More than 2 years since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, last weekend, Ms. Tan Ta May in Ta Phin commune (Sa Pa town) had the opportunity to serve foreign guests. It was a group of 5 people from France, coming to discover the nature, cultural identity and people of Sapa for the first time. Ms.May confided: I am very happy that foreign tourists can continue to come to Sapa. Local tourists have been looking forward to this event for a long time.

Talking about her trip to Sa Pa, which is also the first foreign trip after the Covid-19 pandemic, Ms. Aliénor, from France said: I choose Sapa because I have some friends who have worked and traveled her. They told me about the land with the cool climate, rich in ethnic cultural identities and unspoiled villages. I am already convinced when I came to visit and explore the villages in Sa Pa, the people are very friendly, hospitable and give me a sense of security.

Ms.Ma Thi Sen, the owner of Eco Hills Homestay, Ta Van commune, said: About 3 weeks ago, the establishment started accepting vacation bookings from foreign guests. Currently, some guests from Finland, the Netherlands have booked for the summer (May, June).

Sa Pa town is considered to have a fairly fast rate of tourist recovery, on average, each week, the town receives nearly 18,000 visitors. According to the Department of Culture and Information of the town, in the first 3 months of 2022, the number of visitors to Sa Pa has reached more than 220,000, including 1,415 foreign visitors. Particularly, Upper Mother Temple Festival Week takes place from March 1 to March 3, 2022, Sa Pa town has welcomed about 20,000 visitors.

In Bac Ha district, the number of visitors has also increased gradually from the beginning of February until now. On average, the "white plateau" has welcomed more than 5,000 visitors per week. In addition to tourist attractions in the center of Bac Ha district such as Hoang A Tuong palace, Bac Ha temple, Bac Ha fruit and vegetable production and research institute, community tourism attractions, especially plum, pear and flower gardens and the "hunting" spots for clouds in the communes of Na Hoi, Ban Pho, Ta Chai, Hoang Thu Pho, Ta Van Chu... has also welcomed many visitors to visit and take pictures. It is estimated that in the first 3 months of 2022, Bac Ha district has welcomed nearly 40,000 visitors.

Mr. Bui Van Vinh, Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Bac Ha district said: Besides implementing the policy of adaptation and flexibility to recover and develop, the plum and pear flower gardens are the factors that attract tourists to come to Bac Ha at the beginning of the year. The district is actively preparing to organize the Love and Rose Festival, furthermore, the traditional Horse Racing Festival in the summer and events to stimulate tourism throughout 2022 to attract tourists.

In addition to Sa Pa town and Bac Ha district, many destinations in Lao Cai city, Bao Yen and Bat Xat districts also attract tourists again. For Lao Cai city and Bao Yen district, tourists mainly experience spiritual tourism. With Bat Xat district, tourists mainly experience community tourism and conquer the high mountains.

According to data from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in the first three months of 2022, tourist areas, routes and attractions in the province have welcomed 589,315 visitors, total revenue from tourism is estimated at nearly 2,100 billion VND, an increase 3% over the same period in 2021. Although the number of new visitors reached about 14.7% of the year plan, this is a signal that the "smokeless industry" is recovering.

In the coming time, the tourism industry will continue to maintain and affirm the Lao Cai brand as "a natural, safe, attractive and distinctive destination". Recently, the People's Committee of province has issued Plan No. 120 on the recovery and development of tourism in 2022. In which, the province focuses on launching incentive and discount programs; announcing programs, events and tourism stimulus packages in 2022; organizing to welcome the first foreign delegation; promoting promotion with many forms; developing and deploying new tourism products; organizubg activities, cultural events, unique tourism, local characteristics ... for visitors to have many impressive experiences.

With positive signals from tourist areas, routes and attractions in the province in the first 3 months of the year, along with plans to recover and develop tourism, relevant agencies and tourism associations, businessesare are proposing to actively implement, Lao Cai tourism industry is expected to reach and exceed the goal of welcoming over 4 million tourists in 2022.