Traditional costume of the Lự ethnic group in Lai Châu Province. — Photo VNA/VNS

LAI CHÂU — With its majestic landscapes and rich cultural heritage nurtured by 20 ethnic groups, the northern mountainous province of Lai Châu is developing sustainable tourism that places cultural preservation and community participation at its core.

The province is transforming its natural and cultural assets into key drivers of economic growth, aiming to make tourism a major pillar of its economy in the coming years.

Covering more than 9,068sq.km, Lai Châu boasts diverse ecosystems. It owns or shares seven of the country’s ten highest mountain peaks, including Pu Ta Leng (3,049m) and Bạch Mộc Lương Tử (3,046m). Other attractions such as Ô Quy Hồ Pass, Tác Tình Waterfall, Nậm Lúc Waterfall and vast hydropower reservoirs also provide ideal conditions for ecotourism, adventure tourism and high-end resort development.

Equally valuable is Lai Châu’s cultural diversity. Home to 20 ethnic groups, the province preserves a wealth of traditional customs, languages, folk knowledge, festivals, handicrafts, music and dance forms. These unique cultural resources have become a distinctive advantage that cannot be found anywhere else.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tống Thanh Hải said Lai Chau identified tourism linked with cultural preservation as a strategic development priority at an early stage. The provincial Party Congress for the 2020–2025 term listed tourism development among key tasks while subsequent resolutions established policy frameworks to promote ethnic cultural values in tourism development.

As a result, the province welcomed more than 5 million visitors during the 2021–2025 period, with annual growth averaging over 33 per cent. Tourism revenue was estimated at over VNĐ3.8 trillion (US$144 million), contributing significantly to the local economy. Lai Châu is currently home to two provincial-level tourism areas (Rồng Mây Glass Bridge and Hoàng Liên Pass), 20 officially recognised tourist destinations and three provincial festival-themed tourism products.

Community-based tourism has emerged as one of the province’s most successful models. Villages such as Sin Suối Hồ, Si Thâu Chải and Lao Chải 1 have become well-known destinations where tourism development goes hand in hand with cultural preservation and promotion.

Notably, in 2023, Sin Suối Hồ Village received the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism Award, affirming the quality and sustainability of Lai Châu’s tourism model.

Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trần Mạnh Hùng said every tourism product must be associated with authentic cultural values while engaging and generating direct benefits for local communities. Community-based tourism has not only improved livelihoods but also encouraged ethnic minority residents to preserve their languages, traditional costumes, customs and crafts.

Located at an altitude of about 1,400m and inhabited entirely by Mông people, Sin Suối Hồ has become a model of sustainable tourism. Residents operate homestays, sell handicrafts, provide tourism services and, at the same time, maintain traditional embroidery, folk songs and cultural festivals.

Looking ahead, Lai Châu has adopted a new resolution on tourism development. It aims to attract more than 2.4 million visitors and generate over VNĐ2.7 trillion in tourism revenue by 2030. More than 15 villages are expected to be recognised as community-based tourism destinations, while Sin Suối Hồ is striving to earn recognition as the Best Tourism Village by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.

The province also plans to attract strategic investors for large-scale ecotourism projects, diversify tourism products ranging from mountain trekking and wellness retreats to agricultural and cross-border tourism, and strengthen digital promotion efforts.

According to Hùng, Lai Châu’s greatest challenge is not a lack of resources but the need to address bottlenecks in infrastructure, human resources and destination marketing while preserving cultural identity. With strong policy support, community engagement and improved transport connectivity, the province is positioning itself as an attractive destination under the brand Lai Châu – Majestic and Authentic, with sustainable tourism catalysing long-term development. — VNA/VNS