Lao Cai, a borderland region concealing the majestic beauty of mountains and the cultural diversity of ethnic minorities, is always an attractive destination for tourists year-round. Especially in spring, when traditional festivals resonate throughout the villages, Lao Cai adorns itself with a new coat, vibrant with colors and full of life. Traveling to Lao Cai during the festival season is not only a journey to explore the beautiful natural scenery but also a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in the bustling festival atmosphere, deeply understand the unique cultural features, and experience the profound spiritual values of this land.
Lao Cai – An Attractive Festival Tourist Destination at the Beginning of the Year
Spring in Lao Cai is not only about cherry blossoms and plum blossoms showing off their colors but also the season of unique traditional festivals, imbued with the cultural identity of the Mong, Dao, Tay, Giay, and Ha Nhi ethnic groups. From January to March of the lunar calendar, throughout the villages, from misty Sa Pa to the bustling city of Lao Cai, the sounds of khen pipes, drums, and gongs echo everywhere, along with graceful dances and lively folk games.
These festivals are not only spiritual and cultural activities of the community but also unique tourism products, attracting domestic and international tourists to explore and experience. Organizing festivals at the beginning of the year has become a cultural beauty, contributing to preserving and promoting traditional cultural identities, while also strongly promoting local tourism development. Tourists coming to Lao Cai during the festival season not only admire solemn rituals and unique art performances but also immerse themselves in the warm and friendly community cultural space, feeling the hospitality and enthusiasm of the upland people.
Typical Festivals Not to Be Missed in Lao Cai
Lao Cai has countless unique festivals, each carrying its own meaning and cultural value. Below are some typical festivals that tourists should not miss when traveling to Lao Cai during the festival season:
Gau Tao Festival (Mong Ethnic Group)
The Gau Tao Festival is one of the largest and most important festivals of the Mong ethnic group in Lao Cai. Usually held at the beginning of spring, the Gau Tao Festival signifies praying for blessings, fortune, luck, and a bountiful harvest. In Sa Pa, the Gau Tao Festival is often held at Cat Cat tourist area, attracting a large number of tourists and local people to participate.
The Gau Tao Festival includes many solemn rituals and unique cultural and artistic activities. The main ritual is erecting the Neu pole and worshiping heaven and earth, and gods to pray for a peaceful new year with favorable weather and good harvests. The festival part is a space for khen dances, umbrella dances, call-and-response singing, and folk games such as spinning tops, throwing pao, and tug-of-war. Tourists coming to the Gau Tao festival not only admire unique cultural features but also immerse themselves in the joyful and bustling atmosphere, together praying for a good new year.
Tourists immerse themselves in the Gau Tao Festival atmosphere in Sa Pa
Mr. Moritz Alexy, a German tourist, shared his excitement when attending the Gau Tao festival for the first time: “This is the first time I have attended such a lively, unique, and attractive festival. Through the introduction of the locals, I have understood more about the traditional culture of the people here.”
Co Tan An Temple Festival
The Co Tan An Temple Festival is one of the largest spiritual festivals in Lao Cai, held at Co Tan An Temple, Lao Cai city. The festival takes place at the beginning of spring, attracting thousands of pilgrims from all over to participate, praying for fortune, luck, and peace. Co Tan An Temple is not only a sacred spiritual site but also a historical and cultural relic, associated with mysterious stories and legends.
The Co Tan An Temple Festival is organized on a large scale, including many traditional rituals such as palanquin procession, offerings, and incense offering ceremonies. In particular, the festival also features a xoe dance performance by more than 300 Dao artisans, showing respect for and preservation of traditional culture, while also promoting unique cultural values to tourists. The Co Tan An Temple Festival is not only an occasion for people and tourists to pray but also an opportunity to learn about the history, culture, and beliefs of Lao Cai.
Unique Xoe dance performance at the Co Tan An Temple Festival
Den Thuong Festival (Upper Temple Festival)
Den Thuong is an important historical and cultural relic of Lao Cai, worshiping Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan. The Den Thuong Festival is held on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month every year, as an occasion to commemorate the great contributions of the national hero and pray for national peace, favorable weather, and harmony. The festival attracts a large number of tourists and local people to visit, worship, and participate in traditional cultural activities.
The Den Thuong Festival includes solemn rituals such as palanquin procession, offerings, incense offering ceremonies, along with cultural and artistic activities such as chau van singing, lion dance, and folk games. Coming to the Den Thuong Festival, tourists not only learn about the heroic history of the nation but also immerse themselves in the sacred and solemn cultural space, feeling gratitude and respect for their ancestors.
Xuong Dong Festival (Going to the Field Festival) (Tay Ethnic Group)
The Xuong Dong Festival is an important traditional festival of the Tay ethnic group, usually held at the beginning of spring, after the Lunar New Year. The festival signifies praying for a new year with favorable weather and good harvests, and a prosperous and happy life. The Xuong Dong Festival reflects the agricultural beliefs of the Tay ethnic people, closely associated with their daily production and life.
The Xuong Dong Festival is often held in the fields, with main rituals such as worshiping the City God, worshiping the Earth God, and plowing the tịch điền field. The festival part is a space for then singing, tinh gourd lute playing, and folk games such as tug-of-war, stick pushing, and con throwing. Tourists coming to the Xuong Dong festival will learn about the unique agricultural culture of the Tay ethnic people, as well as immerse themselves in the joyful and exciting atmosphere of the going-to-the-field festival day.
Fire Dancing Festival (Dao Ethnic Group)
The Fire Dancing Festival is a unique and mysterious festival of the Red Dao ethnic group in Lao Cai. The festival is usually held at the beginning of the new year or after the harvest season, signifying praying for health, peace, and a bountiful harvest. The Fire Dancing Festival reflects the polytheistic beliefs and extraordinary power of humans before nature.
The highlight of the Fire Dancing Festival is the ritual of dancing on hot coals by shamans. Dao men with bare feet dance on piles of glowing red coals without getting burned. This ritual demonstrates spiritual strength, courage, and the ability to communicate with the supernatural world of the Dao people. The Fire Dancing Festival is an extremely impressive and unique experience, attracting the curiosity and exploration of tourists.
Unique Fire Dancing Festival of the Dao ethnic people
Travel Experiences in Lao Cai Festival Season
To have a complete and meaningful trip to Lao Cai during the festival season, tourists should note some of the following experiences:
Ideal Time
The ideal time to travel to Lao Cai during the festival season is from January to March of the lunar calendar. This is the time when many unique traditional festivals take place, and the weather is also quite pleasant, not too cold and with little rain. However, this is also the peak tourist season, so tourists should book hotel rooms and train/bus tickets in advance to avoid running out of space or prices increasing.
Transportation
Tourists can travel to Lao Cai by various means of transport such as train, bus, or private car. Train is a popular means of transport chosen by many tourists because it is safe, comfortable, and allows them to admire the beautiful scenery along the way. Buses are also a popular option, with many buses from Hanoi and other provinces to Lao Cai. If traveling by private car, tourists can be proactive about time and schedule, but need to pay attention to winding roads and foggy weather.
To get around Lao Cai province, tourists can rent motorbikes, cars, or take taxis. Motorbikes are suitable for exploring Sa Pa and rural areas, but require experience driving on mountain passes. Taxis and motorbike taxis are also common in tourist areas, but prices may be higher.
Accommodation
Lao Cai has many diverse accommodation options, from luxury hotels to budget guesthouses and homestays. In Lao Cai city and Sa Pa, there are many high-class hotels and resorts with full amenities. If you want to experience a quiet space and get close to nature, tourists can choose homestays in ethnic villages. Homestays are not only places to rest but also opportunities to learn about the cultural life and daily activities of local people.
Cuisine
Lao Cai cuisine is an indispensable part of the journey to discover the culture of this land. Coming to Lao Cai during the festival season, tourists not only enjoy famous specialties such as thang co (horse meat hotpot), pho chua (sour pho), thit trau gac bep (smoked buffalo meat), salmon, and sturgeon, but also have the opportunity to experience unique festival cuisine. At festivals, tourists can enjoy traditional dishes prepared and sold right on the spot, imbued with local flavors.
Luggage Preparation
When traveling to Lao Cai during the festival season, tourists should prepare luggage suitable for the weather and tourist activities. In spring, the weather in Lao Cai can be chilly, especially in the evening and early morning, so tourists should bring warm clothes, scarves, and woolen hats. If participating in hiking or trekking activities, tourists should prepare sports shoes, comfortable clothes, sunscreen, and hats. In addition, tourists should also bring cameras and phones to record memorable moments during the trip.
Other Notes
- Respect local culture: When participating in festivals, tourists should respect the customs, habits, and beliefs of local people. Dress politely, do not make noise, disturb order, and do not litter indiscriminately.
- Preserve environmental hygiene: Tourism in Lao Cai is increasingly developing, but it is still necessary to focus on protecting the natural and cultural environment. Tourists should be conscious of maintaining hygiene, not littering, and not damaging the landscape.
- Security and safety: Travel in Lao Cai is quite safe, but tourists should still be wary of pickpocketing and theft in crowded places. Pay attention to traffic safety, especially when riding motorbikes in mountainous areas.
Impact of Festivals on Lao Cai Tourism
Traditional festivals play an important role in promoting tourism development in Lao Cai. According to statistics from the Lao Cai Department of Tourism, early spring festivals have attracted thousands of domestic and international tourists. By mid-February 2025, Lao Cai had welcomed over 2 million tourists, an increase of 93% compared to the same period in 2024. Total revenue from tourists accumulated in 2025 reached VND 5,617 billion, an increase of 57% compared to the accumulated period in 2024. These impressive figures show the strong attraction of festival tourism to tourists.
Lao Cai tourism flourishes thanks to early spring festivals
Mr. Lai Vu Hiep, Deputy Director of the Lao Cai Department of Tourism, said: “To develop sustainable tourism, there needs to be a reasonable plan and organization to manage the number of visitors and preserve the good cultural values of the locality.” Widely promoting festivals on information and media channels, especially on social media platforms, has brought the image of Lao Cai tourism closer to domestic and international tourists. Through traditional festivals, tourists have the opportunity to experience unique cultural features, thereby leaving a good impression and encouraging tourists to return in the future.
Conclusion
Traveling to Lao Cai during the festival season is a unique and memorable cultural experience. Coming to Lao Cai in spring, tourists not only admire the beautiful natural scenery but also immerse themselves in the bustling festival atmosphere, exploring the unique traditional cultural values of the upland ethnic groups. Plan your trip to Lao Cai during the festival season today to feel the beauty and vitality of this borderland, and contribute to preserving and promoting the precious traditional cultural values of Vietnam.