Nguyen Dinh Dung, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said in order to prepare for the year’s biggest tourism event, Lao Cai is promoting such programmes as exploring the northwestern region’s terraced field culture heritage route in Bac Ha and Bat Xat districts; popular markets in Bac Ha, Muong Khuong and Si Ma Cai; and spiritual tourism along the Red River.

He said the province has also instructed Bao Yen district to develop community cultural tourism in Nghia Do commune and revive Com (Green Rice Flakes) festival of the Tay ethnic group in Viet Tien commune, while maintaining and enhancing the quality of the Buffalo Fighting Festival in Bao Ha commune and the Goat Fighting Festival in Vinh Yen commune.

Lao Cai is calling for investment in new tourist spots in Bac Ha district like the Ba Me Con (Mother and her two children) Mountain, Thien Long Cave, Bac Ha Culture Market, the Chay River and the Van Ban-Thac Bay Natural Reserve, said Dung.

Construction of roads connecting tourism sites has been accelerated, he added.

At a recent conference on investment, trade and tourism promotion, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Van Vinh stressed districts like Bat Xat, Bac Ha, Bao Yen and Si Ma Cai should step up communication campaigns to raise locals’ awareness of the tourism-based economy, as well as develop infrastructure for sustainable tourism development.

Localities also need to preserve and promote their unique ethnic cultural features and develop native tourism products, Vinh said.