It shares borderline with Yun Nan province (China) in about 273 km to the North, Son La, Dien Bien to the west and south, and Lao Cai to the east. Accordingly, the town has a similar weather to Sapa (Lao Cai), being cool and mostly foggy all the year round, making it a visionary land in between mountains. The annual average temperature is from 21oC – 23oC, with two seasons, hot-rainy and dry-cold seasons. The whole province’s area is about 9,071 sq. Km, with a population of only 325,000 people.
Tourists coming to Lai Chau may choose between following the main road, the national 12th highway (from Dien Bien Phu town to Ma Lu Thang border gate in Lai Chau), or the 4D road (from Sapa to Lai Chau).
Natural beauty & sight-seeings
Lai Chau is said to be the land of Ban and Dao flowers (hoa ban & hoa
đào), the unique ones of jungles, which attract and inspire thousands of
artists. Yet, most of all, as the nation’s highest mountainous region,
the beauty of Lai Chau is structured by the high mountain ranges
stretching from the Northwest to the southeast. It shares the Fansipan
Mount – top of the Vietnam’s highest mountain range (Himalaya)- with
Sapa (in Lao Cai). With the height of 3,143m, Fansipan is not only the
highest in Vietnam but also in the Indochina peninsula, being considered
“the roof of Indochina”. Among others, some plateaus such as Sin Ho, Ta
Phinh, Dao San, etc. are even higher than 1,500m, thus being covered in
cloud, fog, and purely cool atmosphere all the time.
Apart
from high mountains, Lai Chau is also rich in narrow valleys, beautiful
rivers and springs. The longest and largest river in the province is Da
river. These together with others, such as Nam Na, Nam Mu flowing
between the ranges, make several roaring and white frothy waterfalls in
the quiet forests. One amongst the most popular waterfalls is Tac Tinh,
which is higher than 50m with 2 classes, and frequently full of water
flows, bringing a magnificient picture of natural beauty. Taking a boat
along Da River, no visitor could help keeping eyes on the very fine
landscapes, namely the roofs made of black stones, and mountains in
clouds. The fanciful villages of ethnic minorities on the banks of the
River are gathering in a picturesque scenery. For those fond of
health-care elements, there are some hot and mineral water springs
scattering in the province, for examples, Van Bo (in Phong Tho
District), Na Dong, Na Don (Tam Duong), and some other hydroelectricity
lakes.
Can
you imagine that the caves and grottoes in the mountain ranges in the
area still remain their original states, such as Binh Lu and Tien Son
grottoes, which are no doubt the magic beauties of nature! Moreover,
there exists a thousands-of-hectare forest, in the 6 km southwest of Lai
Chau town, consisting of more than ten original caves. All of those are
truly beautiful with sparking brightness and varied shaped stalactites
and stalagmites. Thanks to this gifted scenery, the area is called “Phong Nha Grotto of the Northwest”.
Historical relics
People
take interest in Lai Chau not only because of its natural beauty, but
also of its historical relics. One amongst them is Deo Van Long’s Palace
located in Sin Ho District, which the palace of Thai King under the
French colony. The palace, covered by the Thai-style architectural
features, is also a place for educating the youth of national love. The
second-ranking one is Le Loi’s stele, which was sculptured and set up on
Da River bank, unveiling the story of Le Loi’s defeating an upraising
troop in the Northwest, keeping the nation’s security. Also, there are
some relics of ancient Viet people such as bronze drum and bronze tools,
which are vestiges of the Eastern Culture.
People & Custom
The
natural landscape is the accommodation of more than 20 ethnic
minorities. Most of them are Thai people (33.5%), H’mong people (23.6%),
Dao (14.4%) and Viet or Kinh people (11.2%), Ha Nhi people (5.6%) and
some others. And there are two groups, who only live in Lai Chau, that
is, Mang and La Hu people. Lots of ethnic people still keep their unique
original tradition and custom, making the local culture diversified and
worth a study.
What
makes Lai Chau worth remembering is its various customs of each tribe,
which has its own culture of funeral, wedding, worshipping, and so
forth. The mentioned market is the most significant activity in life,
which take place in the Thursday and Sunday morning. People from many
tribes get together here in colorful clothes early in the foggy morning.
Seen from above, the market looks like a flower with thousands of
colors. The goods to be transacted are the local specialties, such as
chickens, pork, honey, rice, tea, etc. Somebody says : “If you would
like to figure out the unique local market, you must join one, which
reveals the ethnic minority and mountainous life culture in clarity and
details.
Festivals
Festivals
are one among the most activities of Lai Chau in particular and
mountainous regions’ in general. The most popular one in Lai Chau is
“Hoa Ban festival”, which reflects the cultural and spiritual life of
Thai people. In the second lunar month of the year, when it gets warmer
and “hoa ban” (the significant kind of flower in the Northwest area),
blossoms, “Hoa Ban festival” is celeberated. This is time for boys and
girls to meet and get to know each other. The boy picks up the most
beautiful flower and put it in his girlfriend’s hair. The girl hides
under the fresh leaves. This is not only the time for love but also for
Thai people to pray for good crops, happiness, expressing their
gratitude to ancestors. The festival is always full of songs and prays.
Another
famous festival is “Han khuong festival”, which takes place in spring.
Once again, this is an opportunity for boys and girls to get to know
each other by singing and dancing. “Han” means stage, “Khuong” means
yard. When the festival starts, young, beautiful and unmarried girls
sing love songs on the stage. Then, the boys sing songs for response. At
the same time, they can look for a person who can share their feelings
and then come, sit together and talk. After that, they date, and wait
for the next appointment. And can you guess? After the festival, many
couples get married. For old people, that is the time for memories.
“Gau Tao festival” – “spring traveling”, a festival of H’mong people, is held every spring. After Lunar New Year festival, couples go to the market just for spending time together. The boys play “Khen”, a kind of musical instrument for one another.
Lai Chau is exactly a captivating and typical mountainous
land, absorbing huge numbers of tourists widespread. If you are
interested in ethnic minority culture, you should really take part in a
market or festival of Lai Chau, which unveils the mountainous culture in
the way of a “love-blossoming” land!
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