The merger of Yen Bai and Lao Cai provinces to form a new province is a major, strategic policy of the Central Government to create a new growth pole for the Northern Midlands and Mountains region.
For the tourism sector, this is an important turning point, creating many great opportunities but posing many challenges that need to be identified and resolved synchronously.
Bright spot of green tourism future
Lao Cai province will own a new “heritage belt,” from Fansipan peak to Thac Ba lake - a series of prominent destinations such as Sa Pa, Bac Ha, Mu Cang Chai, Suoi Giang, Muong Lo… with majestic landscapes, unique cultural identity and climatic advantages.
According to the Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Tourism Association Cao Thi Ngoc Lan, with favorable natural conditions, special geographical advantages, a place where majestic landscapes converge with rich and diverse cultural identities and the hospitality of the people, Lao Cai - Yen Bai promises to become a locality with great potential after the merger to become a bright spot in green tourism in Vietnam and the region.
Yen Bai is the "gateway" to the Northwest region and is located on the majestic Hoang Lien Son range, with pristine landscapes and a fresh, cool climate.
The famous family travel site Wanderlust Storytellers ranked Vietnam's Mu Cang Chai first in a list of 25 destinations in the world with unrealistic beauty, praising "Mu Cang Chai as one of the most beautiful destinations in Vietnam."
Mu Cang Chai is also home to many hiking routes and boasts a unique local culture.
The terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai were once included in the list of 50 most beautiful destinations in the world in 2020 by Big 7 Travel magazine.
Tram Tau leaves an impression on visitors with the image of rugged, majestic mountains, magnificent terraced fields, towering mountain slopes with forests stretching to the horizon and charming villages at the foot of the mountains in the clouds. The natural beauty makes this place look like a paradise on earth. Conquering the towering peaks of Tram Tau is one of the interesting experiences.
On that route, Ta Xua peak, considered the "dinosaur's nest" of the Northwest region, offers visitors memorable experiences.
In Lao Cai alone, in recent years, the locality has issued many policies and orientations to plan for the development of green and sustainable tourism, while creatively and flexibly applying appropriate solutions to promote the tourism industry in this direction, based on three main pillars: environment, economy and society.
In which, the environment is the foundation, the core, to protect and preserve the natural beauty, the factor that creates the unique attraction for Lao Cai tourism; the economy is the resource to maintain activities, develop services and improve community life; and society is the building of local communities, preserving traditional culture, raising awareness of people and tourists, helping tourists have authentic, emotional and meaningful experiences on each destination journey.
Standing Vice Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee Hoang Quoc Khanh affirmed that the province flexibly applies this principle when building and implementing tourism development plans, orienting the construction of green models and destinations associated with types of eco-tourism and community tourism, combining the protection of natural landscapes, ecological environment and promoting and honoring cultural values, creating sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
Typical examples include Topas Ecolodge Resort, which was voted one of the 50 unique resorts in the world; Fansipan Legend Cable Car Resort of Sun Group Corporation, which was awarded the "World's Leading Cultural Tourist Area 2023" and "World's Leading Natural Landscape Tourist Area 2023"; the community tourism model in Ta Van and Cat Cat villages was recognized by the Southeast Asian Tourism Association, both preserving natural beauty and building friendly products and services, contributing to improving people's lives.
Sa Pa is in the top 16 most beautiful towns in the world voted by Time Out magazine (UK) with Hoang Lien National Park - ASEAN Heritage Park...
According to the Standing Vice President of the Vietnam Tourism Association, Cao Thi Ngoc Lan, in order to develop green tourism products, the two provinces after the merger need to have a resonance in the commitment of responsibility from local authorities, businesses, communities, especially tourists. In addition, it is necessary to train human resources to serve green tourism.
Ensuring harmonious development
With the combined strength of the two localities, it is expected that by 2030, Lao Cai province will welcome about 16.5 million visitors, with tourism revenue estimated at 74.8 trillion VND, becoming a key economic sector, contributing significantly to the province's GRDP growth.
To realize that, the local tourism industry needs strategic thinking, drastic action, sustainable development and preserving the identity of each region and destination.
On the top of Ta Xua. (Source: Vietnam+)
Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Yen Bai province, Vu Thi Mai Oanh, stated that the new province after the merger has a great advantage in attracting investment and developing synchronous tourism infrastructure. With the increased socio-economic scale, population and budget, the capacity to mobilize investment resources will be enhanced.
In particular, the transportation system is and will continue to be strongly connected: Noi Bai-Lao Cai Expressway, the expressway connecting Nghia Lo-Tram Tau-Sa Pa in the near future, Sa Pa airport, Thac Ba lake waterway... helping the tourism industry access a larger customer market, and at the same time located on the Kunming-Hanoi-Hai Phong economic corridor, is an ideal condition for developing typical tourism products associated with international tourism.
In particular, this is also an opportunity to develop Lao Cai tourism into a "Dynamic tourism center of the Northern mountainous region" associated with the strategy of "Red River Prosperity Axis" and build a high-quality tourism cluster "Sa Pa-Bac Ha-Nghia Lo - Mu Cang Chai-Suoi Giang."
Ms. Vu Thi Mai Oanh commented that along with opportunities are significant challenges because Yen Bai and Lao Cai have different strengths. Lao Cai stands out with international tourism, high-end resorts and tourist cities such as Sa Pa; while Yen Bai strongly develops eco-tourism, community tourism associated with indigenous culture, so unifying orientation, dividing functions and ensuring harmonious development is an urgent requirement, requiring a synchronous, scientific approach with a clear roadmap.
According to Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai province, Tran Son Binh, the merger of Lao Cai and Yen Bai creates many new development potentials for the tourism industry. However, to be successful, there needs to be close coordination between functional agencies, businesses and local communities.
After the merger, the new province needs to quickly build a common institutional and policy system to synchronize and develop tourism.
Researching and applying effective management models will be the decisive factor for the sustainable development of the tourism industry in this linked region./.
According to Vietnamplus
Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/hop-nhat-lao-cai-va-yen-bai-trien-vong-tich-cuc-phat-trien-du-lich-xanh-20250611105058023.htm
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