After merging Lao Cai and Yen Bai, the heritage belt of the Northwest will be formed

Aspiration to rise in the new era

The Standing Committees of Lao Cai and Yen Bai Provincial Party Committees have just coordinated to organize a conference to assess the progress of the merger of the two provinces.

Mr. Trinh Xuan Truong, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Lao Cai province, assessed that the merger of the two provinces is a historic turning point, a premise for the creation and development of the new province based on the potential and strengths of the two localities in the coming time.

Mr. Trinh Xuan Truong hopes that the two provinces will continue to walk together, be unanimous, united, always innovate, be dynamic, creative, dare to think, dare to do, take the happiness of the people as the development goal to "go together, touch dreams" with the aspiration to rise in the new era.

Mr. Tran Huy Tuan, Secretary of the Yen Bai Provincial Party Committee, also affirmed that the two localities have seriously and responsibly implemented in the spirit of solidarity, "only discussing doing, not retreating", towards a sustainable development future after the merger.

According to Mr. Tran Huy Tuan, the reunion is the beginning of a new journey, reaching far and sustainably, for a land that converges the cultural identities of ethnic groups with the aspiration to rise up and develop in the new era.

Previously, on April 12, the 11th Conference of the 13th Central Executive Committee approved Resolution No. 60, the policy of merging Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces. The new province will be named Lao Cai, the political and administrative center will be located in Yen Bai.

In the past, from 1976 to 1991, the three provinces of Yen Bai - Nghia Lo - Lao Cai were merged into an administrative unit named Hoang Lien Son. That was the period of the existence of a "giant" tourist area stretching from Fansipan peak to Thac Ba lake - names that have appeared on the map of Vietnamese and international tourism.

The reorganization after more than 30 years of provincial separation not only has the meaning of streamlining administrative management, but also opens up new opportunities for the Northwest tourism industry.

Combining tourism strategies

In the Northern tourism map, there are few provinces that are perfectly complementary like Lao Cai and Yen Bai. If Lao Cai is considered the "gateway to the highlands tourism" with the international brand Sa Pa, Yen Bai is a "native land" with locations associated with national culture and pristine scenery.

Lao Cai owns Sa Pa - the only representative of Vietnam in the top 16 most beautiful towns in the world voted by Time Out magazine (UK).

With a cool climate all year round, Sa Pa is considered a "little Europe" in the heart of the Northwest. Not only the "roof of Indochina" Fansipan or the majestic Muong Hoa Hoa valley, Sa Pa is also a place imbued with the identity of the H'Mong people, Red Dao through the love market, brocade weaving and villages lying peacefully in the clouds.

Meanwhile, Yen Bai stands out with Mu Cang Chai, a terraced fields recognized as a Special National Monument, often praised by the international press as the most beautiful destination in Southeast Asia. The pristine space, brilliant ripe rice in autumn, traditional festivals of the H'Mong people such as the Festival of Independence, highland markets... create an overall experience rich in emotions and experiences.

In addition, Suoi Giang with the ancient Shan Tuyet tea forest, Thac Ba lake with more than 1,300 large and small islands, or Nghia Lo town imbued with Thai culture are also special destinations, marked on the Vietnam tourism map.

Geographically, Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces are adjacent, with a relatively complete transportation system, playing a transit role between the highlands and midlands of the North. The merger will help form a large tourism linked area, opening up the possibility of developing tourism routes and clusters across the province with better scale and quality.

The Noi Bai - Lao Cai Expressway is considered the main artery to bring tourists from Hanoi to Sa Pa in just about 4-5 hours. Yen Bai is connecting to the expressway axis connecting the lowlands with the Northwest heritage area such as Mu Cang Chai - Tram Tau - Nghia Lo...

The formation of a "heritage belt" extending from Fansipan peak to Thac Ba lake not only expands the destination fund but also increases the length of stay and experience of tourists.

The two provinces of Lao Cai and Yen Bai after the merger are considered a strategic combination of tourism, when the two localities can complement each other: one side is strong in terms of brand and infrastructure, the other side stands out for its depth of identity and original beauty.

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