Removing the "bottleneck" to develop tourism in Y Tý

Lao Cai – a border region at the northernmost point of Vietnam – is blessed with majestic landscapes and diverse cultural identities of its ethnic groups. Alongside famous domestic and international tourist destinations like Sa Pa, Bac Ha, and Mu Cang Chai, Y Ty has emerged in recent years as a "fairytale land" amidst the clouds, its pristine beauty and rich traditional culture captivating visitors.

Lost in the springtime of Y Tý

This Lunar New Year, instead of traveling abroad or visiting crowded tourist spots, Ms. Nguyen Quynh Nga from Hanoi chose to travel to the Northwest region of Vietnam. She selected Y Ty, the most remote border commune in Lao Cai province, as her destination for a spring getaway and unique experience. Arriving in Y Ty on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Ms. Nga was captivated by the beauty of this land, situated at an altitude of over 2,000 meters above sea level – a place of majestic mountains, pristine nature, and breathtaking scenery.

Spring in Y Tý is full of the vibrant colors of nature. (Photo: Phạm Bằng)

Ms. Nga shared that she was very impressed when visiting the villages of Lao Chai and Choan Then, experiencing the rich traditional culture of the Ha Nhi people with their ancient earthen-walled houses; and visiting the lively Y Ty market on Saturdays with its many colorful brocade fabrics. During her journey exploring Y Ty, Ms. Nga also visited Ngai Thau Thuong village to admire the blooming peach and mustard flowers and immerse herself in the sea of ​​clouds. She also went down to The Pa valley to visit Thien Sinh Bridge – the shortest bridge in the world connecting Vietnam and China. The beautiful spring in the "fairytale land" of Y Ty left a deep impression and lasting memories for her.

The Ha Nhi people of Y Ty commune preserve the beautiful cultural identity of their ethnic group.

In the early days of spring in Y Tý, the area not only attracts many domestic tourists but also welcomes many international visitors who come to explore and experience the local culture. Jakup, a tourist from Poland, said he was very happy to visit the Ha Nhi villages in Y Tý, where the unique and impressive earthen houses are located, and to participate in experiencing the Ha Nhi ethnic culture through their New Year festivals.

“In Y Tý, the climate is very pleasant. I stayed at the Cultural Discovery Y Tý homestay, and the homestay owner and the locals were very friendly and hospitable. I am very satisfied with my trip to Vietnam this time,” said Jakup.

More and more domestic and international tourists are coming to visit and experience Y Tý.

Ms. Nga and Mr. Jakup's feelings are shared by many tourists visiting Y Tý this spring. During the Lunar New Year of the Horse in 2026 alone, Y Tý commune welcomed nearly 5,000 visitors. Notably, the number of international tourists to Y Tý has increased significantly, signaling positive signs for the development of local tourism. According to statistics from the Y Tý Commune People's Committee, in the last five years, Y Tý's tourism has experienced breakthrough growth with over 122,000 visitors and total revenue exceeding 117 billion VND.

Tourism development is a breakthrough task.

Speaking with reporters, Mr. Nguyen Van Tai, Chairman of the People's Committee of Y Ty commune, shared: "When mentioning Y Ty - the most remote border commune in Lao Cai province - just about 10 years ago, it was still a desolate, difficult area, little known to many. But now, Y Ty has completely changed and is becoming an attractive tourist destination for visitors from near and far. Many people liken Y Ty to a 'fairytale land' because this land is blessed by nature with pristine natural scenery, majestic forests, and a cool climate all year round. In spring, peach blossoms bloom amidst fluffy white clouds; in winter, the snow covers everything beautifully, just like in Europe; in autumn, the golden terraced rice fields stretch out like a silk carpet amidst the mountains and forests."

The Ha Nhi ethnic people in Y Ty commune held a forest worship ceremony at the beginning of the new year, praying for a bountiful harvest and a prosperous life.

In particular, the Ha Nhi, Mong, and Dao ethnic groups here possess unique cultural identities and are the owners of many precious heritage values, such as the The Pa terraced rice fields, a national scenic spot; and national intangible cultural heritage including the Kho Gia Gia festival, the forest worship festival of the Ha Nhi and Dao people... In the villages of the Ha Nhi people such as Lao Chai, Choan Then, and Ta Gi Thang, there are still earthen houses with unique architecture, considered the "soul" of this land.

International tourists are impressed by the warmth and friendliness of the ethnic minority people in the highlands of Y Tý.

With its existing advantages and potential, over the years, the Party Committee and the government of Y Tý commune have proactively implemented many solutions to "awaken" the local tourism potential. In particular, since 2020, the People's Committee of Lao Cai province has approved the planning of Y Tý to become a future tourism city, with a core urban area of ​​over 3,100 hectares. Accordingly, the Y Tý tourism city is oriented into three functional zones: the Ngàn Năm zone focuses on preserving cultural heritage; the Ngàn Mây zone develops high-end eco-tourism resorts; and the Ngàn Sao zone is a modern and vibrant tourism city.

Preserving the traditional rammed-earth house architecture will create a unique character for the Y Tý region.

From July 2025, when the new Y Tý commune is established through the merger of the former Y Tý and A Lù communes, the two-tiered local government system will come into operation, opening a new chapter for the development of Y Tý. At the first Party Congress of Y Tý commune, for the 2025-2030 term, Y Tý commune identified its breakthrough task as developing tourism in a green, distinctive, and sustainable direction to help the people have a prosperous life. From there, the goal is to make Y Tý a unique tourist destination of the province and the nation.

Removing the "bottleneck" to develop tourism in Y Tý

In recent years, thanks to the attention of the Party and the State, Y Tý has gradually transformed itself, rising from one of the most disadvantaged communes in the province to become a new bright spot on the tourism map. Entering the new year 2026, new joy has come to Y Tý as the Bản Xèo - Mường Hum - Dền Sáng - Y Tý road has been basically completed, making travel more convenient for locals and tourists, shortening travel time from the old Lào Cai city to the center of Y Tý commune to just over 2 hours.

Furthermore, changes in accommodation regulations in border areas have created more favorable conditions for international tourists to visit and stay in Y Tý, opening a new chapter for the development of tourism in Y Tý. Currently, there are 21 accommodation establishments in Y Tý commune, including resorts, guesthouses, and homestays, basically meeting the accommodation needs of tourists. Y Tý commune has two villages recognized as community tourism destinations of the province: Lao Chải and Choản Thèn.

The Trinh Tuong - Y Ty road is severely degraded, causing many difficulties for locals and tourists traveling on it.

While pleased with the changes in the border region of Y Tý, Mr. Nguyen Van Tai, Chairman of the People's Committee of Y Tý commune, stated that alongside existing advantages, local tourism still faces three major "bottlenecks" that need to be addressed in the future. These are: inefficient transportation infrastructure, monotonous tourism products, and a tourism workforce with limited professional skills, foreign language proficiency, and a lack of professional tourism mindset.

The Resolution of the First Party Congress of Y Tý Commune, for the term 2025-2030, sets the goal of transforming Y Tý into a Type V tourist city by 2030, welcoming 500,000 visitors per year. To achieve this goal, along with the efforts of the local authorities, Y Tý Commune hopes that the Central Government and the province will prioritize investment capital to complete the basic infrastructure, especially the inter-regional connecting roads from Sa Pa and Trịnh Tường to Y Tý, and the urban waste treatment and clean water systems.

Y Tý commune organized a workshop to discuss solutions for developing tourism in a green, culturally distinctive, and sustainable direction.

Y Tý commune also hopes that the central and provincial governments will have specific policies to provide financial support for people to preserve ancient rammed-earth houses and terraced rice fields. At the same time, they hope for a "red carpet" mechanism to attract large economic corporations to invest in key projects such as golf courses and high-end resorts, in line with the approved three-zone planning; and support for specialized tourism vocational training programs specifically for ethnic minority youth in the locality so that they can truly be the main actors in the development of their homeland.

Y Tý commune hopes that the central and provincial governments will pay attention to and prioritize investment capital to complete the basic infrastructure in order to create a breakthrough in tourism development.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tai, Chairman of the People's Committee of Y Ty commune, affirmed: Y Ty is a land that possesses many unique values ​​and rich potential for tourism development that few other places have. With the determination of the commune's Party committee, government, and people, and the attention and support from the central and provincial governments, Y Ty tourism will certainly have the momentum to develop breakthroughs, creating a core competitive advantage and becoming a key tourism area of ​​the province and the nation in the future.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/go-nut-that-de-du-lich-y-ty-phat-trien-post894423.html