With the motto "Culture is foundation and guideline to create strengths, tourism products and combine tourism exploitation with culture conservation of ethnic minorities to attract tourists", since 2005, Lao Cai has implemented community-based tourism development project in 2 communes of Ban Ho and San Sa Ho (Sa Pa District). In recent years, thanks to tourism development programs, community-based tourism activity in Lao Cai has achieved positive results, attracted a larger number of tourists. Currently, Lao Cai has 13 community-based tourism destinations, mainly in districts of Sa Pa and Bac Ha.

Visiting Sa Pa, tourists can choose many community-based tourism routes such as Sa Pa Town - Y Linh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van; Lao Chai - Ta Van - Ban Ho - Thanh Phu - Nam Sai - Sa Pa Town or Sa Pa Town - Ta Phin - Mong Sen - Tac Co - Sa Pa Town... Of which, international tourists are particularly interested in many destinations as ancient rock field (in communes of Hau Thao, Su Pan and Ta Van), Ta Phin Village (Ta Van Commune), Cau May tourist site in Ta Chai Hamlet (Ban Ho Commune). Bac Ha District also focuses on building cultural village model associated with developing community-based tourism in hamlets of  Trung Do (Bao Nhai Commune), Na Lo (Ta Chai Commune), Ban Pho 2A (Ban Pho Commune), Ta Van Chu (Ta Van Chu Commune)...

In fact, tourists, especially foreign tourists to Sa Pa and Bac Ha often visit ethnic villages to stay and work together with villagers, enjoy folk art performances and buy brocade, bamboo items. In particular, the number of households providing homestay service increases continually in the community-based tourism destinations. Turnover of the households is quite high, an average of VND 25 - 27 million per household per year (in Ta Van Commune), VND 35 - 40 million per household per year (in Trung Do Commune).

In spite of rich tourism resources, community-based tourism activities in Lao Cai still exist many difficulties and challenges such as tourism services are not plentiful; there is no link among households at each other; tourism facilities in destinations is lack and not synchronous...

To remedy this situation, the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) recommends Lao Cai to promote effectively link model among government, households, travel agencies and consultants. In addition, the province needs to have policies to encourage community-based tourism development, plan models of community-based tourism development; create specific tourism products; establish community-based tourism management board in some communes; organize annually traditional festivals; maintain highland markets to restore and preserve local cultural identity...

In the future, with synchronized and timely solutions, Lao Cai will turn potentials into strengths, develop effectively community-based tourism activity, affirm pioneer position in developing community-based tourism in the Northwest region in particular and the country in general.

Thu Giang