Lao Cai

Lao Cai, Vietnam's northern entrance, is where stunning mountains meet vibrant ethnic cultures and centuries of history. To experience it all without skipping a beat, book your journey through Asia King Travel, your local specialist in tailor-made travel through Vietnam tour and beyond.

Stunning beauty of Lao Cai

Information about Lao Cai

History

Lao Cai has a recorded past dating back to the Van Lang era over 10,000 years ago. Successive dynasties of Dinh, Ly, Tran, Le to Nguyen progressively created it as a strategic post in the upper reaches of the Red River. "Lao Cai" originated from "Lao Nhai" (Old Street), an ancient market hamlet, which the French wrote as "Lao-Kay" later Vietnamese administrators homogenized as Lao Cai.

France took control of the region in March 1886 and continued to hold control through colonial rule. Lao Cai was officially established as a civilian province on July 12, 1907, reorganizing the administrative structure of the region. The province was merged with Yen Bai and Nghia Lo to form Hoang Lien Son province in 1976.

History of Lao Cai

However, this unity continued until 1991 when Lao Cai was re-established as its own province again with Lao Cai city and eight districts. Subsequent administrative rearrangements made refined borders, and by 2004 Lao Cai city was declared officially official.

Most recently, on July 1, 2025, a general administrative reform merged Lao Cai province and Yen Bai province into a new, redefined Lao Cai province. Concurrently, Lao Cai city was dissolved into two wards (Cam Duong, Lao Cai) and two communes (Coc San, Hop Thanh), and it lost its status as provincial capital. The capital function was relocated to Yen Bai ward in the former Yen Bai province.

Lao Cai city after merging 

Read more: North Vietnam Motorbiking Tour 9 days: Explore Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Cao Bang and Beyond

Location

Lao Cai is deep in Vietnam's northwest, about 296 km north of Hanoi. It shares a long international border with China's Yunnan province to the north and thus is one of the major entry points for Vietnam into trade as well as cross-border exchange. To the east lies the province of Ha Giang, to the west Lai Chau, and to the south Yen Bai.

The Red River flows through the province to merge into China, cutting through the nation and the economic livelihood of inhabitants. It is in excess of 6,300 square kilometers in size and is marked by mountains, valleys, and lofty plateaus, with its towering Hoang Lien Son range boasting its peak Fansipan, the tallest mountain in Indochina.

Location of the city 

How to get there

It is simple to reach Lao Cai from Hanoi with Vietnam travel guide. There are so many easy options for travelers. The favorite choice is by train, specifically the overnight sleeper departing Hanoi in the evening and arriving early morning in Lao Cai, hence the comfortable and time-saving option.

For those not averse to traveling along the road, the new CT05 expressway links Hanoi with Lao Cai in about 264 kilometers, which offers faster and smoother rides compared to conventional means. There are also daily services by bus linking the two cities at reasonable costs at an estimated eight-hour trip.

Weather

Lao Cai features a tropical monsoon highland climate with cold dry winters and warm wet summers. The mean annual temperature is around 23 °C, but temperatures below 0 °C are not rare in mountainous towns like Sapa, and snowfall takes place during winter once every now and then, frost and fog also happen. The area features distinctly separated seasons dry between October and March, and wet monsoon season between April and September.

Sapa sits atop this hilly terrain and has high precipitation with over 2,700 mm of annual rainfall, reaching a maximum of over 4,000 mm. Humidity ranges from 75% to 91%.

Best time to visit Lao Cai

Famous attractions in Lao Cai

Fansipan Mountain

Tied up as the "Roof of Indochina," Fansipan is Vietnam's highest point at 3,143 meters. Adventure seekers can challenge their limits by hiking along the Hoang Lien Son range over several days, while other visitors ride the cable car carrying tourists to within a short distance of the top. Panoramic vistas of mist-covered valleys and rolling hills from the top provide one of the most memorable moments in Lao Cai.

Fansipan Mountain

Bac Ha Market

Ostensibly run each Sunday, Bac Ha Market is the cultural soul of Lao Cai. Ethnics like the H'mong, Dao, and Tay come down here in traditional colorful dress to exchange livestock, handicrafts, cloth, and local specialty foods. Anything but a market, it is a living museum of highland society, where one may see firsthand the tradition, taste local delicacies, and soak up the rich atmosphere of community life.

Bac Ha Market

Sapa Town

Sitting at 1,500 meters of elevation, Sapa is the premier tourist destination of Lao Cai, boasting its cool climate and breathtaking scenery. Terraced rice paddies spill over the mountainsides, and villages such as Cat Cat, Ta Van, and Lao Chai reveal the everyday life of the ethnic people. With its combination of trekking routes, cultural homestays, and vibrant town living, Sapa is an ideal blend of adventure and culture.

Sapa Town

What to eat in Lao Cai

Thang Co

A village H'mong specialty, Thang Co is a rich stew normally prepared with horse meat (and organs such as heart, liver, bone), though beef or buffalo is added on occasion. The meat is stewed long and slow with few spices to make it rich, served with country herbs and vegetables. Sold at about VND 80,000–100,000 a bowl, it offers a genuine and rich ethnic taste.

The traditional meal of Lao Cai - Thang Co

Lon Cap Nach (Carried Under Arm Pig)

These are small native pigs (~10 kg) roaming free in forests or fields. Grilled or roasted whole, they offer thin, crispy skin and sweet, tender meat wrapped around small bones. The taste is rich, market prices are VND 100,000 to 120,000 per kg.

This dish is considered as the quintessence of highland cuisine

Bac Ha Sour Noodle (Pho Chua Bac Ha)

One of Bac Ha market's specialties, this cold noodle specialty contains pickles, fresh herbs (lettuce, basil), ground sesame and peanuts, regular herbs, and a sour broth. The flavor is mild and refreshing, tends to need extra salt to satisfy external tastes, and is ideal for hot seasons, at around VND 20,000 per bowl.

Bac Ha Sour Noodle in Lao Cai

Conclusion

Lao Cai is more than a border province, it's where history, culture, and nature melt into stunning consistency. If you're drawn to the lively markets, the unique highland cuisine, or the thrill of summiting Fansipan, Lao Cai promises an experience that stays with you long after leaving. To get the most out of your adventure, let Asia King Travel be your companion.

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