On the afternoon of July 16, the Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee held a seminar titled "Lao Cai - Where the Colors of the Northwest Converge" and officially introduced the province's new tourism brand identity, inspired by Fansipan and terraced rice fields.

The logo features a representation of Fansipan's summit, sweeping bands of terraced fields, a brocade pattern stylized as a star at the center and surrounding lines resembling clouds. Together, the elements symbolize Lao Cai's nature, culture and people.

The province also announced two slogans to be used in parallel. The Vietnamese slogan, which translates as "Lao Cai - Where the Colors of the Northwest Converge," is intended for the domestic market.

The English slogan, "Lao Cai - The Highland Escape," targets international visitors and emphasizes opportunities for relaxation and rejuvenation amid the highland landscape.

Becoming a four-season tourism destination

Speaking at the seminar, Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee Vice Chairwoman Vu Thi Hien Hanh said the enlarged province now had a vast tourism area encompassing renowned destinations such as Sa Pa, Fansipan, Y Ty, Bac Ha, Mu Cang Chai, Tu Le, Suoi Giang and Thac Ba Lake.

The province is also home to the distinctive cultural heritage of more than 30 ethnic groups, including many elements recognized by UNESCO.

Lao Cai welcomed about 10.5 million visitors in 2025. In the first six months of this year, the province received 6.75 million visitors, up more than 35% from the same period last year, while tourism revenue exceeded US$966 million.

According to Hanh, Lao Cai is repositioning its tourism development strategy around all four seasons, making coordinated use of its natural, cultural and infrastructure advantages to improve competitiveness and attract more international visitors.

"Instead of developing each destination separately, Lao Cai will build a unified tourism ecosystem connecting natural landscapes with cultural identity and urban areas with rural communities. The province will establish four-season tourism routes to encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more," Hanh said.

At the seminar, delegates and travel companies said the enlarged Lao Cai possessed a rare tourism ecosystem linking prominent destinations such as Sa Pa, Y Ty, Bac Ha, Mu Cang Chai, Tu Le, Suoi Giang and Thac Ba Lake.

Participants also proposed expanding visitor markets in Japan, South Korea, ASEAN and Europe while developing green tourism, luxury retreats, indigenous cultural experiences and ecotourism.

Tourism experts said that to become an international tourism hub for Northwest Vietnam, Lao Cai needed to continue improving its transportation and digital infrastructure, strengthen the investment environment, raise planning quality and introduce sufficiently attractive mechanisms to draw strategic investors.

Duc Hoang