Lao Cai Tourism: Breakthrough in the last 2 months of the year

A smart, safe, culturally rich and tourist-friendly destination is the strong message that Lao Cai tourism is conveying after the challenges of natural disasters. With a series of unique cultural events and festivals at the end of the year, Lao Cai is determined to create an explosive push, surpassing the 2025 target.

After the merger, Lao Cai province possesses a national “treasure” – terraced fields with a large scale, stature and high recognition in the domestic and international tourism market. The rice ripening season from September to October every year is identified as a golden opportunity for provincial tourism.

Golden season tourism is expected to bring a large number of visitors to Lao Cai tourism.

However, at this time this year, the province has suffered consecutive heavy rains due to the impact of storms and post-storm circulation, forcing many tourism activities and events to be postponed or stopped, causing the tourism market to stagnate.

Safety concerns and inconvenient traffic conditions have affected the psychology of many tourists, causing them to decide to postpone or cancel their travel plans at this time. Many businesses and tourism service establishments have recorded cancellations of tour and room bookings.

The number of tourists to Lao Cai in September - October reached 1.1 million, with revenue reaching 4,271 billion VND. This figure is less than half of the average of the first 8 months of 2025: 1 million visitors and 3,400 billion VND per month.

With the determination to complete and exceed the 2025 plan, Lao Cai tourism industry together with local authorities, businesses and tourism service establishments have quickly deployed remedial and recovery measures.

Immediately after the disaster, the province mobilized maximum resources to overcome landslides, clear traffic routes, and review and reassess the safety level at tourist sites. Facilities have proactively repaired and restored the landscape and committed to ensuring absolute safety when welcoming visitors back.

Mr. Bui Dinh Son - founder of To Day Trekking shared: "Although the recent natural disaster was the peak trekking season, we stopped organizing trekking tours and refunded deposits to customers or reserved deposits if tourists wanted to change their schedules. More than 2 weeks after the storm, seeing that the weather was stable and safety was guaranteed, we started organizing tours again. Currently, on average, the unit organizes about 3 trekking tours per week, each tour has 15 guests. Every 2-3 guests will have 1 porter to support. Lung Cung is a place that many tourists are choosing because it is the season of red maple leaves, which is worth experiencing."

In addition, some establishments have offered 5-10% discount packages for rooms and food services in the early stages of recovery. Many hotels have partnered with transport and restaurant operators to create all-inclusive “tour combos” at more favorable prices, encouraging tourists to return. At the same time, they are committed to maintaining service quality and not increasing prices unreasonably during the peak season at the end of the year.

Many homestays are ready and committed to not increasing prices even during peak season.

Mr. Lo Van Giap - owner of Homestay Giap Hoai, Van Chan commune said: When the weather turns colder, our hot mineral spring tourism products enter the peak tourist season. In particular, the commune will organize the Shan Tuyet Tea Festival, so the number of visitors will increase even more. We commit not to increase service prices, and at the same time, we are ready to prepare well the accommodation, restaurant, and hot mineral bath services to serve tourists.

Along with the initiative of businesses and tourism service establishments, Lao Cai province is also preparing well the conditions to organize a series of unique cultural events and festivals in the last two months of this year.

Highlights include four elaborate art performances “Thieng” and “Dance under the Moon” performed consecutively on Friday and Saturday nights for two consecutive weeks (November 7-8 and November 14-15) at Quan Stadium, Sa Pa ward.

This is a large-scale art program, a combination of folk dances associated with the unique and rich cultural and religious life of Sa Pa's ethnic groups and modern performance technology such as lighting, stage arrangements, 3D mapping but still respecting indigenous culture.

The large-scale art program in Sa Pa this time is a combination of indigenous culture and lighting, stage, 3D mapping, promising to bring an impression to visitors. (photo by Hoang Tung)

Performances of music , dance, flute, and string instruments… blending in with the magical mist will open up a lively and tranquil art space, promising to attract a large audience and tourists from all over.

Next, from November 18 to 24, 2025, the Red River Festival will continue to open a journey to discover the colors of the Northwest - where culture, tourism and art blend and converge in one space.

Majestic natural scenery and ethnic cultural identity are the highlights to attract
tourists coming to Lao Cai.

During the week of the event, visitors will be able to explore the space of “Red River Culture - Convergence of Colors”, where heritage, artifacts, cultural models and publications on “Red River Cultural Journey” are displayed; admire traditional cultural rituals of ethnic groups in Lao Cai; enjoy shopping at the 25th Vietnam - China International Trade Fair (Lao Cai)…

In particular, on the evening of November 23, the fashion show “Lung lieng non cao” promises to be the highlight of the Festival, gathering models, beauty queens and collections that delicately combine traditional costumes with a modern feel.

In addition, there are many activities within the framework of the Festival widely organized in many localities in the province such as: Shan Tuyet Tea Festival in Lao Cai province in 2025, "Red River Festival" Golf Tournament, "One track - Two countries" International Cycling Race Hong Ha (China) - Lao Cai (Vietnam)...

The 2025 Shan Tuyet Tea Festival in Lao Cai province has the theme "Flavor in the clouds"
will take place from November 21-23 in Van Chan commune.

The Winter Festival “Colors of the Highlands” will also take place from November 14 to November 23 in Bac Ha commune with many unique cultural, sports and tourism activities, promising to bring visitors unique experiences in the winter of the highlands...

Localities in the province will also simultaneously organize response programs, folk cultural festivals, and tourism promotions, creating a widespread impact in the community.

Ms. Vu Thi Mai Oanh - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province said: The series of year-end events will be an important "push", not only attracting visitors but also conveying the message about the strong vitality and safety, friendliness of Lao Cai tourism. We expect that the last two months of the year will achieve an "explosive" number of visitors and revenue, helping Lao Cai tourism not only reach but also exceed the 2025 plan target of welcoming over 10 million visitors, with revenue of over 46,000 billion VND.

With all efforts, Lao Cai is opening its doors, ready to welcome and bring visitors wonderful and memorable winter experiences!

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/du-lich-lao-cai-but-pha-trong-2-thang-cuoi-nam-post886243.html