Unlocking tourism potential from cultural heritage treasures

Stepping through the doors of Lao Cai Provincial Museum, visitors seem to be lost in the memories of a land where people have lived for thousands of years. Amidst the light and colors, each bronze drum, stone axe, and ancient costume is clearly illuminated. Each artifact does not seem to lie still behind a glass case but comes alive to tell the story of the past with the breath of the present.

Ethnic costumes on display at Lao Cai Provincial Museum attract tourists.

Moreover, beyond the role of preserving ancient values, Lao Cai Provincial Museum is becoming a meeting place for new experiences. Through interactive exhibition models and tour guides' explanations, history becomes closer, making each visit a journey of discovery . That space helps viewers "touch" history with emotions and intuition.

Ms. Vo Bich Hanh, a tourist from Ha Tinh province, shared: "This is the first time I have seen ancient artifacts such as bronze axes and bronze jars with my own eyes and heard about how ancient people lived and worked. I was really moved by the collection of ethnic costumes of Lao Cai province. It feels like I am walking in the middle of history, not just watching an exhibition."

Leaving the quiet space of the museum, visitors will encounter another Lao Cai, where the heritage does not stop at display but is moving, stepping into the lives of the highland villages. Currently, Lao Cai has 64 craft villages, traditional craft villages, traditional occupations. Of which, there are 23 craft villages, 19 traditional craft villages, 22 traditional occupations. Many craft villages and traditional occupations have been and are joining the pace of tourism development.

Coming to Sa Pa ward, Cat Cat community tourism village will take visitors lost in the colors of traditional brocade weaving. Coming to Si Ma Cai commune, the aroma of corn wine with leaf yeast of the craft village spreads in the air, attracting visitors. In Mu Cang Chai commune, Mong people still diligently make panpipes - a traditional musical instrument that conveys the soul of the mountains and forests into each melody, turning heritage sounds into an attractive connecting thread for visitors with indigenous culture.

In Yen Thanh commune, the skillful hands of the people still regularly weave shrimp baskets, turning the old profession by Thac Ba lake into a unique experience product in community tours. Each village, each traditional profession, each person tells the story of their homeland through the sound of the panpipe, dance, patterns on their clothes and hospitable smiles.

In addition, cultural heritage also shines in Lao Cai community life through dozens of annual folk festivals such as the Gau Tao festival of the Mong people, the 12 zodiac festival of the Dao people, and the going-to-the-field festival of the Tay people...

Each festival is an opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the rhythm of life in the mountainous region, where sounds, colors, beliefs and humanity blend together. Amidst the bustling sounds of the Mong flute and the vibrant colors of the indigo shirts, locals and visitors hold hands, connecting the present with the past with joy and pride.

Festivals are the “stage” of culture, the bridge to develop community tourism where people are both creators and preservers of identity. In particular, thanks to linking traditional culture with tourism, the lives of local people are more prosperous.

Ms. Hoang Thi Xoi - owner of Xoi Farmstay in Lam Thuong commune is one of the typical examples. Having studied at university in Hanoi and worked as a tour guide for more than three years taking tourists all over the country, Ms. Xoi decided to return to her hometown and renovate her family's house to develop experiential tourism.

Ms. Xoi shared: "Returning, I want to preserve the traditional beauty that I witnessed in my childhood. When tourists come, they can participate in the daily lives of the local people such as growing vegetables, harvesting rice, picking bamboo shoots and cooking traditional dishes. The greatest joy is seeing tourists surprised and delighted, and the locals proud of their culture. Tourism has brought income and at the same time become a bridge to help memories, values and identity come to life."

For sustainable development, Lao Cai is implementing a tourism strategy associated with culture and heritage. At the same time, the provincial culture, sports and tourism sector is also promoting digital transformation, building 360-degree virtual tours, creating QR codes at relics, and putting heritage images on digital platforms for widespread promotion.

Thanks to that, in the first 9 months of 2025, the whole province welcomed 8.7 million tourists, with revenue from tourism activities reaching over 35,970 billion VND.

What is more valuable is that the awareness of preserving, conserving and developing heritage in the community is increasingly raised. People understand that when preserving culture, they are preserving their own livelihood.

From the ancient stone slabs in Muong Hoa to the brocade weaving looms in the small villages, from the bustling flute rhythms in the Gau Tao festival to the passionate xoe dance by the firelight of Muong Lo, all are creating a Lao Cai that is both ancient and fresh. There, tourists come to admire the scenery and to listen to the land tell stories, to listen to people tell history.

It can be seen that, by exploiting the potential of cultural heritage, Lao Cai is finding its own direction for sustainable tourism, developing without losing its identity, modernizing while still preserving the ancient soul.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/khai-mo-tiem-nang-du-lich-tu-kho-tang-di-san-van-hoa-post885119.html