Tai Lam,” which is the charm that makes Dien Bien Phu special compared to other cities in northern Vietnam.
My journey to Dien Bien Phu started from the Chiang Khong border checkpoint in Chiang Rai province, crossing into Huay Sai, Bokeo province. Then I took a bus passing through Udomxay and Khoa towns, spending several hours before arriving at Dien Bien Phu city, where many Tai Dam people live. Most houses I saw spoke Thai, making it easy to understand, like walking in a small Thai community abroad. I have written about this before inTraveling Dien Bien PhuandTraveling Dien Bien PhuI said, “You won’t go hungry visiting Dien Bien Phu,” because if you meet the Tai Dam people here, they warmly welcome you, invite you to eat at their home, and take you around the city with a friendliness rarely found in big cities.
Tai Lam Market and the Lifestyle I Experienced
I tried getting a haircut at a small shop in the market. It was a great opportunity to meet another large group of Tai Dam people. They openly shared stories about their lives and the origins of the Tai Lam people here without hesitation. A distinctive feature of the Tai Dam is their high, beautifully rolled hair buns, which you can see in villages and streets around the city. When you see this hairstyle, I recommend approaching them to talk. They are happy to chat and share their history in detail.
The Tai Dam People: History and Culture
I researched further from various sources and found that the Tai Dam people, locally called “Lao Song,” originally come from the Black and Red River basins in northern Vietnam, which was the original land of the Sip Song Chau Tai. The Tai Dam do not call themselves Lao, but because of migration through Laos, they are commonly referred to as such. Many Tai Dam people have migrated into northeastern and northern Thailand, such as the “Thai Song Dam” community in Phetchaburi, known for their culture and black clothing dyed with indigo or madder plants.
In Thai history, during the reign of King Taksin the Great, Tai Dam people from Sip Song Chau Tai were relocated to settle in Phetchaburi. This continued through various reigns with Tai Dam settlements established in many provinces across the country, including Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Suphanburi, and Kanchanaburi.
Lifestyle and Friendship in Dien Bien Phu
During my stay in Dien Bien Phu, I experienced the fun and friendliness of the Tai Dam people here. When they found out I could speak Thai and was from Thailand, they warmly invited me to eat at their homes and shared life stories joyfully. Although I had limited time and had to travel to Sapa early the next morning, if I had another night, I would not miss staying with a Tai Dam family to deeply experience their real way of life.
The food I tasted in the market and small shops mostly focused on fresh ingredients, local vegetables, and flavors familiar to Thai palates, such as sticky rice with shredded pork, butter fried rice, and northern Vietnamese dishes with rich flavors. I also observed the farming lifestyle of the Tai Dam people who still cultivate rice in the plains of the mountains and tend buffaloes on the hillsides. This scenery strangely reminded me of my hometown.
From Dien Bien Phu to Traveling in Northern Vietnam
Dien Bien Phu is an important starting point for traveling to northern Vietnam destinations like Sapa, which I have shared my experience about in the articleTraveling from Dien Bien Phu to SapaThe journey from Dien Bien Phu to Sapa takes a long time but is filled with beautiful mountain views and Tai Dam villages along the way. If you have ample time, I recommend stopping at small towns en route to experience the local culture and the authentic lifestyle of northern Vietnamese people.
Nearby, there is also the White Thai community in Mai Chau, about 136 kilometers from Hanoi. I, mr.hotsia, plan to gather information and experience the lifestyle of the White Thai people to share with friends in the future.
Summary of Experiences and Recommendations from mr.hotsia
For anyone wanting to experience the lifestyle of the Tai Dam people in northern Vietnam, Dien Bien Phu is a city you should not miss. Talking with the Tai Lam people who still use the Thai language combined with local culture is a rare experience nowadays. The local market here offers interesting food and goods. Getting a haircut and chatting with locals feels like being with relatives. The journey might be tiring but is worth the unforgettable impressions.
If you enjoy deep travel and don’t want to just pass through from Thailand to northern Vietnam, try staying in Dien Bien Phu for two or three days. You will realize this place is not just an old battlefield but home to a Tai Dam community that preserves Thai identity and warmth very well.
For more information and my travel experiences in Dien Bien Phu, you can read the articlesTraveling Dien Bien PhuandTraveling Dien Bien PhuThank you.