Lao Cai develops wellness tourism ecosystem in Vietnam

Lao Cai province in northeast Vietnam is developing a wellness tourism ecosystem to leverage its mountainous landscapes, cool climate, and diverse ethnic cultures. The initiative aims to increase visitor spending and extend stays by offering high-value health and relaxation experiences.

Key attractions include the Sa Pa National Tourist Zone, which features high-end resorts and cultural activities such as Mong flute music and Red Dao herbal baths. In Ta Phin village, visitors can experience traditional medicinal baths prepared from 10 to 30 different forest plant species. The Hoang Lien National Park also provides opportunities for mountain tourism and exploring diverse flora near the Suoi Vang stream and Tinh Yeu waterfall.

Tourism in the region has shown significant growth. In the first nine months of 2026, Lao Cai received over 9.8 million visitors, generating approximately 41 trillion dongs (1.58 billion USD) in revenue. During the National Day holiday period from August 29 to September 2, the province saw over 450,000 tourists, doubling the figures from the same period in 2025. The province aims to welcome 17 million visitors by 2030.