Lao Cai Tours & Excursions

Lao Cai is a mountainous province near the international border gate with an area of 6383.89 square kilometers, shares the borders with Ha Giang in the East, Son La and Lai Chau provinces in the West, Yen Bai province in the South and Yunnan Province (China) in the North. Lao Cai has the population of 761.9 thousand inhabitants and is also the homeland of major ethnic groups of the country such as Viet (Kinh), H’Mong, Tay, Dao, Thai, etc.

Lao Cai is an ancient land; its terrain appearance was formed 50 to 60 million years ago. More than ten thousand years ago, the human were present here. During the Hung Vuong period, Lao Cai province located in Tan Hung, an economic and political center in the Red River upstream. When making the map, the French wrote Lao Cai as Lao Kay. The noun “Lao Kay” was used in the text and the seal. However, in the folk communication, people still called Lao Cai. After Lao Cai province was liberated (November 1950), the name “Lao Cai” was uniformly called to this day.

With more than 25 ethnic groups, Lao Cai has become the abundant land in the cultural identity, the historical tradition and cultural heritage. The rich in the lives of ethnic people has created the unique identity of Lao Cai. As a mountainous province, Lao Cai province still keeps the diverse and clean environmental landscape. This is an important factor to create an ideal tourist destination for domestic and international tourists.

The natural gifts for Lao Cai many famous scenic spots as Sapa, Bac Ha, Bat Xat, Muong Khuong… In particular, Sapa is one of 21 national tourist destinations of Vietnam. The district is located on the average altitude of 1200m – 1800m; has cool climate year round and the landscape of stone mountains and waterfalls. This is also the home to many traditional cultural activities of the ethnic minorities such as mountainous markets, Sapa love market. 

Hoang Lien Son mountain range has Fansipan peak – the roof of Vietnam and the Hoang Lien Nature Reserve attracting many scientists and visitors. In addition, Lao Cai has many historical sites, natural caves and agro-ecological zones such as Bac Ha plums, temperate vegetables, precious medicinal planes, salmon, sturgeon…

Lao Cai province plays the role as the tourist center of the sub- Northern mountainous region. The province is also the gateway adjacent to Yunnan province – China. This is one of the favorable conditions for Lao Cai to develop tourism sector. Every year, there are 2.5 million international arrivals to Lao Cai. The majority of visitors to Yunnan want to travel Vietnam through international border gate and vice versa.

Traveling to Lao Cai, tourists not only contemplate the beautiful landscapes but also participate in the traditional festivals of the mountainous ethnic groups. Long Tong Festival in Ta Van (Sapa) is held in January every year. In these days, Muong Hoa valley steeps in the color. Long Tong is the festival praying for the peaceful nation, the comfortable life, for favorable weather.

“Tet Nhay” or “Dance festival” is important festival and elaborately prepared of Dao people in Ta Van. Before the festival, young men spend their time to practice dances, girls dye indigo, embroider new shirts. The festival starts from the end of fifth hour to the tenth hour with forms of folk art. It is the dance interwoven with the music. It is the art of words about the legend of lineage, ancestry merits... Dance festival in Lao Cai of the Red Dao is rich and unique identity and imbued with the humanity.

In addition, there are many unique festivals attracting tourists when traveling Lao Cai such as Roong Pooc festival, Gau Tao festival, Fishing festival…