Warm spring days
On the last day of the year in Lao Chai village, Y Ty commune, the villagers gathered at the Party Secretary's house to celebrate Tet. A pig was slaughtered, and everyone pitched in with their tasks, busily preparing the New Year's Eve meal.
Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia constantly flips the meat grilling over the glowing charcoal. The glistening fat sizzles and drips, filling the air with the aroma of spring.
Nguyen Trong Nghia, from Ho Chi Minh City, and his group of friends have been traveling in Y Ty for almost a week. He excitedly shared, "We've already slaughtered pigs at three local houses!" He explained that because he was close friends with some people in Y Ty and they invited him to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) in the village, after some hesitation, he put aside all his work and traveled to Lao Cai for this special spring trip. "In Y Ty, we just chose a place to stay and immersed ourselves in the Tet atmosphere with the locals. We made cakes together, cooked meals together; everyone was so friendly, there was no distance at all," Nghia shared.
During his time in the village, Nghia experienced a range of fascinating emotions. Each new dish in the villagers' kitchen, such as vegetables picked from the garden, black chicken soup cooked with fragrant forest leaves, smoked pork, spicy fermented chili peppers, or the unique Ha Nhi beer, awakened all his senses. Furthermore, the time spent wandering through the villages, taking in the spring scenery of the border region, also left him with unforgettable impressions.
“I really enjoy admiring the peach blossoms in Y Tý. The peach blossoms in Y Tý are simple and natural, not pruned like those in the lowlands. On foggy, cold days, seeing the healthy buds bursting open makes me feel warmer,” Mr. Nghĩa confided.
An unexpected experience
Also choosing to celebrate Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) in Y Ty, Mr. Philips, a tourist from England, had an unexpected experience: riding a horse through the ancient Tống Quá Sủ forest. “This was my first time riding a horse. Initially, I was a little nervous and anxious, but then I realized it wasn't as scary as I thought. Just be brave, climb onto the horse's back, and follow the instructions, and everything becomes easy. I think I did very well,” Mr. Philips said excitedly after receiving safe riding techniques from the horse riders.
To provide tourists with such enjoyable experiences, during the Lunar New Year holidays, 22 members of the Y Tý Horse Club enthusiastically trained and served tourists upon request.
Mr. Trang A Xa, a resident of Trung Chai village and a member of the club, shared: “As long as guests want to experience it, I'm ready. During Tet (Lunar New Year), I often bring the horses to crowded festival areas so tourists can experience riding and taking photos with them. On weekends, I take the horses down to the ancient stone road area or up to the top of Lao Than mountain. Both Vietnamese and foreign tourists really enjoy this service.”
Immerse yourself in the cultural atmosphere and spring festivals.
Besides Y Tý, many tourists are choosing other tourist destinations in Lào Cai province as their spring holiday destinations this Tet holiday.
According to the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Sa Pa ward, Sa Pa is expected to welcome approximately 250,000 visitors during this year's Tet holiday. The occupancy rate in the first few days of the year reached about 80% for hotels with 2 stars or more and 85% for other segments. From the third day of Tet onwards, many accommodation establishments reached 100% occupancy.
In Bac Ha commune, the number of visitors seeking information and booking accommodation during Tet (Lunar New Year) has also increased sharply, mainly concentrated in homestays and community guesthouses. On New Year's Eve, the locality welcomed domestic tourist groups from Hanoi, as well as international tourists from the United Kingdom, India, France, and Hong Kong (China) who came to celebrate Tet in the area. This is an optimistic sign, kicking off a breakthrough year for Bac Ha's tourism industry, aiming to welcome 1 million visitors in 2026 and become a unique and attractive destination in the region.
To enhance the appeal of tourist destinations, Lao Cai will organize approximately 100 unique cultural, sporting, and festival events during the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026. The series of events is expected to last from mid-February to the end of March 2026, promising visitors exciting experiences during their spring trip to Lao Cai. These include a number of traditional festivals held throughout the province, such as: the Gau Tao Festival of the Mong people at Sun World Fansipan Legend and in Bac Ha and Si Ma Cai communes; the Xuong Dong Festival of the Tay and Giay people in Coc Lau, Chieng Ken, and Bat Xat communes; and attractive cultural and artistic activities in Lam Thuong, Luc Yen, Tan Linh, Mu Cang Chai, and Van Chan communes...
Mr. Truong Manh Cuong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hanh Phuc commune, said: To exploit the tourism potential, Hanh Phuc commune has consistently adopted the principle that tourism development must be closely linked to the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values and natural landscapes. This year, Hanh Phuc commune will organize the Gau Tao Festival on the 12th and 13th of the first lunar month, creating a joyful atmosphere at the beginning of spring, while promoting the image of local culture and people. With thorough preparation from program content to infrastructure, accommodation and tourism services, Hanh Phuc is confident that it will attract tourists to the village during the spring season, aiming to welcome 90,000 tourists in 2026, contributing to increased income and sustainable poverty reduction for local people.
According to statistics, in the first month of 2026, the total revenue from accommodation, food and beverage services and travel and tourism in the province reached over 1,010 billion VND, an increase of nearly 6% compared to the previous month and nearly 18% compared to the same period in 2025. The total number of tourists served reached over 513,000. Notably, the number of tourists on organized tours reached over 14,300, an increase of nearly 33% compared to the same period in 2025... This result is linked to the fact that localities have proactively organized vibrant and culturally rich festivals and celebrations during the Lunar New Year, thereby creating highlights to stimulate the development of tourism and services.
In 2026, Lao Cai aims to welcome over 11 million tourists, including 1.5 million international visitors, with total tourism revenue reaching 51 trillion VND. "With the efforts of the tourism industry, the business community, and local authorities from the very beginning of the year, we are confident that these goals will be realized," emphasized Mr. Tran Son Binh, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai province.
In each village of Lao Cai, what captivates tourists is not just the services or scenery, but the cultural values that are preserved and vividly retold. After each spring trip, tourists don't just bring back a few photos or small gifts. What remains are the delightful experiences, where they are welcomed like family in a home rich in cultural colors.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/an-tet-o-ban-post894042.html
![[Photo] General Secretary To Lam attends the opening session of the Peace Council on Gaza.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/02/19/1771516865192_tbttolam5-jpg.webp)
Comment (0)