Sapa floating in the clouds.

Strong resonance

Tourism is the leading economic sector, which is having profound impacts on many other economic sectors in Sa Pa town in particular, and Lao Cai province in general. Looking at the overview on the tourist map of the Northern Midlands and Mountains region including 14 provinces, Sa Pa National Tourist Area is also increasingly affirming its brand.

Besides the advantages of climate, landscape, national identity, this tourist area has the advantage of being located in the center of the Northeast - Northwest beltway and on the Kunming - Lao Cai - Ha Noi Noi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh economic corridor axis. The infrastructure system connecting the localities in the region in general, and Sapa in particular, is increasingly interested in investment. That is the project of highway connecting Noi Bai - Lao Cai to Sa Pa, Sa Pa Airport is being implemented, in the future will create many advantages, shorten the distance between localities, to bring Sa Pa to become the center and has resonance and strong connection with tourism "satellites" in the region and the whole country.

Returning to the important contents mentioned in the Resolution No. 11 of the Politburo, according to Mr. Phan Dang Toan, Secretary of the Party Committee of Sa Pa Town, promoting regional linkage - one of the outstanding and important contents mentioned in the resolution - will pave the way for new mechanisms and policies, create strong links, and develop together between localities. About Sa Pa, the locality benefits from this linkage but also puts many responsibilities in association and cooperation when Sa Pa is placed in the overview of the tourist map of the Northern Midlands and Mountains.

Tourists have experienced the dreamy rose garden of Sapa

In the past time, Sapa has paid much attention to tourism development cooperation. In the province, Sa Pa town has exchanged and connected with a number of potential districts such as Bac Ha and Bat Xat and linked and supported Tam Duong district (Lai Chau province) to develop community tourism. The town has also focused on connecting with the localities with many attractive destinations in Hai Phong, Quang Ninh and central provinces...

The Resolution 11 with the emphasis on changing regional thinking will contribute to effectively exploiting the infrastructure system, clearly demonstrating the responsibilities and the roles of localities in cooperation and development. This is also a "golden opportunity" for Sa Pa in particular and Lao Cai province in general to promote the role of connecting, distributing and spreading the tourism economy to the localities; implementing linkage and regulation of international tourists to the region and the whole country with the goal of ensuring the capacity to welcome 15-20 million tourists by 2030.

Sustainable tourism development

Not only creating change in thinking for the localities to develop together, the Resolution 11 of the Politburo also directs tourism development towards sustainability.

For a long time, Sa Pa has been known as the friendly destination, especially for community tourism. Exploiting the potentials and strengths of the locality and ensuring the harmony between tourism development and environmental protection and cultural identity preservation is the long-term orientation that the authorities and people here try to perform.

Tourism products with bold ethnic colors always attract tourists when coming to Sapa.

For example, the activities of Ta Phin Xanh Cooperative. The director of the cooperative, Mr. Tran Chi Thanh, has started his business since 2014 with the scale of household business. At that time, he focused on homestay business, providing medicinal leaf bathing services of the Red Dao people and guiding tourists to visit and experience the village. After establishing the cooperative, the exploitation of community tourism and green tourism activities is still the long-term direction that he implements.

From the beginning of 2022 until now, Ta Phin Xanh Cooperative has cooperated with Red Dao Community Cooperative to launch the tour of visiting, experiencing, and discovering the identity of ethnic groups in Ta Phin, with highlights such as visiting Ta Phin ancient monastery; exploring the village; experiencing in picking medicinal leaves, weaving brocade... Only on the last holiday of April 30 - May 1, Ta Phin Xanh Cooperative welcomed nearly 2,300 visitors, with the estimated revenue of 400 million dong. Most visitors have been satisfied with the new tour close to nature.

In the development orientation of the province in general and of Sa Pa in particular, it all mentions to the goal to develop Sa Pa into the national tourist area of ​​international stature. In which, towards the development of green tourism, sustainable tourism requires comprehensive and synchronous solutions with the close coordination of relevant localities, agencies and units. "The orientations of the Resolution 11 are the "guidelines" for Sa Pa town to implement synchronously and effectively the tasks and solutions. Bringing tourism into the leading economic development will be implemented by Sa Pa town on the principle of development in parallel with preserving ethnic cultural identities; ensuring the harmony between exploiting tourism potentials with environmental protection", Secretary of the Party Committee of Sa Pa Town, Mr. Phan Dang Toan affirmed.

On this basis, the town has determined to perform well a number of key issues such as planning and planning management; mobilization and arrangement of investment resources; having policies on cultural preservation and community development; market research and unique tourism products. Believing that, from important orientations and effective implementation of the Resolution 11 of the Politburo, it will create motivation for Sapa tourism to reach further.