With diverse natural and human resources, Lao Cai province has soon chose tourism as the key in socio-economic development. In the past 10 years, tourism has been identified as the leading economic sector, achieving great success and reaching international levels.

Lao Cai still has a lot of potential to develop tourism into a breakthrough sector.

In the period of 2010 - 2020, the province has invested in tourism development, with the Lao Cai tourism economic development project for the period 2011 - 2015; Resolution No. 39/NQ-HDND on the master plan for tourism development in Lao Cai province in the period of 2015 - 2020, with a vision to 2030, determining to build Lao Cai into one of the leading tourism destinations in the Northwest, one of the key areas of regional and national tourism; Project No. 3 on Lao Cai tourism development in the period of 2016-2020 to complete and enhance the development of the tourism industry, to build Sa Pa into a national and international tourist area with diversity in identity and modernity, contributing to the building Lao Cai into a developed province by 2020…

With the right choice, and strategic resolutions, at the end of 2015, the tourism industry started to prosper, bringing efficiency in the socio-economic development of the province; the number of tourists to Lao Cai has reached nearly 2 million this year, the total revenue from tourism has reached more than 4,675 billion VND. In December 2017, Sa Pa tourist area was recognized by the Prime Minister as the national tourist area. The proud milestone in the development of Lao Cai tourism has always been mentioned, that is, in 2019, the number of tourists to Lao Cai reached more than 5.1 million, the revenue from tourism activities reached more than 19,200 billions dong.

Talking about the achievements of the tourism industry in the period of 2011 - 2020, Mr. Ha Van Thang, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that: Lao Cai tourism has had a remarkable development, first of all thanks to the decisively direction of the Party Committee, People's Council and People's Committee of Lao Cai province by issuing many resolutions, action plans, master plans and plans for tourism development, serving as a solid foundation and motivation for tourism development to become the leading economic sector.

In the period of 2020 - 2025, the Resolution of the 16th Provincial Party Committee Congress has identified tourism and service development as one of two breakthrough and strategic sectors. This decision is not only very right and correct when looking at the overall viewpoint of the Party Committee of the province over the past several terms, which is to develop based on potentials and comparative advantages, but also in line with the goal of green development, sustainable development and the Government's regional development plan.

It is required to preserve indigenous culture for tourism development.         Documentary photos

In order for tourism to be a breakthrough sector according to the Resolution of the 16th Provincial Party Committee Congress, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee issued the Resolution No. 11 dated on August 27, 2021 on tourism development in Lao Cai province up to 2030, with a vision to 2050. Striving to 2030, Lao Cai tourism will be the key economic breakthrough, creating a premise by 2050 to become the leading economic sector and a driving force for socio-economic development, having a synchronous and modern tourism infrastructure and service system, rich in cultural identity, becoming the resort and eco-tourism center, competing with major domestic and regional tourist centers, meeting national and international tourism standards; by 2025, striving to welcome 10 million tourists or higher, total revenue from tourists will reach 44,750 billion VND; contributing to the province's GRDP 22% - 23%...

On December 8, 2021, the People's Council of the province issued the Resolution No. 38 to establish the Department of Tourism of Lao Cai province, in order to improve the quality of state management of tourism in the province, to meet the development requirements of tourism, ensure the implementation of the goals and development orientation of tourism of the Central and the province in the coming period.

“In order for Lao Cai tourism to truly become a breakthrough sector, Lao Cai tourism industry will deploy synchronous solutions related to sustainable development goals. We are determined to build new, unique, quality tourism products with Lao Cai's identity to be able to compete with domestic and international markets" - Mr. Ha Van Thang, Director of the Department of Culture , Sports and Tourism affirmed.