THANH HÓA – The north-central province of Thanh Hóa plans to develop and exploit tours that connect it with the Houaphanh province of Laos.

Representatives from tourism businesses join a field trip to survey and develop tours connecting Thanh Hóa and Houaphanh provinces. VNA/VNS Photo

According to Thanh Hóa's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, it will focus on developing tourism products that feature local culture, history, the local community’s values and nature.

The department will coordinate with units to organise a field trip for business and media representatives to survey and develop tours connecting Thanh Hóa and Houaphanh provinces.

Previously, in 2019, Thanh Hoa province announced Quan Son-Vieng Xay tour that promotes popular destinations in the two provinces. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism connection was disrupted.

Sharing the borderline with Thanh Hóa province, Houaphanh province has 157 tourist areas, including 64 landscapes, 64 historical tourism areas and 29 cultural tourism areas. Among them, the province's important tourism highlight is Vieng Xay District with nearly 500 spectacular caves.

The caves were chosen as a revolutionary base during the wartime for Laos leaders between 1964 and 1972. The natural caves run deep into the mountains, creating tunnels leading to ‘meeting rooms’ and ‘dining rooms’, where Laos President Khamtay Siphandone and other revolutionary leaders once lived and worked.

The caves were turned into a tourist destination for both domestic and foreign visitors in Laos. VNA/VNS