Since the beginning of 2016, the northern province has continuously developed new tourism attractions and routes to prepare for the next Vietnamese national tourism year, Visit Viet Nam Year 2017, hosted by Lao Cai.
Lao Cai has recently approved the experimental travel route in Bat Xat District, considered the papers to establish another experimental route in the flowery valley of Bac Ha and prepared the files to request the official approval of new routes and attractions in Van Ban District.
At the same time, the province has expanded the development of local culture heritages into travel products, such as Tay People’s Green Rice Festival in Viet Tien Commune, Buffalo Fighting Festival in Bao Ha Commune, Goat Fighting Festival in Vinh Yen Commune and Bao Ha Temple Festival. Other eco-tourism and community products have also been noticeably invested, including the fishing and home-garden in Son Lau Hamlet, the clean agricultural model in Van Hoa Hamlet etc.
An array of new tourism products has been introduced to visitors, comprising the International Mountain Bike Racing O Quy Ho Cup 2016, the International Mountain Bike Racing Tournament in Sapa and Bat Xat, the community cultural tourism program in Nghia Do Commune and many more.
In addition, Bac Ha District has conducted pre-feasibility studies and called for investment in various potential tourism spots, such as Nam Cay Hill and Mountain Three Mothers and Children; while continued to develop the current famous attractions, including Cultural market Bac Ha, Coc Ly Market and Thien Long Cave.
During the first half of 2016, Lao Cai welcomed over 1.2 million tourist arrivals, accounting for 51.7% of this year’s plan, an increase of 23.7% over the same period in 2015. The number of international tourists arrived in 33,228 while the number of domestic tourists came in at 933,471. The total revenue of tourism reached 2,912 billion VND.