Lai Chau's Majestic Landscapes

From a province with many difficulties, Lai Chau has affirmed its position on the socio-economic development of the Northern Vietnam Midlands and Mountains. In that process, Lai Chau tourism is identified as an important economic sector in the service structure of the province, acting as a driving force to promote economic growth, expand cooperation, and promote the local image.

Impressed by the wild, unique beauty

Lai Chau is blessed by nature with a treasure trove of rich and diverse resources that are overwhelming. This place owns the Hoang Lien Son range with majestic peaks in the "Top 10 highest mountains in Vietnam" such as Pusilung, Putaleng, Ta Lien Son, Bach Moc Luong Tu... Along with that are unique landscapes, painting a picturesque landscape: majestic O Quy Ho Pass, solemn Pusamcap Cave, Tac Tinh Waterfall with white foam... The temperate climate and diverse landscapes, along with 30 ranked heritages (including 5 national heritages), create a destination that is both majestic and quiet.

Lai Chau, with its 20 ethnic groups, is a priceless cultural treasure rich in unique traditions like the Mong flute, Thai xoe dance, vibrant festivals, and local cuisine including thang co and salmon hotpot, which draw tourists and attract them to develop various types of tourism such as community, eco-resort, adventure, and cultural tourism with authentic indigenous experiences. 

The biggest difference between Lai Chau and many other Northwestern Vietnam provinces is its wild, original beauty, which is almost completely preserved. This place has not been changed by commercialization, helping the natural landscape to retain its pristine, fresh look, and the cultural identity is still clearly present in daily life.

Coming to Lai Chau, visitors not only immerse themselves in the authentic and close cultural space but also have the opportunity to experience challenging and emotional journeys of exploring nature, from conquering high mountain peaks and crossing majestic mountain passes to enjoying the majestic scenery of rivers, streams, waterfalls, and rapids. These "wild - original - unique" identities have become a distinctive advantage, creating Lai Chau's own attraction, making Lai Chau leave unforgettable impressions in the hearts of visitors.

Local economic leverage

To optimally exploit tourism potential, the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council and People's Committee of Lai Chau province have built a clear legal framework and strategic planning, focusing on investment so that Lai Chau's tourism can truly improve people's lives.

Mr. Tong Thanh Hai, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Tourism Development Steering Committee affirmed that the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council and Provincial People's Committee of the Lai Chau province have clearly defined strategic orientations and proactively issued many important policies and guidelines to concretize the goal of making tourism an economic sector with an important position in the service sector structure.

Right from the first years of re-establishing the province, Lai Chau has established and adjusted the planning, and by 2023, integrated, updated, and supplemented the tourism planning into the Lai Chau Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. At the same time, many strategic projects have been effectively implemented, such as Lai Chau Tourism Development Project for the period 2016 - 2020, New Rural Development Project associated with rural tourism in some villages in Lai Chau province for the period 2020 - 2025, Project for Preservation and Promotion of the Good Cultural Identities of Ethnic Groups associated with tourism development in Lai Chau province for the period 2021 - 2025, with a vision to 2030...

According to the Permanent Vice Chairman of the Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee, thanks to the drastic participation of the entire political system together with the efforts of the business community and the people, the Lai Chau tourism industry has made new progress. Tourism infrastructure has been constantly improved; traffic connections have been expanded. Tourism products have continuously developed with many new tourism destinations.

Up to now, tourism products have become increasingly diverse, and many new destinations have been effectively exploited. Up to now, the whole province has 20 tourist attractions and 2 recognized tourist areas. Notable ones are Rong May Glass Bridge Ecotourism Area, Hoang Lien Pass Ecotourism Area, Pa Khom Bay, ASEAN Community Tourism Village - Sin Suoi Ho, and community tourism villages: Si Thau Chai, Lao Chai 1, Tham Phe, Na Khuong. Trekking and adventure tourism routes in Putaleng, Bach Moc Luong Tu, Ta Lien Son... have been affirming Lai Chau's unique tourism brand: community - ecology - resort - adventure - culture associated with indigenous experiences.

Promotion and advertising activities have been carried out in a variety of ways, closely linked to large-scale events: Lai Chau Culture - Tourism Week in major cities, Lai Chau Marathon, Cultural Festival of ethnic groups with a population of less than 10,000 people... These activities have strongly spread the image of a dynamic, friendly, hospitable Lai Chau to domestic and international tourists. The digitization of information on some tourism destinations also helps tourists to easily look up, creating more excitement for exploration.

In particular, the Prime Minister approved the Sin Ho Plateau and O Quy Ho Pass to be included in the list of potential areas to develop into a national tourist area. This is an important signal, affirming the correct direction and persistent efforts of the province in tourism development in recent times.

In the period of 2020-2025, Lai Chau province actively preserves and promotes the identity of ethnic groups associated with tourism development. Supports the restoration of 14 festivals, maintains 39 annual festivals; puts 6 heritages on the national list....

Notably, the province has developed 5 typical community tourism products; many tourist villages have been recognized as 3-star OCOP, of which Sin Suoi Ho village was honored by ASEAN as "Typical community tourism village".

The number of tourists in the 2021-2025 period increased by an average of 33.4% per year, with total revenue estimated at over VND 3,800 billion. Various types of tourism have been gradually exploited, with 22 recognized tourist areas in the province, forming a number of new rural villages associated with tourism.

Concentrate resources, reach far on the world map

Mr. Tran Manh Hung - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Lai Chau province said that in order to position the Lai Chau as an attractive destination on the regional and national tourism map, Lai Chau province will complete and upgrade the ASEAN community tourism product - Sin Suoi Ho to meet the criteria to become the best tourist village in the world, and at the same time turn Si Thau Chai and Lao Chai 1 into ASEAN community tourism villages, creating a unique highlight.

The province will focus on exploiting the cultural differences of each village associated with the ethnic group, avoiding duplication with community tourism products of provinces in the Northwest region, especially in Sin Ho, Hong Thu, Tan Uyen... At the same time, the province will focus on implementing the master plan of potential tourism areas into National Tourism Areas in Sin Ho Plateau and O Quy Ho Pass to attract strategic investors, creating new, high-quality tourism products.

In addition, Lai Chau will strengthen regional connectivity and international cooperation through national tourism promotion programs, organizing and hosting large-scale cultural, sports and tourism events, along with promoting digital transformation, building a smart tourism ecosystem, and applying VR/AR technology to enhance the experience for tourists.

“Lai Chau province will continue to promote its potential and advantages, promote regional connectivity; improve the quality of products and services, and aim to build Lai Chau into a “Safe - Friendly - Unique - Attractive” destination on the Vietnam tourism map, contributing to making Lai Chau a prominent destination in the Northwest region, leaving a deep impression in the hearts of international friends and tourists,” Mr. Hung shared.