On Phan Xi Pang Street, in the central area of town, a hotel complex is being built in a rush. Just hundreds of meters away, there are three other construction sites with sand, gravel and building materials piled up. It is expected that buildings of five to eight floors will arise there in the near future.

Cau May Street is also noisy with a 10-storey building under construction just behind the office of Sa Pa Town’s People’s Committee.

Next to Cau May, the street of Muong Hoa has become narrower because of piles of stones and steel on pavements and the roadbed.

Thac Bac is the busiest road. On a short 800 meter section, many works are under construction. 

At 1,650 meters above sea level in the remote northwestern mountains, Sa Pa is known for its wonderful scenery and cultural diversity. 

The rumbling from concrete drills, pile-driving machines and trucks laden with building materials rolling on streets from dawn to dusk have turned Sa Pa into a chaotic construction site.

However, instead of enjoying a quiet area and beautiful scenery, visitors now see construction works and tents where the workers live.

Dust and smoke, potholes and noise are everywhere. As vehicles run too fast and kick dust, walkers have to hold their noses with their hands. 

On weekends, Sa Pa receives large numbers of visitors. The long lines of cars come to  town and cause traffic jams, just like scenes in Hanoi or HCM City.

“They are mostly Vietnamese travelers, who come in groups to spend their weekend here and leave on Sunday. There are also foreign travelers. However, Sa Pa cannot attract travelers for a long stay,” said Tuan Anh, owner of a hotel on Thac Son street.

Anh said many travelers complain that Sa Pa is dusty and noisy. Local people also are dissatisfied about the environment.

“Investors build hotels and restaurants to attract more travelers. However, the dust and noise produced by the construction sites due to bad management drives travelers away,” said Nguyen Thi Hoa, owner of a souvenir shop on Cau May Street.

Trinh Xuan Truong, director of the Lao Cai provincial Construction Department, said that 180 licenses had been granted to construction works in the town.

After the Hanoi-Lao Cai Highway opened, tourism boomed in Sa Pa and more hotels and guesthouses were built.

Thanh Mai