Lao Cai aims to welcome 5 million tourists in 2019

Accordingly, the province has deployed a number of policies aimed at accelerating tourism development and developing the town of Sapa into a tourism and service centre. Additionally, the locality has also promoted tourism activities throughout districts such as Bat Xat, Bac Ha, Bao Yen, and Van Ban in order to diversify tourism spaces.

To give a boost to the tourism sector, a number of connectivity programs have been implemented such as the co-operation program aimed at developing the economic corridor between the five localities of Kunming-Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh.

This has been followed by a co-operation program to develop spiritual tourism along the Red River-Lao Cai-Yen Bai-Phu Tho, and co-operation programs between Lao Cai and Hanoi, Lao Cai and HCM City, and with the Nouvelle –Aquitane region of France.

With the development plan eyeing 2020,and a further vision towards 2030, Lao Cai intends to develop five typical tourism products including eco-tourism, spiritual tourism, border tourism, sightseeing tours, and mountainous retreats in order to learn about the various cultural characteristics of ethnic groups in Vietnam.

Ha Van Thang, director of Lao Cai province’s department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism said eight north-western provinces have co-operated to develop local and international tourism. Many new tours to China such as Hakhou-Sapa have been implemented while unique tourism products have been created specifically for tourists.