Touristscoming to Lai Chau may choose between following the main road, thenational 12th highway (from Dien Bien Phu town to Ma Lu Thang bordergate in Lai Chau), or the 4D road (from Sapa to Lai Chau).

Natural beauty & sight-seeings

LaiChau is said to be the land of Ban and Dao flowers (hoa ban & hoađào), the unique ones of jungles, which attract and inspire thousandsof artists. Yet, most of all, as the nation’s highest mountainousregion, the beauty of Lai Chau is structured by the high mountainranges stretching from the Northwest to the southeast. It shares theFansipan Mount – top of the Vietnam’s highest mountain range(Himalaya)- with Sapa (in Lao Cai). With the height of 3,143m, Fansipanis not only the highest in Vietnam but also in the Indochina peninsula,being considered “the roof of Indochina”. Among others, some plateaussuch as Sin Ho, Ta Phinh, Dao San, etc. are even higher than 1,500m,thus being covered in cloud, fog, and purely cool atmosphere all thetime.

Apartfrom high mountains, Lai Chau is also rich in narrow valleys, beautifulrivers and springs. The longest and largest river in the province is Dariver. These together with others, such as Nam Na, Nam Mu flowingbetween the ranges, make several roaring and white frothy waterfalls inthe quiet forests. One amongst the most popular waterfalls is Tac Tinh,which is higher than 50m with 2 classes, and frequently full of waterflows, bringing a magnificient picture of natural beauty. Taking a boatalong Da River, no visitor could help keeping eyes on the very finelandscapes, namely the roofs made of black stones, and mountains inclouds. The fanciful villages of ethnic minorities on the banks of theRiver are gathering in a picturesque scenery. For those fond ofhealth-care elements, there are some hot and mineral water springsscattering in the province, for examples, Van Bo (in Phong ThoDistrict), Na Dong, Na Don (Tam Duong), and some other hydroelectricitylakes.

Canyou imagine that the caves and grottoes in the mountain ranges in thearea still remain their original states, such as Binh Lu and Tien Songrottoes, which are no doubt the magic beauties of nature! Moreover,there exists a thousands-of-hectare forest, in the 6 km southwest ofLai Chau town, consisting of more than ten original caves. All of thoseare truly beautiful with sparking brightness and varied shapedstalactites and stalagmites. Thanks to this gifted scenery, the area iscalled “Phong Nha Grotto of the Northwest”.

Historical relics

Peopletake interest in Lai Chau not only because of its natural beauty, butalso of its historical relics. One amongst them is Deo Van Long’sPalace located in Sin Ho District, which the palace of Thai King underthe French colony. The palace, covered by the Thai-style architecturalfeatures, is also a place for educating the youth of national love. Thesecond-ranking one is Le Loi’s stele, which was sculptured and set upon Da River bank, unveiling the story of Le Loi’s defeating anupraising troop in the Northwest, keeping the nation’s security. Also,there are some relics of ancient Viet people such as bronze drum andbronze tools, which are vestiges of the Eastern Culture.

People & Custom

Thenatural landscape is the accommodation of more than 20 ethnicminorities. Most of them are Thai people (33.5%), H’mong people(23.6%), Dao (14.4%) and Viet or Kinh people (11.2%), Ha Nhi people(5.6%) and some others. And there are two groups, who only live in LaiChau, that is, Mang and La Hu people. Lots of ethnic people still keeptheir unique original tradition and custom, making the local culturediversified and worth a study.

Whatmakes Lai Chau worth remembering is its various customs of each tribe,which has its own culture of funeral, wedding, worshipping, and soforth. The mentioned market is the most significant activity in life,which take place in the Thursday and Sunday morning. People from manytribes get together here in colorful clothes early in the foggymorning. Seen from above, the market looks like a flower with thousandsof colors. The goods to be transacted are the local specialties, suchas chickens, pork, honey, rice, tea, etc. Somebody says : “If you wouldlike to figure out the unique local market, you must join one, whichreveals the ethnic minority and mountainous life culture in clarity anddetails.

Festivals

Festivalsare one among the most activities of Lai Chau in particular andmountainous regions’ in general. The most popular one in Lai Chau is“Hoa Ban festival”, which reflects the cultural and spiritual life ofThai people. In the second lunar month of the year, when it gets warmerand “hoa ban” (the significant kind of flower in the Northwest area),blossoms, “Hoa Ban festival” is celeberated. This is time for boys andgirls to meet and get to know each other. The boy picks up the mostbeautiful flower and put it in his girlfriend’s hair. The girl hidesunder the fresh leaves. This is not only the time for love but also forThai people to pray for good crops, happiness, expressing theirgratitude to ancestors. The festival is always full of songs and prays.

Anotherfamous festival is “Han khuong festival”, which takes place in spring.Once again, this is an opportunity for boys and girls to get to knoweach other by singing and dancing. “Han” means stage, “Khuong” meansyard. When the festival starts, young, beautiful and unmarried girlssing love songs on the stage. Then, the boys sing songs for response.At the same time, they can look for a person who can share theirfeelings and then come, sit together and talk. After that, they date,and wait for the next appointment. And can you guess? After thefestival, many couples get married. For old people, that is the timefor memories.

“Gau Tao festival” – “spring traveling”, a festival of H’mong people, is held every spring. After Lunar New Year festival, couples go to the market just for spending time together. The boys play “Khen”, a kind of musical instrument for one another.

Lai Chau is exactly a captivating and typical  mountainousland, absorbing huge numbers of tourists widespread. If you areinterested in ethnic minority culture, you should really take part in amarket or festival of Lai Chau, which unveils the mountainous culturein the way of a “love-blossoming” land!