- You are here:
- Home »
- About Sapa »
- To Develop Sustainable Agricultural Tourism Associated With The New Rural Area In Lao Cai
To Develop Sustainable Agricultural Tourism Associated With The New Rural Area In Lao Cai
The rural tourism daevelopment program in the new rural development has been approved by the Prime Minister. Lao Cai province has also issued several Resolutions, Proposals, Decisions, and Implementation Plans to promote the sustainable growth of this type of tourism in connection with local new rural development.
Potential for Agricultural Tourism Development
Vietnam has a lot of farmland, making up about 85% of its total area. With a strong farming industry, there are good conditions for agricultural tourism to grow. In Lao Cai, there are over 550,000 hectares of farmland, closely connected to farmers, rural life, and local culture. This creates great opportunities for agricultural tourism to develop along with new rural development. In Lao Cai, farm-based tourism is gradually becoming an important part of the economy. It helps turn agricultural products and rural traditions into valuable tourist attractions. Right now, agricultural and rural tourism is becoming more popular in Vietnam and has the potential to grow strongly in many parts of Lao Cai province.
Based on the characteristics of the rural area, agricultural tourism is playing an increasingly important role in expanding the tourism network and connecting various tourist spots, linking urban areas with the countryside. It connects the national tourist site of Sa Pa and provincial tourist areas like Lao Cai and Bac Ha with satellite destinations. This helps diversify the tourist destinations and products in Lao Cai, extending the length of stay for visitors thanks to the tourism services and attractions in rural areas.
In terms of exploiting diverse tourism resources connected to the unique values of agricultural areas, the range of agricultural and rural tourism products is becoming more varied to meet the needs of both domestic and international visitors. Many areas in La
o Cai have strong advantages in traditional cultural values, agricultural production activities linked to goods production, local specialty branding, and natural landscapes, festivals, traditional villages, and cuisine. These factors create a solid foundation for developing highly specialized and distinctive tourism products. Several local areas have started to develop tourism products based on their unique agricultural activities, such as fruit-growing areas, tea plantations, flower cultivation, livestock farming (chickens, horses, pigs), and clean agricultural projects (plums, pineapples, oranges, tangerines, bananas, cardamom). Other tourism activities in rural areas are blended with community tourism, cultural, ecological, and craft village experiences, such as Nghia Đo (Bao Yen), Ta Phin, Ta Van (Sa Pa), and Y Ty (Bat Xat).
In the agricultural structure, the medicinal plant sector still has a lot of potential for development alongside tourism, thanks to natural resources, soil conditions, and a favorable climate, as well as the strategy to develop wellness tourism in Lao Cai. According to statistics, Vietnam has over 5,000 plant and mushroom species, more than 400 animal species, and 75 types of minerals that are used for medicinal purposes. These are invaluable resources for developing the herbal medicine and traditional medicine industries, supporting health care for both locals and tourists. Additionally, Lao Cai has a diverse range of agricultural products and nutritious, natural food that is perfect for food tourism development. Popular dishes today often use little oil or meat, relying mainly on fresh vegetables, roots, fruits, and local crops, ensuring freshness and rich nutrition.
Forecasting demand and opportunities for the development of agricultural tourism
According to data from the General Statistics Office, Vietnam welcomed 17.6 million international visitors in 2024, a 40% increase, reaching 98% of the 2019 level before the COVID-19 pandemic. In Lao Cai, according to the Department of Tourism, the total number of visitors to Lao Cai in 2024 is estimated to reach around 8 million (including more than 820,000 international visitors and over 7.18 million domestic visitors), which is 94% of the target for 2024 (8.5 million visitors), showing a 10% increase compared to 2023 (7.261.581 visitors). The total revenue from tourism is expected to reach about 26,700 billion VND, 98% of the plan for the year (27,200 billion VND), marking a 20% increase from 2023 (22,244 billion VND). Tourism is currently seen as a bright spot in the socio-economic landscape, creating a foundation for rapid and sustainable development in the coming years. Vietnam’s tourism and tourism businesses in Lào Cai are increasingly receiving recognition and high ratings from international tourism award organizations and media, as well as positive feedback from visitors, positioning Vietnam as one of the emerging travel destinations globally.
Therefore, it is crucial to continue investing in and exploiting local strengths, while also creating new tourism products and experiences. Agricultural and rural tourism is becoming a growing trend for investment and development in many provinces. A popular trend is the combination of sightseeing and visiting flower and ornamental plant gardens at various locations, which has become fashionable among a wide range of tourists, from older adults to young people. The trend of developing agricultural tourism linked to medicinal plants in wellness and health tourism has also emerged in many countries. This type of tourism has been implemented in several tourism centers in Vietnam and is starting to be explored in Lào Cai, gaining attention from tourists and organizations. Many places have combined health care programs with herbal remedies, offering tours to medicinal plant-growing areas and serving traditional and local herbal dishes (such as hot spring baths and Red Dao herbal treatments in Sapa). Recognizing this trend, many large service providers and hotels in Lào Cai are proactively partnering with health care service networks, such as beauty spa chains, massage centers, acupuncture, herbal medicine businesses, health care centers, medicinal plant cultivation centers, and agricultural and forestry farms. These farms are now opening to tourists for visits, experiences, and selling products directly at their locations. Over the past few years, this type of tourism has blossomed in Lao Cai. Several rural tourist spots are also starting to heavily promote wellness tourism experiences, like traditional herbal baths in Sa Pa and Y Ty (Lao Cai).
Tourism focused on finding peace, reconnecting with oneself, and refreshing life in rural and agricultural areas is also a notable trend. In this context, Lào Cai stands out due to its beautiful landscapes, rich and rare medicinal resources, and the health care knowledge of its ethnic communities. After the COVID-19 pandemic was controlled, the demand for and trend of traveling to peaceful, remote, and fresh rural areas, combined with local exploration activities, has made Lào Cai emerge as a shining destination for tourists. Visitors to Lào Cai can “rediscover themselves” by practicing yoga and learning about traditional health care knowledge from local communities. They can also participate in activities that teach them about medicinal plants, their characteristics, and how to harvest and use them for medicine production. Experience-based tourism opportunities include a day in the life of a traditional healer, learning how to grow, care for, harvest, and produce medicinal plants, as well as cooking lessons on preparing dishes using medicinal herbs and traditional medicines.
Recognizing the demand from tourists and the trends in rural and agricultural tourism, many agricultural regions and medicinal plant areas have started to develop agricultural service areas and experience spaces for visitors. These include check-in zones, accommodation areas, and spaces for other supporting activities related to agricultural products and medicinal plants. The production process has been initially invested in so that it can function both as a production site and a place for visitors to tour and experience the process of planting, producing, harvesting, processing agricultural products, and medicinal herbs. Visitors can also shop for local gifts and specialties, and even enjoy food on-site. Many agricultural cooperatives and villages have fostered strong ties with local communities, involving them in the production and service business chain, as well as in environmental conservation, preserving natural landscapes, and maintaining local cultural traditions.
Solutions for agricultural tourism associated with the new countryside of Lao Cai for sustainable development.
The rural tourism development program in the new rural construction has been approved by the Prime Minister. Lao Cai province has also issued several Resolutions, Proposals, Decisions, and Implementation Plans to promote the sustainable development of this type of tourism in connection with local new rural development. Some solutions that Lao Cai needs to implement to promote development, catch up with tourism trends, and ensure the sustainable growth of agricultural tourism linked to new rural development include:
First, it is essential to plan for the use of land for agricultural tourism development, forest development, and the establishment of medicinal plant resource areas in Lào Cai. The local government should also implement specific support policies, such as assisting agricultural tourism businesses in converting agricultural land into multi-purpose land in accordance with the newly amended Land Law. Additionally, it is important to strengthen the guidance and implementation of support measures for the development of agricultural and rural tourism, as outlined in Resolution No. 06/2021/NQ-HĐND dated April 9, 2021, by the Provincial People’s Council, which specifies policies for supporting tourism development in Lào Cai from 2021 to 2025.
Second, it is important to support the development of agricultural tourism products by surveying and proposing solutions for exploiting and developing tourism products, as well as creating tourism routes linked to natural resources such as mountain peaks and waterfalls in Bat Xat and Sa Pa. Additionally, surveys and the creation of a “wellness and health recovery” tourism product linked to medicinal plants and agriculture in Y Ty commune should be explored. New tourism products with the brand ” Bac Ha Village Tourism ” should be researched and developed. The promotion of tourism products linked to OCOP products (including tourism service products) is also key, focusing on diversifying packaging and ensuring they meet tourism standards (e.g., certified tourist villages and businesses). The government should allocate budget support for scientific tools (such as testing, evaluation, and certification for local agricultural and medicinal products). At the same time, it is essential to guide and support potential in developing new tourism products, such as green tourism, organic agricultural tourism, herbal products, and health food. Research into resource allocation from the current three National Target Programs could be considered for integrating and supporting these efforts.
Third, it is essential to strengthen communication, promotion, and the development of agricultural tourism, rural tourism, medicinal tourism, and local food experience tourism, focusing on the clean, safe, and health-conscious food trends. Guidance and recommendations should be provided to encourage restaurants and local businesses to use distinctive local ingredients, ensure food safety, and prioritize the development of dishes linked to medicinal herbs and local remedies, among other things.
Develop promotional materials and publications for rural tourism and community-based tourism. Create a series of television programs to promote the potential of rural tourism and agricultural tourism in Lao Cai province on national TV channels, such as VTV Vietnam Television in 2024. Organize Famtrip and Mediatrip delegations to survey and promote tourism. Coordinate with national news agencies, Lao Cai Newspaper, and the Lao Cai Radio and Television Station to spread the word about rural tourism products. Promote rural tourism on the province’s tourism information platforms (Lao Cai Tourism Portal – dulichlaocai.vn, Lao Cai Smart Tourism Portal – laocaitourism.vn, Northwest Tourism Information Page – dulichtaybac.vn, Lào Cai External Information Portal – doingoailaocai.vn, International Tourism Website – sapa-tourism.com, and the dulichlaocai fanpage). Increase efforts to promote agricultural and rural tourism on social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Zalo. Support the connection of travel agencies with agricultural and rural tourism destinations.
Fourth, the focus should be on prioritizing the development of community-based agricultural tourism and improving the quality of rural tourism workforce. Expand community-based tourism models, establish cooperatives, collaborative groups, and community management boards, and create regulations or customs for sustainable tourism development that benefit both conservation efforts and the community. Encourage partnerships between travel agencies and tourism destinations, with the support of provincial government agencies to coordinate tourists and create a rich, unique “tourism menu” for each village or commune, which will help reduce competition and prevent price reductions.Organize training sessions on reducing environmental pollution caused by plastic waste in Lao Cai; provide training on using software for accommodation providers to help with market statistics and forecasting. Offer courses to improve knowledge in Information Technology, the application of 4.0 technology in tourism, and smart tourism. Provide professional development and soft skills training for people involved in rural tourism services, creating a professional, friendly, safe, and civilized tourism culture.
Conclusion
Vietnam is an agricultural country with advantages in agriculture, and Lao Cai shares the same strength. The world is constantly changing, and the demand for tourism in agricultural and rural areas, where people can experience nature in the mountains, is becoming more important for maintaining our health. The New Rural Development Program is being implemented nationwide, so leveraging agricultural strengths to develop tourism aligns well with Vietnam’s large strategic direction. Furthermore, effectively tapping into Lao Cai’s medicinal plant potential combined with agricultural tourism fits the current tourism trend, focusing on healthy, peaceful living, and mental healing from the pressures of urban life for tourists. This will create additional income, increase local livelihoods, and reduce poverty sustainably in rural areas, playing a key role in building new rural communities. By developing tourism based on agriculture, we can both embrace trends and leverage local strengths, creating products, livelihoods, and income, which will significantly contribute to new rural development. This strategy will ensure a sustainable path for both tourism and agriculture in Lao Cai.
Phuong Thao
About the Author Sapa Tourism Office
Popular posts
