Laocai
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), H’Mong, Tay, Dao, Thai...
Located in
North-West Vietnam, Laocai is surrounded by Yunna (China) on the north, Laichau
Province on the west, Hagiang Province on the east and Yenbai, Sonla provinces
on the south.
Laocai’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 Laocai 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 Laocai, 9 kinds of floras only found in Sapa. So that Laocai owns
a treasure of valuable and rare genes, making up 50% rare floras in Vietnam.
Laocai 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.
Laocai 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)…
Laocai 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 Laichau to Laocai 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.
Laocai 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….
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Source: Vietnam Administration of Tourism |