Lao Cai leads northern provinces in int’l tourist arrivals

Lao Cai leads northern provinces in int’l tourist arrivals

Lao Cai has welcomed international holidaymakers from 70 countries worldwide, becoming one of the five tourist hubs in the north of Vietnam besides Hanoi capital, Quang Ninh and Ninh Binh provinces and Hai Phong port city.

The local tourism sector served 1,470,000 visitors in 2014, a yearly rise of 16.6 percent, including 545,239 international tourists, and grossing over 3.2 trillion VND (152 million USD) in revenue, up 28.5 percent year-on-year.

In the four-day New Year holiday of 2015, the province greeted nearly 70,000 visitors, including 41,120 descending in the resort town of Sa Pa.

Remarkable growth in the number of visitors and tourism revenue in 2014 and the outset of 2015 made Lao Cai lead other northern mountainous provinces in the field, said Tran Huu Son, Director of the Lao Cai provincial Department for Culture, Sports and Tourism.

This year, local authorities will continue to hold a range of activities to promote their tourism image, potential and strengths, such as a mountain market in Hanoi, Thuong (upper) temple festival and spiritual tourism events in Lao Cai city, a culture-tourism week in Sa Pa town, a horse riding tournament in Bac Ha district, and an international marathon tournament.

Located about 300 kilometres from the capital city, Lao Cai is said to be one of the most interesting and beautiful areas in Southeast Asia, which is blessed with an abundance of scenic spots and a treasure chest of biodiversity.

Bac Ha district is inhabited by 14 ethnic minority groups, predominantly H’Mong, Dao, Tay and Nung. The Bac Ha mountain market is selected as one of the most 10 attractive markets in Southeast Asia . It is not only a trading place, but also a venue for cultural exchanges among local people.

Around 38km from Lao Cai city, the whole town of Sa Pa is dominated by the Hoang Lien Son mountain range which is famous for housing Fansipan, Indochina’s highest mountain, at a height of 3,142m above sea level.

The town was discovered in 1903 and is endowed with myriad natural sites, such as Ham Rong Mountain , Silver Waterfall and Bamboo Forest . It is home to six main ethnic minority groups with various traditional festivals, unique cultural practices and regular events such as Bac Ha market and Sa Pa love market.

In 2009, the famous US Travel and Leisure magazine voted the Sa Pa terraces as one of the seven most beautiful and spectacular terraces in Asia and the world. In 2013, on the 110th founding anniversary of the town, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism decided to rank Sa Pa terraced fields as a National Landscape site.

Source: VNA

Bài viết liên quan

	Plan for Quang Binh Cave Festival 2015 The Provincial People’s Committee on June 10 approved the plan organizing “Quang Binh Cave Festival 2015”. The event will take place during July 15-21 with a large scale and many attractive art performance programs. The opening ceremony on July 17 will be held at Bao Ninh Sea Square with an art performance... Detail >>

	Fostering Viet Nam tourism promotion in Japan (TITC) – In the framework of Viet Nam Culture and Tourism Festival 2015 in Japan, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism organized two workshops on promoting Viet Nam tourism in Osaka (June 10, 2015) and in Tokyo (June 15, 2015). Detail >>

	Unlocking the Potential of the Mekong Region via Innovative Partnerships (TITC) – This is the theme of Mekong Tourism Symposium which will be held on June 18, 2015 in Da Nang. Detail >>

	Cultural activities mark 40th anniversary of Vietnam-New Zealand relations On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic Vietnam - New Zealand relations, the New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam is planning a vast array of activities to introduce New Zealand’s culture, customs and traditions. Detail >>

	Establishing Du Gia National Park - Dong Van Stone Plateau The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Official dispatch No. 2286/BVHTTDL-DSVH on June 9th, 2015 which was sent to the Government Office on establishing of Du Gia National Park - Dong Van Stone Plateau, Ha Giang province. Detail >>

	Non Nuoc village After a 15-minute ride from the centre of Danang, the biggest city on the Central Coast of Vietnam, I reached its renowned stone carving village, Non Nuoc, which lies at the foot of the picturesque Marble Mountain. Detail >>

	Workshop on Mekong Tourism Social Media Boot Camp (TITC) – In the framework of MeKong Tourism Forum 2015, a workshop on Mekong Tourism Social Media Boot Camp taking place on 16 June, attracted the attendance of national tourism organizations of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), int’l tourism experts, tourism businesses, int’l organizations in Viet Nam... Detail >>

	Mekong countries need cooperation for diverse, quality tourism products A new cooperation mechanism increasing connectivity among tourism destinations would allow countries in Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) to diversify their tourism products and satisfy tourists’ growing demand and increasingly diverse tastes. Detail >>

	Visa-free travel for people from five countries soon Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has agreed to grant visa exemption to the people of five European countries, in an attempt to lure more tourists to the country. Detail >>

	World-class cruise liner makes first visit to Vietnam The world-class cruise liner Quantum of the Seas, carrying over 6,000 passengers and crew members, anchored in Vietnam for the first time in Tan Cang Cai Mep port in the Southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on June 17. Detail >>