Locating in the South of Lao Cai province in the height from 700m to 900m in comparison with sea water level, Van Ban is a mountainous district with the area of the 2^nd largest one in the province (1,426 km2. The district has 22 communes, 1 town, total population is about 82.000 people, including 12 enthic minorities such as Kinh, Tay, Mong, Dao, Giay, Thai, Nung, Muong, Hoa, Phu La, San Chay, Ha Nhi, the crowdest one is Tay (holds more 50%), some fewer ones are Nung, Muong, Hoa, San Chay, Ha Ngi. Especially, Van Ban is only place of Lao Cai having Mong Xanh enthic minority – one of four Mong enthic minority branches residing in Vietnam

Van Ban location appeared very long time ago but was determined most clearly since Ly dynasty in 1015. Through historical period, at the time of the north feudal’s invasion, Van Ban stays in Cuong Gian (Tan dynasty), Giao Chi (Han dynasty), Phong Chau (Tuy dynasty, Duong dynasty). In Vietnam’s feudal dynasties, Van Ban stayed in Hung Hoa land (Tien Le dynasty), Chau Dang (Ly dynasty), in Hau Le dynasty, Van Ban is a district of Quy Hoa ward belonging to Thien Hung town. In the time of French’s invasion at the end of nineteen century, Van Ban stayed in the third and forth army before forming a ward of Yen Bai in 1900. In the time between 1976 and 1991 belonging to Hoang Lien Son province, since reforming province, Van Ban belonged to Lao Cai province

Staying between two big mountains which are Hoang Lien Son and Con Voi, Red river runs through and creates many crisscrossed springs and streams, Van Ban’s terrain is relatively complicated with many high mountain peak upper 2000m such as Lung Cung peak (2,913m), Xi-gio-pao peak (2,876m), Ba Muong peak (2,500m), Pu Mot peak (2,132m), Gia Lam peak is majestic associated with Gia Lan guerrilla zone and Na Chuong strategic war zone in the War against French. Van Ban has many mineral resources such as: Iron (Son Thuy), coal (Chieng Ken), Penspat (Khanh Yen), Gold (Minh Luong). Many communes stays in Apatite shelf and belong to clime stone zone then land is very rich and trees are very fresh as ones in Khanh Yen Ha, Tan An, Hoa Mac, etc

Van Ban’s forest has large coverage rate (56%), has many forest products,  noble specialities such as cinnamon, cardamom, honey, etc. that is the base for develop argriculatural and forest economy according to concentrated commodity production (such as Nam Tha cinnamon, Nam Chay cardamom, Tan An Kaki, Hoa Mac soybean), forest products processing industries (wood, paper) to serve domestic and exporting market. Van Ban is the center of iron mine in Lao Cai with deposit upper 500 million tons invested and exploited to provide materials for steel industry of Vietnam

When come to Van Ban, besides lanscapes such as Gio temple, Pu Gia Lan, Tham Duong cave, Tham Sang with crystal caves and magic stalactites, we also have chance to visit fantasic traditional culture zone with many enthic minorities where becomes the convergence of colorful culture from 12 ethnic groups who have been uniting together to build their village and a new life. Residents living in Van Ban village still keep their traditionin making craft cushions and pillows by cotton wipes, and ironwork for agricultural tools. enjoy Nam Can wine cooked in Nam Can – Dan Thang by sticky rice with forests yeast and fish from streams in Van Ban – Bam Thinh dish or grilled buffalo meat. It will enver forget if have eaten “Khau Lam” or “ Peng Chinh” cooked by Tham Duong sticky rice, cardamom , green beans ...

In the spring, Van Ban is very jubilant in the Long Tong festival of Tay enthic minority which is organized in Dragon day of lunar January with many playing games such as cone throwing, tug, cock by banana bill, buffalo fighting by bamboo, sword showing following traditional belief for seadon wishes, cave playing festival of Thai enthic minority from 5^th to 8^th day of January with singing love songs, etc. Festivals of Tay and Thai now common ones with plentiful and unique of enthic minorities in Van Ban.