Bac Ha “White Plateau” – A distinctive tourism destination of Lao Cai and the Northwest
LCP - In recent years, Bac Ha Tourist Area in Lao Cai province has made significant progress, gradually affirming its position as an attractive destination in the Northwest, with a vision to become a national tourist site.
Plum and pear blossoms in full bloom across Bac Ha, creating the signature “White Plateau”
Known as the “White Plateau,” Bac Ha captivates visitors with the stunning beauty of plum and pear blossoms covering the hills each spring. The area features a mild climate, diverse landscapes, and rich natural ecosystems. It is also home to unique cultural identities of ethnic groups such as the Mong, Tay, Nung, and Phu La, with vibrant traditional markets, festivals, folk songs, dances, and handicrafts. Notably, Bac Ha Market has become a signature tourism highlight.
Experiencing the traditional Bac Ha market.
In 2020, Bac Ha was officially recognized as a provincial-level tourist area. Lao Cai province has since issued various policies to support tourism development, including Resolution No.06/2021/NQ-HĐND and Resolution No.30/2025/NQ-HĐND. During 2021 - 2025, over VND 75.6 billion in loans was provided to 853 households, alongside nearly VND 2 billion supporting cultural activities; Bac Ha alone received VND 5.5 billion for community-based tourism development.
Tourism in Bac Ha has shown strong recovery and growth after the Covid-19 pandemic. Visitor numbers increased from 150,000 in 2021 to 671,000 in 2024, while tourism revenue reached approximately VND 671 billion. Tourism services have been steadily improved, with 12 hotels, 43 guesthouses, 65 homestays, and over 60 service establishments.
Distinct tourism products have taken shape, including cultural tourism at Bac Ha Market, Tam Hoa plum garden experiences, community-based tourism in Ban Pho, Ta Chai, and Ban Lien, as well as major events such as the White Plateau Festival, Horse Racing Festival, and Tam Hoa Plum Festival.
Bac Ha prioritizes linking tourism development with cultural preservation and local livelihood improvement, creating jobs and increasing income for residents. Traditional cultural values are preserved and promoted as key tourism assets.
By 2030, Bac Ha aims to become a distinctive tourism destination of Lao Cai and the Northwest, moving toward national tourist area status. Key priorities include developing five flagship tourism products, upgrading infrastructure, attracting investment, promoting digital transformation, strengthening regional linkages, and preserving cultural heritage.
With these achievements, Bac Ha is emerging as a key tourism growth pole in eastern Lao Cai, forming a major tourism axis together with Sa Pa, contributing to socio-economic development and enhancing the province’s image on the national and international tourism map.