A view of Sa Pa. — Photo ivivu.com

LÀO CAI — A series of cultural and tourism activities, highlighted by the 'Sa Pa – Essence of Convergence' Cultural Week, will take place from November 2026 to early January 2027 to attract visitors during the year-end and New Year holidays.

The programme was announced by the Sa Pa Ward People's Committee in Lào Cai Province as part of its fourth-quarter 2026 events, aiming to promote the cultural identities of ethnic groups, showcase local tourism products and strengthen links among tourism businesses.

The highlight, the 2026 'Sa Pa – Essence of Convergence' Cultural Week, is scheduled for November 21-24 at Sân Quần Square.

The event will feature an opening ceremony, cultural performances showcasing ethnic groups in the northwest region, and exhibitions promoting OCOP products, local agricultural produce and traditional handicrafts.

In November, Sa Pa also plans to organise an investment, trade and tourism promotion programme linking Sa Pa and Lào Cai with Tam Đảo in Phú Thọ Province. The event is expected to encourage cooperation, experience-sharing and destination promotion.

The festive programme will continue with Christmas celebrations, including decorations, art performances and winter activities. A countdown event to welcome 2027 is scheduled to begin at 8pm on December 31 at Sân Quần Square, featuring music and stage performances.

On the morning of January 1, 2027, Sa Pa will welcome its first international visitors of the year at the Ethnic Cultural Park, promoting the locality as a friendly and culturally distinctive destination.

Sa Pa welcomed an estimated 3.7 million visitors in the first nine months of 2026, equivalent to 79.2 per cent of its annual target. The locality aims to receive more than five million visitors and generate around VNĐ23 trillion (US$880 million) in tourism revenue this year.

Recognised as a national tourism area in 2017, Sa Pa National Tourism Area covers about 684sq.km, encompassing the former Sa Pa township. Following administrative restructuring on July 1, 2025, the former township was reorganised into Sa Pa Ward and several communes, with the ward forming the urban core of the national tourism area. — VNS