Lao Cai’s new destinations increasingly attractive to tourists
Many new tourist destinations in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai have become magnets for local and foreign tourists thanks to their picturesque landscapes and unique cultural features.
Y Ty rice terraces in Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province. (Source: panoramio.com)
Lao Cai (VNA) – Many new tourist destinations in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai have become magnets for local and foreign tourists thanks to their picturesque landscapes and unique cultural features.
Bat Xat district, 12km northwest of Lao Cai city, is home to Lung Po, where the Red River enters Vietnam’s territory, a famous cuisine festival and the Y Ty cloud sea.
Tourists to Bat Xat can discover the culture of local ethnic minorities like Mong, Dao and Giay, or contemplate Ha Nhi ethnic people’s made-of-earth houses that look like giant mushrooms standing on the hillsides. They can also stroll in the ancient jungle Nhiu Co San to see many valuable trees.
The most adventurous and challenging task in Bat Xat is to conquer the Bach Moc Luong Tu mountain top, which stands at 3,046m, just 97m lower than the Fansipan summit, the roof of Indochina.
At the top of Bach Moc Luong Tu after a grueling hiking, visitors can see three highest mountaintops in Vietnam: Fansipan (3,143m), Pu Ta Leng (3,049m) and Pu Si Lung (3,076m) surrounded by masses of white clouds.
Si Ma Cai is another new destination known for its homestay tourism. It has spectacular landscapes with vertical cliffs and untouched caves and forests full of rare orchids along the river banks.
The district is also famous for its regular market, wh🃏ere tourists can buy various souvenirs and enjoy native dishes and wines. Especially, a buffalo market opens in the morning of every Saturday, which is considered the most famous buffalo transaction floor in the northwestern region.
Bac Ha district, with many picturesque and spectacular landscapes as well as unique traditional cultural features of 14 ethnic minorities, is a rising tourism spot as well.
Bac Ha is called the White Plateau from the fact that it is covered in every spring by the white flower of the plum, a native tree. It also boasts the Viet Tu or Thai Giang Pho flower valley, a hit for tourists during the weekend.
According to Lao Cai’s tourism sector, in the first six months of this year, Bac Ha welcomed 131,😼000 vis♈itors, including 53,000 foreigners.-VNA
Endangered Asian openbill storks, which are listed as especially rare in Vietnam’s Red Book, have been spotted in paddies in Ban Qua and Ban Vuoc communes in Bat Xat, the northern mountainous province
The northern mountainous province of Lao Cai announced on July 5 an action programme for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+).
The northern mountainous province of Lao Cai is focusing on improving infrastructure and creating more products in preparation for the Year of Tourism 2017, which will be organised in the province.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
Y Ty rice terraces in Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province. (Source: panoramio.com)
