In recent years, Lao Cai tourism has experienced strong growth and is gradually becoming a breakthrough field in the province's economic development. In the first 6 months of 2022 alone, the number of tourists to Lao Cai reached about 1,718,022 turns; Total revenue from tourists reached about VND 6,002 billion, up 88.3% over the same period in 2021. In particular, it can be affirmed that the revenue of community tourism contributes significantly to the total revenue of tourism in Lao Cai province. On average, community-based tourist attractions welcome over 1 million visitors/year (of which staying guests account for 10%) accounting for nearly one-fifth of the total number of tourists in Lao Cai province.

Up to now, Lao Cai has become a favorite community-based tourism destination for tourists. Statistics show that, Lao Cai has more than 20 community tourism destinations in: Sa Pa, Bac Ha, Bat Xat, Bao Yen... From promoting the advantages of tourist attractions and forming attractive walking routes in Sa Pa, Bac Ha... Lao Cai has built and put into operation community tourism products with the name "One day as a bride of H'mong", "One day as a farmer of Dao", wine making contest, brocade weaving contest with tourists…

Many national and international events have been successfully organized, especially famous cultural and sports events, attracting domestic and foreign tourists, such as the International Mountain Marathon (Vietnam Mountain Marathon) “Festival Quintessence of the Northwest, Bac Ha White Plateau Festival “Bac Ha White Plateau Horse Hoof”, Sa Pa Snow Festival, Y Ty Autumn Festival, Festival Roses and brocade, a reenactment of Sa Pa Love Market, horse hooves in the clouds, etc. have made Lao Cai a favorite destination of domestic and international tourists.

Homestay Y Ty Dai Ngan (Bat Xat) attracts tourists to relax

Developing community-based tourism in Lao Cai province not only contributes to preserving the indigenous culture, but also brings practical economic benefits to local people. First of all, tourism contributes to livelihood transformation and income enhancement for ethnic communities participating in tourism chains. Statistics show that, in Lao Cai, more than 350 ethnic minority households are involved in the business of staying at home. Lao Cai was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism as the leading locality in the country in the effective development of the homestay community tourism model, popular in communes: Ta Van, Ta Phin (Sa Pa town), Y Ty (Bat Xat district), Ta Chai, Na Hoi, Ban Pho, Ta Van Chu, Ban Lien (Bac Ha district), Nghia Do (Bac Ha district). Bao Yen district). In particular, the Dao people in Ta Phin, Ta Van, Nam Cang communes... (Sa Pa district, Lao Cai province) have switched from monoculture of rice to tourism.

Community-based tourism in Lao Cai is increasingly attracting the attention of tourists and making an important contribution to improving the lives of ethnic communities participating in community tourism activities, forming a number of product brands that not only create jobs and increase income for the locality but also contribute directly to the promotion of cultural values of ethnic minorities. The expansion of tourism activities to villages has created job opportunities and increased incomes for ethnic minority communities, contributing to improving the material and spiritual life of the localities. In addition, the development of community-based tourism also provides opportunities for the restoration and development of a number of traditional occupations, customs and cultural activities of the community, contributing to the preservation and effective promotion of the cultural identity of the ethnic groups. Specifically: traditional handicraft products with brocade, traditional musical instruments, silver jewelry...; Ethnic cuisine: Thang Co, Seven-color sticky rice, Chinese sausage, Chili sauce, Seng Cu rice, medicinal chicken.... folklore activities, and traditional festivals also gradually attract the participation of tourists and travel agencies, contributing directly to the promotion of the cultural values of ethnic minorities.

According to the Netherlands Tourism Development Organization, although Lao Cai has impressive tourism resources and good market trends, the national cultural values have not been fully promoted to develop community tourism products. In addition to a few tourist spots that have been built, up to now, the exploitation and development of community-based tourism products has taken place in Lao Cai very slowly and has not yet exploited its full potential and strengths.

This situation requires that in the coming time, Lao Cai needs to promote tourism development in association with preserving the natural landscape, biodiversity, unique indigenous cultural features and environmental protection, it is necessary to develop new and attractive tourist products. In fact, community-based tourism is a product that attracts 70% of foreign tourists' attention when coming to Lao Cai. Under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of traditional homestays in villages and hamlets operate in moderation.

Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to building and replicating new products of high quality and reasonable price, capturing the needs and tastes of customers to serve tourists such as Fansipan's Purple Flower Hill, the homestay Swing Sa Pa, Y Ty Ecologe... Besides, it is necessary to research and discover to be able to open more attractive tourist routes in remote and isolated areas, combined with the development of unique tourism products of ethnic minorities; maintaining upland cultural markets towards the restoration and preservation of local culture, and at the same time exploiting culture into tourism development.