Lao Cai cares about preserving and promoting cultural values associated with tourism development.

In the tourism sector, the province aims to welcome 10 million visitors, with total revenue reaching nearly VND45,000 billion, while attracting about 42,000 workers. This figure shows Lao Cai's determination to turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector, maximizing the potential of nature, culture and its position as a border gateway.

Regarding culture, the province strives to achieve 86% of cultural families, 80% of villages achieving cultural titles, preserving at least 01 typical festival associated with tourism and establishing 03 intangible heritage profiles to propose national recognition. Pay attention to developing the cultural industry in a professional and modern direction, promoting local advantages, focusing on building 08 branded cultural products and services, associated with promoting the image and people of Lao Cai, with the ability to participate deeply in the chain of domestic cultural products and services.

In that journey, the province clearly identifies the cultural strategy as the core, infrastructure as the foundation, technology as the lever and people as the center. Regarding infrastructure, the province is focusing on building and connecting strategic infrastructure (transportation, energy, digital), especially the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong high-speed railway, Sa Pa Airport is expected to start construction in 2025, completing the 4-lane Hanoi - Lao Cai expressway. Completing over 1,400 km of provincial, district and inter-commune roads, over 1,500 km of rural roads according to the plan for the 2020-2025 period. Investing in tourism infrastructure, focusing on connecting Sa Pa - Y Ty - Lao Cai city through strategic routes using WB and ADB capital.

In the period of 2026-2030, focus on investing in connecting traffic along the Red River, completing connections to economic zones and tourist areas. Focus resources on developing Sa Pa National Tourist Area and key tourist areas of the province in a synchronous manner. Develop tourism products according to 05 main groups, including: Eco-tourism, agriculture; community tourism; resort, entertainment and health tourism; thematic tourism (sports; seminars, conferences, cuisine, etc.); cultural and historical tourism.

Cultural values and traditional crafts are no longer left out of the game, but have become the center of a humane and sustainable tourism economy. Unique products of Lao Cai tourism such as "Sa Pa Love Market", Horse Racing Festival on the White Plateau of Bac Ha, "Spring Addict" Festival; "Lao Cai Brocade - Cultural Colors" Festival; "One Racetrack, Two Countries" Sports Tournament, "Touch Sa Pa - Touch the Clouds", etc.

A small corner of Sa Pa national tourist area.

In 2025, the province will focus on preserving and restoring unique festivals such as the La Chi people's July Tet, restoring traditional costumes of Phu La, Dao Tuyen, Bo Y - not only preserving but also reviving heritage in contemporary life. Building cultural family models, clubs to prevent domestic violence, saying no to early marriage, improving spiritual life, contributing to building civilized Lao Cai people, confident in integration. Organizing the Lao Cai International Tourism Fair, bringing the Lao Cai brand to the big sea, and proactively promoting tourism in Yunnan (China), Korea, Thailand, Europe... creating "borderless tourism corridors".

Lao Cai aims to build community tourism villages according to ASEAN standards. Effectively implement the project to develop community tourism in Lao Cai province until 2030. In 2025, focus on building a community tourism model according to ASEAN standards and a number of community tourism models in localities with tourism development potential such as Bac Ha, Bat Xat, Sa Pa, Bao Yen. Continue to attract large investment projects in entertainment, trade - service centers, culinary restaurant systems, casinos in the Con Gai Hill area; high-end tourism projects combined with agricultural ecology, international standard resort systems in the Muong Hoa - Lao Chai - Hau Thao valley area; resort projects in the Sau Chua area, etc. Invest in building and completing telecommunications infrastructure, electricity, water, financial services to serve tourists; improve and upgrade environmental sanitation services.

Along with infrastructure and product development, Lao Cai province pays special attention to state management, building new policy mechanisms, scientific planning and improving the effectiveness of law enforcement in the tourism sector. Promote the application of information technology in management and professional activities. Continue to effectively manage and use the Lao Cai province smart tourism portal (laocaitourism.vn); maintain domain names and Shared Hosting for websites: dulichlaocai.vn, dulichtaybac.vn, sapa-tourism.com; actively apply platforms and social networks to promote Lao Cai tourism via zalo, facebook, tiktok, youtube... In 2025, with a total expected investment capital of more than 41,000 million Vietnamese dong, of which 35,000 million Vietnamese dong is from enterprises, Lao Cai has been building a diverse tourism ecosystem, creating a breakthrough for culture and tourism.

2025 is the time for Lao Cai to affirm its position on the national and regional tourism map, preparing for a strong transformation in the new period to 2030, with a vision to 2050./.