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Lao Cai |
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Area: 6,357 sq. km.
Population: 565,700 habitants (2004)
Capital: Lao Cai City.
Districts: Muong Khuong, Bat Xat, Bac Ha, Bao Thang,
Sapa, Bao Yen, Van Ban, Si Ma Cai.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), HMong, Tay, Dao, Thai...
Geography
Located in North-West Vietnam, Lao Cai is
surrounded by Yunna (China) on the north, Lai Chau
Province on the west, Ha Giang Province on the east and
Yen Bai, Son La provinces on the south.
Lao Cai’s terrain is divided into main kinds following:
valley, low and high mountainous. With 3,143m in height,
Fansipan is considered the highest peak of the Indochina
Peninsula. The province has 107 rivers including Red,
Chay and Nam Mu rivers... The province also owns 31
types of mineral, of which apatit, cooper, iron are most
valuable.
The remarkable feature of Lao Cai is biologic
diversification. There are 2,000 kinds of flora, 442
kinds of birds and animals... of which 60 kinds of
animals only found in Lao Cai, 9 kinds of floras only
found in Sapa. So that Lao Cai owns a treasure of
valuable and rare genes, making up 50% rare floras in
Vietnam.
Climate
Lao Cai has typical mountainous climate. The dry season
lasts from October to March, it is cold. And the rain
season is from April to September. Annual average
temperature is 23ºC. Specially, sometime, there is snow
in Sapa.
Tourism
Lao Cai preserves lots of special cultural and
historical sites. Outstanding vestiges is ancient stone
engrave area with picture of map, handwriting, people
thousand years ago in Muong Hoa Valley (Sapa), Pho Rang
vestige… There are many beautiful caves like Thuy Tien
(Bat Xat), Ta Phoi (Cam Duong), Tien-Trung Do (Bac Ha),
Xuan Quang (Bao Thang)…
Lao Cai is very proud of Sapa, a unique natural tourist
site. Many new married couples like spending their
honeymoon in Sapa because of good weather and romantic
sightseeing. Visitors to Sapa in summer can feel the
climate of four seasons in one day. They enjoy
discovering other interesting places including Ham Rong
Mountain, Silver Waterfall, Rattan Bridge, Bamboo
forest, Ta Phin Cave and Sapa ancient rock field. Taken
place every Saturday night, Sapa Market is an attractive
place for visitors who are keen on exploring traditional
cultures.
In addition, Bac Ha Market hosts the biggest fair near
the mountainous highlands. It is a typical weekly
activity for the H’Mong and other minority groups living
in the locality. In Cat Cat Village many H’Mong
residents are good at manipulating gold and silver
jewelry.
It is festinate to travel from Lai Chau to Lao Cai
following National Highway No. 4D because of scenery
along roadsides and impressive sight of Hoang Lien Son
Range. This way attracts to people liking the adventure
and discover on bicycle, too.
Ethnic groups
Lao Cai has a colorful culture of 27 ethnic
groups. They are Kinh, H’Mong, Tay, Dao, Thai, Giay,
Nung, Phu La, Ha Nhi, Lao, Khang, La Ha, Muong, Bo Y,
Hoa, La Chi, San Chay, San Diu, Khmer, Lo Lo, Ka Doong,
Pa Co, E De, Gie Trieng, Gia Rai, Cham, Ka Tu. The life
of minority people groups base on planting rice on the
paddy, on the fields in the mountains or on terraced
field.
Festivals here are very special including Pray for good
crop, Spring Mountain, and Long Tong festivals. There
are many merry games such as nem con, tug-of-wars,
cockfights….
Transportation
Located 300km from Hanoi, Lao Cai can be
reached by car or train. There is National Highway
No.70, 279, 4D linking Lao Cai to Yen Bai, Lai Chau and
Ha Giang, China in turn. There are two trains depart
from Hanoi daily to Lao Cai.
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