Lai Chau develops tourism based on its unique identity.

Blessed with majestic natural landscapes and a rich cultural heritage, Lai Chau is developing green tourism and experiential tourism, aiming for sustainable livelihoods for its highland people.

From being considered a " tourism backwater" in Northwest Vietnam, Lai Chau is demonstrating its determination to create a new transformation with its own unique approach: developing tourism based on pristine nature, indigenous culture, and community experiences.

According to the tourism development plan for the period 2026-2030, the province has determined that tourism is not just a service sector but will become a comprehensive economic sector, contributing to promoting culture, agriculture, trade, and livelihoods for people in the highlands.

A panoramic view of the O Quy Ho Heaven's Gate tourist area shimmering in the night mist, a highlight of tourism, relaxation, and experiences on the top of O Quy Ho Pass, Lai Chau . Photo: Pham Hoai.

Currently, Lai Chau province has 25 recognized tourist areas and destinations. Many products have made a mark on tourists, such as Sin Suoi Ho, Si Thau Chai, Rong May Glass Bridge, O Quy Ho Pass, etc. In the period 2021-2025, Lai Chau welcomes over 5 million tourists, with tourism revenue reaching more than 3,800 billion VND.

Notably, the province has not opted for mass development. Instead, Lai Chau focuses on building "unique, distinctive, and branded" products, leveraging its cultural identity and natural resources as competitive advantages. Positioning itself as "Lai Chau - Magnificent and Distinctive" is seen as a promising direction for the locality to create its own unique mark on the Northwest tourism map.

Lai Chau's greatest advantage lies in its pristine natural landscape. The province boasts many famous mountain peaks such as Pu Si Lung, Pu Ta Leng, Bach Moc Luong Tu, Ta Lien Son, etc., attracting a large number of tourists who enjoy trekking, exploration, and adventure tourism.

In addition, destinations such as O Quy Ho Pass, Rong May Glass Bridge, Pu Sam Cap Cave, and community-based tourism villages are contributing to extending the travel experience for tourists visiting Lai Chau.

The Dragon Cloud Glass Bridge on top of O Quy Ho Pass is a prominent tourist highlight of Lai Chau, attracting visitors with the experience of cloud hunting amidst the majestic mountain scenery of Northwest Vietnam. Photo: ST

Beyond simply exploiting its landscapes, Lai Chau also focuses on preserving the "soul" of tourism by conserving the traditional culture of its ethnic minority communities. With 20 ethnic groups living in the area, Lai Chau is considered a melting pot of cultural identities. In community-based tourism villages such as Sin Suoi Ho, Si Thau Chai, and Vang Pheo, the people proactively restore and maintain cultural activities, beautify the landscape, develop homestays, and preserve traditional crafts and local cuisine to serve tourists.

Ms. Do Thi Tuyen, Head of the Tourism Management Department of the Lai Chau Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: In recent years, community tourism has opened up a new economic development direction for many highland localities. From mainly relying on agricultural production, people now have additional income from homestay services, selling agricultural products, brocade products, and organizing cultural experience activities. Along with economic benefits, tourism also contributes to raising people's awareness of preserving ethnic identity, from clothing and festivals to traditional customs and practices.

According to many travel businesses, current tourism trends are shifting strongly towards experiencing nature, relaxing, and exploring local culture. This presents an opportunity for Lai Chau to leverage its unique advantages, especially since many destinations still retain their pristine beauty.

The entrance gate to the Sì Thâu Chải community tourism village – a highlight attracting tourists on their journey to explore green tourism in Lai Châu. Photo: Thanh Hương.

Besides community-based tourism and adventure tourism, Lai Chau province is also aiming to link tourism with agriculture and local products. Areas with ancient tea trees, medicinal herbs, macadamia nuts, or hydroelectric reservoirs are expected to become new experiential spaces for tourists.

In its new development orientation, Lai Chau particularly emphasizes the element of "green and sustainable." Tourism development must go hand in hand with the conservation of natural resources, the preservation of cultural identity, and the creation of livelihoods for local communities. This is also a way for the people to become the direct beneficiaries of tourism.

Along with infrastructure investment, transportation, and digital transformation, Lai Chau is gradually promoting its image as a destination on digital platforms and social media to reach young tourists and expand its market.

From a land known for its rugged roads and majestic mountains, Lai Chau today is opening up a new path for the tourism industry. A path based on cultural identity, valuing experiences, and aiming for sustainable development amidst the vast Northwest region.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/lai-chau-phat-develop-tourism-from-unique-ethnic-cultures-d814250.html