In the first quarter of 2026, Lao Cai's tourism sector recorded impressive growth. This result stemmed from the extended Tet holiday, favorable weather conditions, and numerous tourism, cultural, and spiritual activities taking place throughout the province.
In the vibrant atmosphere of the 4th day of the Lunar New Year (February 20th), at the central stadium of Bac Ha commune, the People's Committee of Bac Ha commune enthusiastically organized the weekly horse racing competition, kicking off a series of cultural and tourism activities for the spring of 2026.
From the moment of the Lunar New Year's Eve of the Year of the Horse 2026, the atmosphere at spiritual tourism destinations in Lao Cai province has become bustling. Crowds of people flocked to temples and pagodas, carrying wishes for a peaceful and lucky new year. In just the first two days of the Lunar New Year, tens of thousands of tourists from within and outside the province visited and worshipped, demonstrating the strong appeal of spiritual tourism in the area.
Amidst the swirling sea of clouds of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, at an altitude of over three thousand meters above sea level, the red flag with a yellow star proudly flies. On the summit of Fansipan – the roof of Indochina – a sacred moment begins on the first day of the new year.
Coc Ly Market – a traditional market of the Mong ethnic people in Bao Nhai commune (formerly Coc Ly commune) – is usually held every Tuesday. However, to meet the Tet holiday shopping needs of the local people, today – the 27th day of the 12th lunar month – the market is holding an additional special session. With the traditional Tet holiday approaching, the market is even more crowded and bustling.
In the spring days, when the weather in the highlands is still cool, Suoi Giang (Van Chan commune) bursts into the vibrant yellow of mustard flowers. The mustard flower season in Suoi Giang arrives gently, like the mist on the mountaintops. Amidst the fresh air of the mountains and forests, the slopes of yellow flowers stretch along the hillsides, winding through small paths, embracing the villages… creating a unique and gentle atmosphere of the highlands.
Y Ty commune in Lao Cai province is located at an altitude of approximately 2,000 meters above sea level, boasting majestic and beautiful natural scenery and rich cultural identity.
In the early days of the new year, temperatures in Y Ty commune dropped sharply. Low temperatures at night and slightly higher temperatures during the day, coupled with light rain, created ideal conditions for thick, fluffy clouds to envelop the highland villages, giving Y Ty a fairytale-like beauty.
On the morning of January 1st, 2026, at the main hall of Lao Cai Railway Station, the People's Committee of Lao Cai Ward, in coordination with relevant units, organized a program to welcome the first international delegation to "inaugurate" the locality. The event aimed to build a friendly and civilized tourism image and create a favorable start to the new year.
From July 2025, the new Ban Xeo commune will be established by merging three former communes: Ban Xeo, Muong Vi, and Pa Cheo. The new Ban Xeo commune not only has a larger area but also possesses the potential and strengths for tourism development of the three former communes. Currently, the Party Committee and the government of Ban Xeo commune have identified tourism development as one of the breakthrough tasks contributing to improving the lives and achieving sustainable poverty reduction for the people
