10 famous tourist destinations in Lao Cai today

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Lao Cai is a super beautiful tourist destination in the North , this is a diverse land, with majestic landscapes of wild mountains and forests along with the hustle and bustle of a developing city. Lao Cai tourist destination currently attracts tourists with many famous tourist destinations. Spring here has a fresh and airy climate, with peach blossoms blooming brilliantly. Summer, the sound of waterfalls murmuring. Autumn is cool with golden rice fields. Winter brings romantic snowfall.

Let’s explore 10 famous tourist destinations in Lao Cai with Smile Travel to have the best experiences in this land!

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10 famous tourist destinations in Lao Cai today

1. Who are you?

Sapa is one of the 10 famous tourist destinations in Lao Cai today , located between the Hoang Lien Son and Con Voi mountain ranges to the Northwest. The natural landscape of Sapa is combined with human creativity to create a beautiful scene of green hills and forests that fascinates many tourists. From the city center, visitors can freely admire the immense mountain peaks…

Sapa tourism is an opportunity for tourists to conquer the famous Fansipan peak or take a backpacking trip to the villages hidden in the mist. The mountain scenery with hundreds of blooming flowers will surely delight tourists when they set foot in this place.

This is the reason why you should learn about 10 famous Lao Cai tourist destinations that Smile Travel suggests so as not to miss any great places. We always have attractive Sapa tours available , call the 24/7 Hotline: 0369.461.186 for free consultation .

Address: Sapa Town, Sapa District, Lao Cai Province

2. Lao Cai tourist destination – Lung Po flagpole

Lung Po, a stream in Bat Xat district, marks the water border dividing point between Vietnam and China. Lung Po stream meets the Red River at milestone 92, which is the first point where the Red River flows into Vietnam. From there, the Red River flows through the northern provinces of Vietnam before emptying into the East Sea through Ba Lat estuary (Nam Dinh).

In addition to marking the historical formation of the Red River, Lung Po is also a place to record the history of the border region, where the A Mu Sung border guards sacrificed their lives to protect the country and the border. Standing in front of Lung Po flagpole, visitors can feel the pride of the nation, where Vietnamese blood is sacrificed to protect the country. When traveling to Lao Cai , do not forget to visit Lung Po flagpole to better understand the unique culture and history of this land.

Address: A Mu Sung Commune, Bat Xat District, Lao Cai Province

3. Tien Sa Waterfall

Tien Sa Waterfall Sapa is located in Cat Cat Village tourist area , one of the famous destinations of Sapa. Discovering the wild beauty of Tien Sa Waterfall along with visiting Cat Cat Village creates an interesting journey not to be missed when visiting Sapa town.

Tien Sa Waterfall, also known as Cat Cat Waterfall, is one of the famous tourist attractions in Sapa . Tourists often come to Cat Cat Village to admire the poetic and lyrical beauty of Tien Sa Waterfall. The beauty of Tien Sa Waterfall is created by Hoang Lien Son mountain range and Tien stream. The water source from Hoang Lien Son mountain range forms Tien Sa Waterfall, then the water continues to flow along Tien stream to the Red River. Perhaps thanks to the presence of Tien Sa Waterfall, it has created an extremely green and romantic natural landscape, captivating people with its fresh and majestic beauty.

Address: Cat Cat Village, Sapa, Lao Cai Province

4. O Quy Ho Pass

O Quy Ho Pass is also one of the 10 famous tourist destinations in Lao Cai today , and is also an important route connecting the two provinces of Lai Chau and Lao Cai, considered one of the most beautiful and longest passes in the Northwest region. With winding curves and rugged terrain, O Quy Ho Pass becomes an attractive check-in location during a trip to Sapa.

The wonderful natural picture in the Northwest region along with the impressive photo opportunities make O Quy Ho Pass an attractive destination for tourists who love to explore. However, when traveling through the pass, especially when using self-driving vehicles such as motorbikes, tourists need to be careful. Experiencing O Quy Ho Pass will bring unforgettable memories and great photos to preserve memorable moments.

Address: Tam Duong, Lai Chau; the remaining 1/3 is located in Sapa, Lao Cai province

5. Fairy Mountain

Fairy Mountain is an impressive destination in Lao Cai , where visitors can not only experience the traditional cultural beauty of the highland people but also enjoy the amazing natural landscape. Going uphill to the Southwest, passing the steep roads, visitors will have the opportunity to admire the wide stone slab next to the table, the Fairy-shaped stone chair and the small chairs around, creating an impressive space with 4 boys resembling 4 dragons around, protecting the entire valley, the “Mung Khang” border.

Here, visitors will admire the panoramic view of Bac Ha town from above, where the small plum blossom season creates a colorful picture, the bustling market with diverse colors of dresses and the majestic and quiet Hoang A Tuong mansion, along with rice fields, corn fields, green forests, and winding roads around the mountains, creating the attraction for this tourist land.

Address: Muong Khuong, Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province

6. Thai Giang Pho Flower Valley

About 1.5km from Bac Ha center, visitors have the opportunity to explore Thai Giang Pho flower valley – an eco-tourism destination invested and developed by a private unit.

This is also an ideal place for photography lovers, because of the brilliant beauty of the flower garden, this will be the place to save beautiful photos with friends and relatives. Exploring Thai Giang Pho, visitors also have the opportunity to enjoy many unique traditional dishes such as men men, sour pho, roasted pork, thang co, hot pot, grilled hill chicken, hung meat, sausage, seven-color sticky rice… with the typical flavors of the local people. This will be a special and meaningful culinary experience for visitors when traveling to Lao Cai.

Address: Airport, Thai Giang Pho, Bac Ha, Lao Cai province

7. Bay Waterfall

Located about 20 kilometers from the center of Van Ban district, Liem Phu is famous for Bay waterfall, a must-see destination when coming to this area. From above, the water flows down creating a beautiful landscape, along with a layer of mist creating a poetic and quiet space, making all fatigue gradually disappear.

The area around Bay waterfall is the primeval forest of Liem Phu, which belongs to Hoang Lien – Van Ban Nature Reserve, where the species composition is diverse and typical of the flora and fauna of the Northwest. This forest is also home to many rare plant species such as po mu, thong nang, sen mat, gioi gang and many other species.

Address: Liem Phu, Van Ban, Lao Cai province

8. Bac Ha Market

For those who love to travel to Sapa , Bac Ha Market is a destination not to be missed. This market only takes place every week on Sunday from morning to afternoon and is located majestically on a gentle hill that has existed since ancient times, when Lao Cai was first formed.

Here, visitors will be able to see a variety of stalls, with rich, colorful and diverse handicrafts. In particular, you will also meet and learn about the Tay, Nung, Mong and other ethnic groups living in this area.

Address: Bac Ha, Lao Cai province

9. Y Ty – Lao Cai tourist destination

Y Ty, also known as the “land of clouds“, is located at an altitude of more than 2000m above sea level, creating a unique and beautiful natural landscape. The landscape here is covered by floating clouds, giving the feeling of entering a fairyland when you set foot here.

Every year, from September to April is the most suitable time for tourists to explore and enjoy the natural beauty of Y Ty, when the clouds are the most numerous and create the most beautiful scenes. In addition, from August to September is the time when Y Ty puts on a golden shirt from the rice fields, creating a heart-wrenchingly beautiful picture of the famous tourist destination of Lao Cai.

Address: Bat Xat, Lao Cai province

10. Coc San Cave

Coc San Cave, also known as Coc San Waterfall, is a unique place because of the combination of a stone cave and a waterfall. When entering Coc San Cave, you will be immersed in the mysterious beauty of the vast rice fields. The murmuring sound of the stream and the water flowing through each crevice of the rocks create a poetic and quiet space. Coc San Cave has many caves scattered at the base of each waterfall, creating a mysterious scene suitable for visitors to explore.

Here, visitors have the opportunity to admire and immerse themselves in the cool water in the cave, enjoying the sparkling beauty of nature. The special thing about Coc San Cave is that you can admire the strange shapes of stalactites in the cave, like works of art created by nature. This is definitely a place that tourists traveling to Lao Cai will not forget after each visit.

Address: Coc San, Bat Xat, Lao Cai province

6 Son La culinary delights you should try

1. Muong Khuong horse meat stew

This is considered the “king of highland cuisine” in Lao Cai. Unlike thang co made with beef or pork in the lowlands, authentic Lao Cai thang co must be made with horse meat and offal, simmered in giant pans with 12 types of endemic forest herbs and spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, star anise, galangal, and thang co plant. The dish has a slightly bitter taste initially but a sweet aftertaste, with a rich aroma of the mountains and forests.

Recommended places: A Quynh Thang Co Restaurant in Sa Pa (No. 15 Thach Son Street, Sa Pa town) or visit Bac Ha market on Sunday mornings.
Reference price: From 100,000 – 350,000 VND / hot pot .

2. Bac Ha Sour Pho

Unlike traditional hot beef pho, Bac Ha sour pho is the pride of the Hmong and Tay people. The dish combines characteristic reddish-brown pho noodles (handmade from local red upland rice), thinly sliced crispy-skinned roasted black pork, finely chopped pickled mustard greens, crushed roasted peanuts, and a sweet and sour sauce made from a traditional fermented fruit vinegar.

Recommended places: Sour pho restaurant in Bac Ha Cultural Market or Ly Cai Sour Pho restaurant (Bac Ha Town, Lao Cai).
Reference price: Only 30,000 – 40,000 VND per bowl .

3. Salmon and sturgeon from the cold rivers of Sa Pa

Thanks to its cool, subtropical microclimate year-round, Sa Pa successfully cultivates high-quality cold-water fish species that rival imported varieties. Sa Pa salmon has a vibrant orange-pink color, firm flesh, and a rich, sweet flavor without being greasy. Visitors can enjoy it in a combination: crispy fried fish skin, fillet eaten raw (sashimi) with mustard, or dipped into a steaming hot, spicy salmon hot pot on a chilly night.

Recommended addresses: King Salmon Restaurant in Sa Pa (015 Le Van Tam Street, Sa Pa) or O Quy Ho Restaurant .
Estimated price: From 200,000 – 500,000 VND / person (calculated based on combo meals or fresh fish by the kilogram).

4. Grilled free-range pork (Black native pig)

The name “carrying under the arm” originates from the local people’s habit of carrying small, hybrid wild boars (weighing only 4-8 kg) under their armpits to sell at the market. Because the pigs are free-range on the mountain slopes, foraging for food, their meat is extremely firm and almost fat-free. The best way to prepare it is to chop the whole pig and grill it over charcoal with honey . The finished product has a golden, crispy skin on the outside, while the meat inside remains sweet, tender, and juicy, served with a dipping sauce of salt, pepper, mắc khén seeds, and dổi seeds.

Recommended places: Do Quyen Restaurant in Sa Pa (Thach Son Street, Sa Pa) or other late-night grilled food stalls around the Stone Church area.
Reference price: Approximately 150,000 – 250,000 VND per disc .

5. Lao Cai braised pork belly

This is a traditional dish that is a must-have at major festivals and weddings of the Tay and Nung people in Lao Cai. Khau nhuc is prepared with great care using pork belly from black native pigs. The meat must go through several stages: first boiling, then carefully pricking the skin with bamboo skewers before deep-frying until crispy and puffy. Afterward, the meat is sliced thickly, arranged in a bowl with various spices such as salted mustard greens , basil, garlic, and galangal, and steamed continuously for 4-5 hours until the meat is tender and melts in your mouth.

Recommended places: Ethnic specialty restaurants in the center of Lao Cai City or Bac Ha town.
Reference price: Approximately 80,000 – 120,000 VND per bowl .

6. Smoked buffalo meat with fermented leaves

A classic and irreplaceable snack to take home from the far North. Fresh, tender buffalo tenderloin is sliced lengthwise, marinated meticulously with garlic, crushed roasted chili peppers, and especially mắc khén (wild pepper). The meat is then skewered onto bamboo sticks and hung above the kitchen hearth for weeks, continuously smoked with firewood. The smoke clings to the meat, drying the outer layer to a dark brown color, but when torn lengthwise, the inside retains its vibrant pinkish-red color, with a rich, sweet flavor blended with a distinctive, smoky aroma.

Recommended places to buy authentic, high-quality products: Viet’s Farm Sa Pa (26 Dong Loi Street, Sa Pa) or the Lao Cai city night market.
Reference price: From 750,000 – 850,000 VND / kg .

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Above are 10 attractive tourist destinations of Lao Cai, do you know and do you know these 10 places yet? Take the time to explore and experience all these interesting tourist destinations of Lao Cai . Don’t forget to book an attractive cheap Lao Cai tour from the reputable travel company Smile Travel to have a great experience.

As a reputable travel company, Smile Travel will bring tourists high quality travel services at competitive prices. Our travel products will surely satisfy you!

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10 famous tourist destinations in Lao Cai today