Mù Cang Chải Commune in Lào Cai Province during the ripe rice season attracts large numbers of visitors. — Photo thiennhienmoitruong.vn

LÀO CAI — Blessed with spectacular natural landscapes and the diverse cultural identities of 34 ethnic groups, Lào Cai Province is turning to digital transformation to strengthen its position as an attractive destination on Việt Nam’s tourism map.

The province’s digital tourism drive goes beyond promotion on social media. Lào Cai is gradually building a smart tourism ecosystem to improve visitor experiences, support tourism businesses and help mountain communities overcome geographical barriers.

Digital platforms are bringing lesser-known villages onto online tourism maps, enabling local people to promote homestays and distinctive products while becoming more actively involved in the tourism value chain.

A key priority for 2026-2030 is to build and standardise a big data repository for the tourism sector. Authorities plan to digitise information on tourism resources, accommodation facilities, travel businesses, tour guides and OCOP products, while connecting tourism data with those of transport, trade, culture and healthcare. This is expected to support market analysis, tourism management and more targeted promotion.

Technology will also be used to create new visitor experiences. The province plans to develop 360-degree virtual tours and 3D videos of major attractions and cultural heritage sites, while AI-powered multilingual information will be introduced at homestays. Digital payment models, including QR codes, e-wallets and bank cards, will be expanded at tourism businesses, markets and community-based destinations.

The province has identified 2026-2027 as the initial stage of its smart tourism ecosystem, targeting the digitisation of 30 per cent of eligible tourism resources and digital management tools in at least 50 per cent of tourism establishments. About 90 per cent of key tourism sites are expected to apply digital technologies in management and operations.

In the 2028-2030 acceleration phase, the province aims to digitise all eligible tourism resources, raise the share of tourism establishments using digital platforms to at least 70 per cent and expand broadband and 5G connectivity at key destinations.

For Lào Cai, digital transformation is becoming a means to connect destinations, businesses and communities while preserving the province’s rich cultural identity. — VNS