Lai Chau launches Tourism - Culture Week and Marathon 2025

The 2nd Lai Chau Tourism - Culture Week and Marathon will take place from November 28 to 30, 2025 in the old Lai Chau city area (Lai Chau province). With the theme "Returning to the majestic Lai Chau peaks", this is a series of large-scale cultural - culinary - sports activities; in which, the Marathon attracts more than 1,500 athletes to participate.

On the morning of November 20, in Lai Chau, the Organizing Committee of the Tourism - Culture Week and the 2nd Lai Chau Marathon in 2025 held a press conference to announce the event program. The press conference attracted the participation of media agencies, representatives of departments and branches, and many reporters from inside and outside the province.

At the press conference, Mr. Luu Hong Phuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, emphasized that the Tourism - Culture Week and Lai Chau Marathon are not only annual cultural and sports activities of the province but also an important task to concretize Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU of the Provincial Party Committee on preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural identities of ethnic groups, associated with sustainable tourism development in the period of 2021 - 2025, with a vision to 2030.

Scene of the press conference.

Mr. Luu Hong Phuong said that the 2nd Lai Chau Tourism - Culture Week and Marathon will be held from November 28 to 30, 2025, at the provincial level, taking place at the People's Square and cultural spaces in the center of Lai Chau city. This is an opportunity to widely promote the image of people, nature, culture and unique tourism products of the Northwest mountainous region.

With the theme “Returning to the majestic Lai Chau peaks”, the series of events is expected to create a strong influence, attracting businesses, investors, and travel companies to research and cooperate in tourism development. In particular, the 2nd Lai Chau Marathon continues to be considered a highlight, not only attracting domestic athletes but also promoting the wild routes and majestic landscapes of Lai Chau, while spreading the spirit of sports to the community.

A corner of Lai Chau city (old) at night. Photo: Dao Tien Dung.

The organizers said that during the three days of the event, visitors will experience many cultural, artistic, sports and culinary activities. At the Lai Chau Provincial People's Square (located in Tan Phong and Doan Ket wards, Lai Chau province), a large-scale exhibition and culinary space system will introduce OCOP products, local agricultural products and traditional dishes of Lai Chau ethnic groups; from thang co, cap nach (armpit pig), bamboo-tube rice to typical teas and leaf-fermented wine.

Cultural spaces are set up in 9 areas to recreate the lives, customs, crafts, folk games and traditional festivals of ethnic groups living in Lai Chau such as Thai, Mong, Dao, Ha Nhi, Cong, Lao, Lu and Giay... Visitors can directly experience folk games, try making traditional handicrafts and learn about the unique cultural life of ethnic groups.

In addition, the Tea - Ginseng - Orchid area with an area of ​​about 400m2 will give visitors the opportunity to enjoy and learn the art of making tea, as well as discover the unique products of the Northwest mountains. The tourism photo exhibition is arranged right in the square with 100 to 200 works, along with a modern check-in point, promising to be a place to attract visitors to visit, take photos and keep memories of the trip.

San Thang night market, Tan Phong ward (Lai Chau province). Photo: Vu Duc Huy.

The art programs are also designed in a variety of ways, from the Vietnam - China - Laos cultural exchange, to the performance of traditional costumes of Lai Chau ethnic groups. The Pa Vi Ancient Stone Road Marathon in Sin Suoi Ho, the first Lai Chau Province Pickleball Tournament, and famtrips to explore local landscapes such as Nam Luc Waterfall in Phang So Lin Commune are attractive sports and cultural activities. This year's organizers pay special attention to the careful arrangement of security, medical, logistics and technical support to ensure a safe and convenient experience for residents and visitors.

The 2nd Lai Chau Marathon with the theme “Call of the Great Forest, Steps of Aspiration”, took place on the morning of November 30 from 5am to 11am. Up to now, the tournament has had more than 1,500 athletes registered to participate. The athletes competed in 4 distances: 42km, 21km, 10km, 5.6km. The technical area at Nhan Dan Square was arranged with the starting and finishing gates, bib distribution area, medical area, referee area, luggage storage and working area for the press.

This event not only affirms Lai Chau as a destination for athletes, but also introduces the natural landscape, majestic mountain roads and sportsmanship of the community.

Lai Chau Tourism - Culture Week 2025 also organizes many accompanying activities such as awarding the Photo Contest and travel clips, contributing to creating connections and opening up opportunities for tourism and trade cooperation between localities at home and abroad. The OCOP space and agricultural products with 32 booths of domestic provinces and neighboring countries Laos and China will be a highlight of border trade exchanges, bringing opportunities to learn and experience local products.

Communication work is also focused on broadcasting on television, electronic newspapers, social networks and a system of billboards and banners at key tourist destinations. The organizing committee emphasizes the goal of spreading information widely, introducing the image of Lai Chau as a safe, friendly destination, rich in cultural identity and unique experiences.

With unique and large-scale activities, Lai Chau Tourism - Culture Week 2025 promises to bring visitors unique cultural, culinary, sports and commercial experiences, while affirming Lai Chau's position on the Northwest tourism map. The event is not only an opportunity to promote traditional cultural values ​​but also opens up prospects for sustainable tourism development, contributing to improving people's lives and connecting ethnic communities in the northern border mountainous region.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/lai-chau-khoi-dong-tuan-du-lich-van-hoa-va-giai-marathon-2025-post1798231.tpo