Bac Ha is located in the northeast of Lao Cai province, about 70 km from Lao Cai city. "White Plateau" Bac Ha is a place to converge the cultural colors of 14 ethnic groups living together with special festivals such as the Gao Cao Association or also known as Say San, Red Dao Festival of the Red Dao, and the Association Cage of Tong (coming down to the field), the Tay dance festival of Tay people, the traditional horse racing festival has a unique, unique fair market; a place where many traditional jobs are kept, such as the silver making of the Dao people in Nam Khanh commune, the craft of forging and making wine of the Mong people, making the saddles of the Phu La people. Bac Ha is also famous for its many relics and landscapes such as Rong Ta Van Chu Cave, Tien Cave and Coc Ly Cave - Chay River, Co Tien Mountain, 3 Mother and Son Mountain in Bac Ha Town, Ban Lien Old Forest and Primitive Forest. Ta Van Chu, Coc Ly timber forest, ancient tea forest of Hoang Thu Pho commune, national cultural and historical relics Hoang A Tuong Palace, Bac Ha Temple, Trung Do Temple ... Bac Ha is also in a favorable position. to transfer tourists from Sapa, Lao Cai city to Si Ma Cai, through Xin Man - Ha Giang or vice versa ...
The rich natural and human tourism resources which are the ideal resources and conditions for tourism to develop in Bac Ha become one of the key tourism areas of Lao Cai. However, it can be seen that Bac Ha tourism has not yet developed to match its strong potential. Although standing in the top provinces of the province to welcome tourists, but looking at the annual figure, the number of visitors to Bac Ha is still quite modest compared to Sa Pa and Lao Cai city. In 2014, Bac Ha received 160,000 tourists (of which about 35% were international visitors), compared with 820,000 visitors to Sa Pa and 800,000 visitors to Lao Cai city. The length of stay of tourists to Bac Ha is very low, averaging only about 1 day. It can be seen that Bac Ha has not identified the tourist market segment. No specific tourism products have been built; tourists to Bac Ha have not yet really experienced the cultural life of the people here; it is difficult to find souvenir products with local identities; tourist routes and spots in the area develop spontaneously and monotonously. Tourism technical facilities have not been invested; lack of entertainment spots; The system of hotels, motels serving tourists is only small-scale and lacks high-quality facilities, currently only 3 hotels meet 2-star standards. Tourism human resources lack and lack of expertise has not met the requirements for tourism services. Promotion promotion has not been focused; attracting ineffective investment; There is no local travel business. The ability to connect with Sa Pa, Lao Cai City, Si Ma Cai, Xin Man (Ha Giang) in coordinating tourists is limited.
Although there are many difficulties, but Bac Ha tourism in particular, Lao Cai tourism in general is facing many breakthrough development opportunities in the period of 2015-2020 when Noi Bai - Lao Cai highway smoothly. strongly promote trading activities on the economic corridor of Van Nam - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh; connecting North-West arc tourism, in which, with the advantage of geographical location, natural landscape and traditional culture, Bac Ha will be an attractive destination for tourists on the streets of Sapa - Bac Ha - Xin Man - Hoang Su Phi - Lung Cu - Dong Van (Ha Giang).
From the potentials, strengths, opportunities as well as challenges, Bac Ha District Party Executive Committee for the term 2015 - 2020 has determined the choice of developing tourism to become a spearhead economic sector with contributions to scale and speed. High growth of services as well as economic sectors of the district.
In the coming time, Bac Ha prioritizes to exploit the international tourist market: Western Europe, Australia, Japan, South Korea; domestic tourist market includes: Hanoi, the northern cities. Focus on developing tourism product lines (tourism type) such as: Cultural tourism; ecotourism - community; Sightseeing tours, historical monuments, festivals to meet the needs of discovery and experience of visitors. Promote promotion through special publications, internet systems, social networks; promoting investment and attracting tourism technical facilities of the district, with priority given to investment in building hotels of 3 stars or more in the Town area, developing community tourism; building and upgrading routes connecting tourist spots. Focus on training tourism human resources towards perfecting basic skills in accordance with the standards of Vietnam tourism standards. Strengthening the ability to connect, coordinate and transfer passengers with localities in the province and Ha Giang province. Improve the capacity to welcome guests, increase the length of stay of visitors.
With the efforts of the locality, Bac Ha tourism in the future will be rich in tourism products, perfecting facilities, establishing travel enterprises in the area, developing the labor force there. Skilled workmanship, expanding district tourism space. To Bac Ha will really become a favorite destination of domestic and foreign tourists.
Pham Tat Thanh