As in previous years, Sa Pa kicks off its tourism season with a vibrant series of festivals celebrating the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The highlight of these festivals lies in the rich cultural performances deeply rooted in Sa Pa’s ethnic traditions, performed by local residents themselves.
Sa Pa promotes tourism through cultural identity.
Ranked among the “Top 50 Most Beautiful Destinations in the World 2024” by Times Travel, Sa Pa is renowned for the untouched beauty of the Hoàng Liên Sơn mountain range, its picturesque terraced rice fields, the rich culture of its highland ethnic communities, unique cuisine, and exciting year-round tourism experiences at Mount Fansipan.
Sa Pa has become a “attractive destination” in northern Vietnam, especially during public holidays, the beginning of summer, and year-end seasons, thanks to an array of unprecedented festivals and services.
Opening of Rose Festival in the center of Sa Pa. Photo: Q.Lien
The upcoming 2025 festival and event series in Lào Cai promises to make the “foggy city” of Sa Pa one of the most sought-after destinations in northern Vietnam this year. A summer trip to Sa Pa is not only a way to cool off the body but also a spiritual balm for the soul. Amid the hustle and bustle of modern life and the suffocating heat, let Sa Pa embrace you in its cool mist, the sound of murmuring streams, and the tranquil rhythm of the highlands.
In the heart of summer, Sa Pa is not just a place to cool the body, but a gentle remedy for the soul. Amid the hurried pace of life and the suffocating heat, let Sa Pa cradle you in its tender mist, the whispering streams, and the tranquil heartbeat of the mountains.
When the sweltering summer days blanket the North, Sa Pa - the misty town of Lao Cai Province - becomes an ideal getaway to escape the heat and enjoy the cool, fresh air of the northwestern mountains. Photo: Q.Lien
With the goal of comprehensively boosting tourism and attracting more visitors - especially during the cloud-hunting season - Sa Pa continuously refreshes its festivals while maintaining strong ties to the cultural identity of the highlands. Through relentless efforts to tap into its cultural and natural potential, Sa Pa seeks to bring its magnificent landscape and unique culture closer to both domestic and international travelers. These initiatives also aim to honor ethnic cultural values, promote sports and recreation, and offer visitors authentic, deeply emotional experiences, thus raising Sa Pa’s status on the tourism map of Vietnam and the world.
This summer: “chase clouds”, see flowers, and reach the sacred peak of Fansipan
During the Lunar New Year holiday (February 2025) and the April 30 - May 1 holiday, visitors to Sa Pa were immersed in the lively atmosphere of spring and summer festivals.
Rose garden at Muong Hoa station. Photo: Q.Lien
The centerpiece was the Rose Festival organized by Sun World Fansipan Legend. With the theme “Radiance Amid the Clouds,” this summer-long event dazzled visitors with a stunning rose garden set against the majestic backdrop of the Northwest mountains.
The festival also featured traditional folk games for locals and tourists alike, taking place in central Sa Pa and at the Ethnic Cultural Park. Additionally, there were sporting events such as the men’s and women’s soft volleyball tournaments and the Fansipan Cup Pickleball Spring Series under the theme “Spring Vitality”.
Succulent plants used to decorate the path leading up to Fansipan. Photo: Q.Lien
On September and October, Sa Pa enters its cloud-hunting season - considered one of the most beautiful times of the year and perfect for outdoor adventures. From the summit of Fansipan - the “Roof of Indochina” - visitors can marvel at a dreamy sea of clouds gently floating around the Hoàng Liên Sơn mountain range, creating a surreal, heavenly landscape.
You’ll spot this charming succulent at various scenic spots throughout Sa Pa, adding a touch of greenery to the town’s mountain charm. Photo: Q.Lien
Sa Pa boasts several other ideal cloud-hunting spots such as Ô Quy Hồ Pass, Hang Đá Village, Sâu Chua Village, and Heaven’s Gate. Starting in November, a series of vibrant festivals and events will be held in Sa Pa, offering visitors unique emotions and experiences exclusive to the highlands.
At the Succulent Festival, which runs through the end of 2025 at the Fansipan tourism complex, travelers will be treated to a display of thousands of succulent plants from 50 unique species, including pink succulents, “snow” succulents, “jade” succulents, orange-yellow succulents, cabbage-like succulents, Sa Pa green succulents, butterfly-wing succulents, cherry blossom succulents, and more.
At the Sa Pa market, you’ll discover a charming variety of succulents-each one a tiny piece of the misty mountains to take home. Photo: Q.Lien
At the Fansipan cable car departure station, visitors will be captivated by a unique “Succulent Tower” made up of 3,143 green succulents, symbolizing the height of Fansipan - the highest peak in Indochina (3,143 meters). This festival is not just a botanical exhibition symbolizing resilience but also a vibrant art space featuring captivating Northwest dances, traditional folk performances, modern art shows, “tò he” (toy figurine) sculpting, and a creative succulent-themed painting camp.
In 2024, Lào Cai’s tourism sector welcomed approximately 8 million visitors, generating revenues of 2.793 billion VND (up 12.4% compared to the previous year).
Of these, Sa Pa alone attracted around 4.4 million visitors and earned total revenue of 15.5 trillion VND - an increase of 2.793 billion VND over 2023. Also in 2024, Sa Pa was named one of the Top 10 Trending Destinations in the World by leading global travel platform Tripadvisor. A local tourism complex was also recognized as “World’s Leading Nature Scenic Destination 2024”.
Text and Photo: Q.Lien
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