Lao Cai promotes winter tourism potential

VTV.vn - Lao Cai's winter is magical with a sea of ​​clouds, ice and brilliant To Day flowers, attracting tourists to explore the charming nature and culture of the Northwest highlands.

When the first cold winds of the season begin to blow in, creeping through each Northwestern mountain, Lao Cai gradually puts on a new, mysterious, quiet and captivating coat. Winter here is not only a transitional moment of nature but also a special tourist season, attracting millions of domestic and foreign tourists to experience the majestic beauty of the highlands and the unique culture of the highland people.

Ideal weather for adventures

Winter in Lao Cai has its own beauty, gentle and poetic. Daytime temperatures fluctuate around 20 degrees Celsius, the evenings are chilly, sometimes below 10 degrees, creating a pleasant feeling for tourists looking for the quiet and fresh air of the mountainous region.

Tourists conquer high mountain peaks.

This is also the ideal time to conquer the famous mountain peaks of Vietnam. Fansipan, the "roof of Indochina" at 3,143m high, is a destination not to be missed. With a modern cable car system, visitors can easily reach the top of the mountain, where white clouds float around the majestic Hoang Lien Son range. The feeling of standing in the middle of a sea of ​​clouds, breathing in the pure air of the Northwest makes anyone fall in love.

Adventurous tourists choose to trek through pristine mountain routes such as Ta Xua, Ta Chi Nhu, Lung Cung or Ngu Chi Son. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung, a tour guide in Sa Pa with 15 years of experience, shared: "Winter is the best season to explore the Northwest. There is no more rain, the air is cool, the scenery is fresh and deep. Tourists who go trekking at this time often have the most complete experience."

A distinctive touch of the cold season

From November to February, Lao Cai enters the season of dense fog. The landscape is hazy and hazy like in a watercolor painting. Sa Pa, Y Ty or Bac Ha these days are covered in a white mist, only the silhouettes of stilt houses, tiled roofs, and rows of trees appear and disappear in the hazy smoke - a beauty that captivates many tourists and photographers.

The brilliant cherry blossom road in Sa Pa (Lao Cai) in early winter attracts tourists to check-in and enjoy the poetic scenery in the middle of the Northwest mountains and forests.

During the cold spells, frost and hoarfrost cover the slopes of Fansipan, Y Ty, Mu Cang Chai or Lao Chai mountains in white. The whole highland suddenly turns into a "miniature Europe" in the heart of Vietnam. Tran Duc Huy, a landscape photographer, said: "Every year I go to Y Ty to hunt for frost. Sometimes I wait many days to find the best moment. But just seeing the forest covered in white frost, that feeling is truly worth it."

In particular, December is also the season when To Day flowers bloom, the symbolic flower of winter in the highlands. In Mu Cang Chai, Pung Luong, Lao Chai, the brilliant purple rose canopies seem to warm up the cold space.

Highland market - where cultural identity converges

Coming to Lao Cai in winter, visitors cannot miss the highland markets - a typical cultural activity of the Mong, Dao, Tay, and Nung ethnic groups. Bac Ha market and Can Cau market are two prominent destinations.

Here, people from faraway villages bring agricultural products, brocade, and livestock to buy, sell, and exchange. The whole market is bustling with laughter, the sound of Mong flutes, and people calling each other in the cold, humid smoke of the early morning. On the stalls are colorful dresses, brocade scarves, and steaming pots of thang co.

Ethnic women in the highlands skillfully wrap five-color sticky rice - a traditional dish with the rich flavor of the mountains and forests, sold at Lao Cai markets.

Realizing the great potential of cold-season tourism, Lao Cai authorities and local businesses have been investing heavily in infrastructure and services. The traffic system, parking lots, resorts, and homestays have been upgraded; local experience programs are organized systematically, associated with cultural and environmental conservation.

Mr. Tran Van Quang, representative of Lao Cai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: "The province's goal is to build autumn-winter tourism into a unique brand of Lao Cai. We aim to develop sustainable tourism, both effectively exploiting natural landscapes and preserving cultural identity." At the same time, the province also promotes tourism through digital platforms, organizes cultural and artistic events such as Sa Pa Winter Festival, Bac Ha Cultural Tourism Week, creating highlights to attract domestic and international tourists.

A journey full of memorable experiences

With its fresh climate, breathtaking scenery and unique culture, Lao Cai winter is becoming the most attractive destination in Vietnam. This place not only offers a journey to explore majestic nature but also opens up a profound cultural experience, where visitors feel the warmth of the highland people in the cold mountains and forests.

From the sea of ​​clouds on Fansipan peak to the bright smiles of Mong women in the market, from the icy scene in Y Ty to the pink color of To Day flowers, all blend together to create a charming Lao Cai winter, both romantic and imbued with Vietnamese identity.

Source: https://vtv.vn/lao-cai-phat-huy-tiem-nang-du-lich-mua-dong-100251101215312769.htm