Dien Bien Phu is connected to Hanoi by a daily flight operated by Vietnam Airlines and one or two budget carriers; the journey takes about an hour. The airport is on the valley floor a few kilometres from the town centre; songthaews (shared pickup trucks) and taxis cover the short transfer.
The overland approach from Hanoi takes around 9–12 hours depending on road conditions. The bus to Son La takes about 5–6 hours; a change of bus or another few hours brings you to Dien Bien Phu. The road is scenic and demanding, crossing several mountain passes, but bus services are reasonably regular. By rented motorbike from Hanoi, via the Son La route, is a classic two-day journey for experienced riders.
From Dien Bien Phu, the road continues northwest toward the Laotian border at Tay Trang, which is open to travellers with the appropriate visa; this is the overland route to Phongsali in northern Laos. Public transport to the border is by songthaew or infrequent minibus.