When mentioning Van Chan, the first thing many tourists think of is Shan Tuyet tea. During the New Year's holiday in 2026, Suoi Giang village – the "capital" of Shan Tuyet tea – continued to be a popular destination for many tourists. Ms. Nguyen Xuan Hong, a tourist from Hanoi, shared: "I was truly captivated by the ancient tea trees and the scenery as well as the culture of the Mong people here."
With 950 hectares of tea plantations, including 500 hectares of Shan Tuyet tea, tea cultivation is not only an important livelihood for thousands of households, but Suoi Giang tea products are also a source of pride for the local people and the province. Currently, 13 tea products from Van Chan have received OCOP certification, including 10 products that have achieved OCOP 4-star standard.
Along with its strengths in tea cultivation, Van Chan is also blessed with natural hot springs – an important factor for developing resort tourism .
The Huong Kim homestay, owned by the Sa Van Huong family, stands out with its hot spring baths, traditional Thai herbal baths, and ethnic cuisine . Each year, the homestay welcomes approximately 700 overnight guests and thousands of visitors seeking unique experiences. Besides providing a stable income, this model also contributes to promoting local culture.
Not far from there, Hoang Thi Thu Hoai's Giap Hoai Homestay, with dozens of bathrooms and 9 bungalows, can accommodate 120 guests at once. Each year, the establishment attracts thousands of visitors, creating jobs for dozens of local workers.
Ms. Hoai shared: “Taking advantage of our cultural identity, mineral springs, and with the support of the government, my family and many other households in the village have chosen to invest in community-based tourism. Community-based tourism not only increases income but also helps preserve the culture of our Thai people.”
Furthermore, Van Chan also has the potential to develop organic agriculture linked to tourism. A typical example is the strawberry farming model combined with experiential tourism implemented by Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hieu's family in Ha Thinh village. With 5,000 m² of land, the model generates revenue of approximately 400 million VND per year, with a net profit of hundreds of millions of VND.
Ms. Hieu shared: "Through research and learning from experience, I realized that this place could combine organic farming with ecotourism, so I decided to invest. Tourists can both visit and experience harvesting products, creating a unique experience."
By 2025, the total number of visitors to Van Chan for sightseeing and relaxation is expected to exceed 143,400; revenue from tourism activities is projected to reach 129 billion VND.
Alongside the achievements, it must be frankly acknowledged that Van Chan's potential and strengths have not been exploited to their full potential. Local tourism revenue remains modest; tourism infrastructure, especially transportation in mountainous areas, is still lacking in uniformity; community-based tourism models are not developing evenly, and service quality is not high. Organic agriculture is still in its early stages; the certified area is small and insufficient for large-scale export. There is a shortage of high-quality human resources for agricultural tourism; regional and value chain linkages are not yet strong... These are the "bottlenecks" that need to be addressed to transform potential into driving forces for development.
The Resolution of the First Party Congress of Van Chan Commune, term 2025-2030, identifies "Breakthrough development of tourism economy associated with organic agriculture and local culture" as one of the three key priorities.
Comrade Hoang Thi Hue - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Van Chan commune, said: The goal by 2030 is for the commune's tourism revenue to reach 370 billion VND, with approximately 20% of the working-age population participating directly or indirectly in the tourism industry, contributing to raising the average per capita income to over 50 million VND/person/year.
Van Chan commune will continue to focus on planning the development of eco-tourism and organic agricultural areas with regional linkages. It will promote the development of transportation infrastructure by expanding access roads to tourist destinations, building bridges over the Nhi stream, investing in electricity and water systems, and waste treatment, ensuring a green, clean, and beautiful environment. Emphasis will also be placed on digital infrastructure with the goal of providing 4G/5G coverage throughout the commune, installing free Wi-Fi at tourist spots, and building a "Market 4.0" connecting e-commerce.
To maximize the potential and strengths of agriculture, the commune continues to implement mechanisms and policies to encourage production facilities, cooperatives, and farming households to improve the quality of tourism products. The goal is to have at least 34 OCOP products rated 3 stars or higher, including one 5-star product from Shan Tuyet tea. Households and cooperatives are encouraged to apply traceability technology using QR codes, meeting export standards.
Cultural identity – a key attraction for tourists – will continue to be a focus, with efforts concentrated on developing each village and ethnic group into a cultural destination featuring traditional architecture, cuisine, festivals, and unique handicrafts. Annual festivals such as the Shan Tuyet Tea Festival and the Gau Tao Festival will be organized. Simultaneously, attention will be paid to opening training courses on service skills, homestay management, and tour guiding, and encouraging local youth to participate in the tourism industry.
"We established the Hot Spring Tourism Cooperative to link hot spring resorts, community homestays, organic farming experiences, and ethnic cuisine," said Ms. Hoang Thi Thu Hoai, owner of Giap Hoai Homestay.
A crucial factor in the success of tourism development in each locality is not working in isolation, but rather through collaboration and promotion. Therefore, in addition to implementing production-consumption linkages; intra-regional linkages within communes; and expanding markets through intensified promotion on digital platforms, social media, and e-commerce sites, Van Chan will connect with key tourist destinations in the province and the Northwest region such as Mu Cang Chai, Tram Tau, Nghia Lo, and Sa Pa; and cooperate with travel agencies to promote its image to provinces nationwide and internationally.
From ancient tea trees shrouded in mist, warm hot springs, to organic farming areas, and with the unwavering determination of the Party committee, government, and people, Van Chan district is sure to become one of the most attractive destinations in Lao Cai and the Northwest region. Tourism here promises to continue contributing to changing the landscape and bringing prosperity to the people.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/van-chan-phat-huy-the-manh-du-lich-post894283.html
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