Favored by nature, Lao Cai Travel possesses many advantages to become an attractive destination for tourists. That is Sapa town in the clouds – a place with a cool climate and majestic natural scenery. The 3,143m-high Fansipan peak is the “roof of Indochina,” and the terraced fields are arranged evenly along the hillside. Muong Hoa valley combines 25 ethnic minorities living, creating a vivid and colorful mountainous cultural picture.
Besides, some unique markets and festivals always attract visitors to mix with the typical highland lifestyle.
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Scenic spots in Lao Cai Travel
With its natural landscape combined with human creativity, Lao Cai has created a harmonious picture with many poetic and attractive scenes for this land.
Ta Van Village
The road to Ta Van village follows the twisting paths around the undulating hills; On both sides of the road are terraced fields in layers, adorned with the green color of corn and young rice. In front of the village, there is a clear Muong Hoa stream. The stream flowing through Ta Van village is wide and flat, becoming an ideal beach for tourists when staying here. Ta Van is currently a tourist village with bold traditional activities of the Giay, Hmong, and Dao ethnic groups. Tourists can stay in Ta Van in the houses of the Giay people to eat, rest, and experience the local lifestyle and culture. As a famous community tourist destination located peacefully in the beautiful Muong Hoa valley, Ta Van has become an indispensable tourist destination in the ecological picnic journeys of tourists when coming to Sapa.
Cat Cat village
The Cat Cat Village has long become a unique tourist destination not to be missed by tourists traveling to Sapa. Located right at the foot of Hoang Lien Son mountain, Cat Cat village is hidden under the protection of mother nature. A whole green color of fields, mountains, and hills covers the entire town, interspersed with the houses of the H’Mong people. When coming to the center of Cat Cat village, visitors will admire the convergence of 3 murmuring streams day and night: Tien Sa stream, Vang stream, Silver stream, and Cat Cat waterfall (also known as Tien Sa waterfall). White. All blend to create a colorful picture of nature. Besides coming to Cat Cat, visitors also have the opportunity to experience and discover the customs and beauty of the people’s religious beliefs; join in the gentle dances, the sound of the harp on the lips of the Hmong boys and girls.
Thac Bac (Silver) Waterfall
Silver Waterfall has about 200m, located at the foot of O Quy Ho pass, upstream of the romantic Muong Hoa stream. Standing at the foot of the waterfall, visitors can see the roaring water pouring down, white foam with reverberating sound of the mountains, creating a highly wild and mysterious feeling. Especially in winter, the Silver Waterfall area is one of the thickest snow and ice in Sapa. Standing from above, around Silver Waterfall, visitors can admire the panoramic view of Sapa mountain town, Sin Chai valley, with the village looming in the mist, surrounded by rolling mountains, undulating towards the horizon direction.
Fansipan
Fansipan is the highest mountain peak in Vietnam, located on the majestic Hoang Lien Son range. This peak is also the highest mountain in the three Indochina countries, called the “roof of Indochina.” Fansipan peak has 3,143m, about 9km from Sapa town to the southwest, bordering the two provinces of Lao Cai and Lai Chau. In the Hoang Lien Son heritage area (recognized as an ASEAN Heritage Garden), Fansipan currently has a vibrant and diverse biological system, especially plants. Up to now, Fansipan peak has always been a rendezvous for many climbers, adventurers, and tourists who are passionate about conquering nature.
Ham Rong Mountain
Located about 3km from the center of Sapa town, Ham Rong mountain is one of the familiar destinations of tourists when coming to Lao Cai Travel. Standing in the distance, we can see Ham Rong mountain looks like a giant dragon winding and hiding in the white clouds. This place is a miniature Sapa by the people because of the convergence of all the highland town’s natural, human, and cultural beauty. The higher you go, the more sparse the trees become, but many beautiful places like the cloud yard, heaven gate, orchid garden, and peach garden are suitable for tourists who love sightseeing and taking photos.
Love Waterfall (Sapa)
Love Waterfall is a famous waterfall located in San Sa Ho commune, 14km southwest of Sapa town center. This fall is one of the starting points of the journey to conquer Fansipan peak. To reach Love waterfall, visitors have to go deep into the forest, through the green bamboo forest. Love Waterfall has a height of 100m, day and night pour white water columns down to the Golden Stream. From a distance, the waterfall appears like a cone winding next to the surrounding green vegetation. This waterfall is an ideal relaxed place, especially when coming here. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about a romantic love story.
Y Ty – Bat Xat
With a cool climate, beautiful natural scenery, and wild features, over the years, Y Ty commune (Bat Xat) has become an attractive destination for tourists. As a highland commune inhabited by ethnic minorities, Y Ty still retains many wild features from the landscape to people’s living habits. Many tourists coming to Y Ty come to the villages of Ha Nhi people, visit the old forest and Thien Sinh bridge. In particular, on the way from Sapa to Y Ty, visitors can see the terraced fields located at the foot of the mountain, with all different shapes and colors.
Sun World Fansipan Legend tourist area
Sun World Fansipan Legend is located in the southwest of Sapa town, is a complex of cultural tourism works, cable car services, entertainment, and high-class resort hotels. After being put into use, Sun World Fansipan Legend has been recognized by Guinness as the tallest, most comprehensive, and most modern three-wire cable car system in the world, installed for the first time in Asia. With the cable car system connecting Muong Hoa valley to the top of Fansipan, it takes only 15 minutes for visitors to reach the top of Fansipan, admiring the majestic natural scenery of the mountains covered in mist. If it is sunny, visitors can see the whole Muong Hoa village at the foot of the hill.
Cultural and Historical Sites – Lao Cai Travel
Lao Cai is a locality with a large number of ethnic minorities living. Each ethnic group has its cultural characteristics, creating a colorful artistic picture for this land.
Sapa Ancient Rock Field
Referring to Sapa, it is impossible not to mention the Sapa Ancient Rock Field in Muong Hoa valley, where there are significant “heavenly books.” The ancient stone field has about 8km2, including 200 large and small stones scattered along the Muong Hoa valley and laying on three communes of Lao Chai, Ta Van, and Hau Thao. Strange inscriptions, images of geologic maps, and battle diagrams carved on stone are all imprints of the ancients that there is no decipher. According to scientists, the ancient rock field is a vast store of books containing the knowledge and concepts of the ancients about nature, describing the community’s daily life. With the importance of evidence of human development, in 1994, the ancient rock field was recognized as a National Historical-Cultural Relic and put on the list to be protected and preserved.
Thuong Temple
Thuong Temple, also known as Saint Tran Tu, is one of the historical landscapes of the Northeast region. Thuong Temple was built in the Le Dynasty, in the reign of
Chinh Hoa (1680 – 1705) is the place to worship Quoc Cong abstinence Hung Dao Vuong – Tran Quoc Tuan, who made outstanding contributions to the cause of protecting the country’s countryside. The temple was built according to ancient architecture, according to the feng shui theory, that is dignified and majestic.
Bao Ha Temple
Bao Ha Temple in Bao Ha Commune, Bao Yen District, located in the “Relics of the Royal Guard of the Kingdom of God,” has long become a cultural and religious tourist destination for thousands of domestic and foreign tourists every year in the province. “Travel to the roots” journey, especially on the occasion of the new spring. The temple worships the God of National Guard Hoang Bay, who has contributed to defeating the enemy and defending the country, once given the word “Tran An Hien Liet” by the Nguyen dynasties and ordained “God of the Kingdom.” The temple architecture shows the Vietnamese cultural tradition according to feng shui theory with a criminal record, a post-death, a left-hand side, and a right turn.
Hoang A Tuong’s Palace
Hoang A Tuong’s Palace resides in the center of Bac Ha district town, was started in 1914, the owner is the land company Hoang Yen Chao (the father of Hoang A Tuong). He invited the geographer to choose the land, the direction of the house, and two French and Chinese architects to design and directly supervise the construction until 1921. The villa is charming, with Asian-European-style architecture harmoniously combined with a closed rectangular layout. The left and right sides are the outbuildings, the front is the screen, and the middle is the playground for rituals and Xoe dancing.
Sapa Stone Church
Sapa stone church built in 1895 is a complete ancient architectural mark of the French left in Sapa. The church is located in a prime location behind the shielding Ham Rong mountain. In front is a large, flat land, where the colorful festivals of the mountain town take place. The total area of the stone church campus is about 6,000 meters which are divided into many different zones, including church area, rectory, monk’s house, livestock area, angel house, yard, fence, and holy garden. The entire church is built of hewn stone and linked together by a mixture of sand, lime, and molasses. The roof is tiled, the ceiling is made of lime and straw, and the stained-glass windows depict the life of the Lord. After more than a century of existence through many historical events, Sapa Stone Church still stands majestically, both as a spiritual place of indigenous people and as a cultural rendezvous with tourists from all over the world.
Traditional villages in Lao Cai Travel
According to statistics, currently, there are 29 craft villages in Lao Cai province and traditional craft villages (19 wine-making towns, five brocade embroidery craft villages, three knitting craft villages, one silver carving craft village, incense making village) recognized by the competent authority. In particular, many products of craft villages have become famous goods throughout the country and gradually reach out to the export market, favored by consumers such as brocade weaving, silver carving, Bac Ha wine, etc.
Lao Cai brocade weaving
Brocade weaving and embroidery are found in most districts, but mainly in the communities of Sapa, Bac Ha, and Van Ban. With only natural materials such as cotton, flax, betel leaves, turmeric, sticky rice leaves, grass, etc., through the skillful hands and delicate aesthetics of the woman who weaved the fabrics full of colors and patterns imbued with national identity values. The brocade of the Hmong in Bac Ha is famous for its attractive colors and patterns. The brocade of the Hmong people in Sapa has a modest and quiet color of indigo, while the brocade of the Tay people in Van Ban has two primary colors: luxurious and simple blue and white. Coming to Lao Cai Travel, visitors do not forget to buy some items made from brocade, both to learn about the culture of the people here and as gifts for relatives after the trip.
Silver carving
In daily life, the Mong people use silver as an amulet to protect health and happiness. Silver rings are also considered the convergence of power and residence of the gods, enchanted by the sorcerer to make an item that has the function of eradicating evil spirits and protecting human health. Therefore, the silver carving profession has been maintained for generations to create products for the community’s cultural life. The silver carving shows the development of goldsmithing techniques and art of the Mong people in Sapa, contributing to the valuable service of the cultural and spiritual life of the community here. The silver carving products still retain their value and irreplaceable position in the life of the Mong people in Sapa and are included in the list of National Cultural Heritage.
Lao Cai Festival
Lao Cai has 25 ethnic groups. Each ethnic group has its customs, practices, costumes, architectural styles, and lifestyles, creating a diverse and rich cultural picture. The unique cultural feature of the province is the highland markets (the area has 14 markets). The market is a place to buy, sell and exchange goods, and an opportunity to exchange and have fun, where boys and girls date and find out their life partner. In particular, there are many traditional festivals in the province, such as the Lap-Tong ceremony, Tet Dance of the Red Dao, Gau Tao Festival of the Hmong, Long Tong Festival of the Tay in Bac Ha, Bao Ha Temple Festival, and Bac Ha traditional horse racing festival. Each festival has its features but shares the same literary nuances, ancient beliefs of residents still handed down to this day, and typical festivals. The province own has been built into a unique tourism product.
Culinary
Visitors who have once visited Lao Cai – “where the Red River flows into Vietnam” with majestic and lyrical scenery must not forget that this land is also a cultural and culinary region with specialties and dishes. Coming here on the occasion of Bac Ha, Muong Khuong, Bat Xat, Sapa, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy many dishes that show sophistication in the art of culinary processing. The most attractive dish that attracts the most people is Thang Co. Thang co is available in any northern mountainous region. Still, in Lao Cai, it has a unique and unmistakable taste because it is made from the “six viscera” of the horse. Bat Thang Co becomes more attractive when sipped with Shan Lung rice wine (Bat Xat), Ban Pho corn wine (Bac Ha), making diners immersed in the quintessence of heaven and earth. Coming to Lao Cai, Visitors are also free to enjoy delicious dishes from five-color sticky rice with five primary colors: white, blue, black (purple), red, and yellow corresponding to metal – wood – water – fire – earth statue representing the five elements representing eternal existence, or pork underarms, Sapa sturgeon.
Lao Cai people have skillfully combined dishes from available ingredients of the mountains and forests to create a diverse and unique cuisine that attracts tourists every time they come to this land.
With outstanding natural and cultural potentials, Lao Cai Travel has become one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the country.
