Sa Pa has been a famous tourist destination of Lao Cai. (Photo: sapa.dulichvietnam.vn)

Under the resolution which tookeffect on January 1, 2020, the Sa Pa town has a total natural area of 681.37sq.km and a population of 81,857. The town has 16 administrative units, withsix wards and 10 communes. 

Addressing the ceremony, Chairmanof Lao Cai province’s People’s Committee Dang Xuan Phong required the Party organization,administration and people of Sa Pa to continue capitalizing on the localpotential and strengths to build a smart and green town, consolidating itstourism brand as a top destination in the northwestern region.

Located 350km northwest of Hanoi, Sa Pa is1,600m above sea level, with average temperatures of 15-18°C. The town isdominated by the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, which is home to Indochina’shighest mountain of Fansipan at a height of 3,142m above sea level.
Sa Pa has many natural scenic sites

such as Ham RongMountain, Thac Bac (Silver Waterfall), Cau May (Rattan Bridge), Bamboo Forestand Ta Phin Cave. The hill town is home to six main ethnic minority groups,including Kinh, Hmong, Dao, Tay, Day and Xa Pho with various traditionalfestivals and unique cultural practices.
The town welcomed more than 2.5 million tourists in 2018,with an annual increase of 23.4 percent.

On the occasion, the town opened the 2019 SaPa winter festival with a special performance reenacting the history of thelocality.

Many activities will be held in the next fewdays to celebrate the establishment of the town./. VNA