The scenery of Lai Chau province is some of the most spectacular scenery you can see in the far northwest of Vietnam. There is plenty to amuse the eye on the journey from Lao Cai, from the striking limestone mountains which reach into the distance in misty shades of green and green, to the plentiful waterfalls and village life.
On a clear day, you can even spy some of the larger peaks rising from the Chinese side of the border. As it is off-limits to casual travel, the area around Lai Chau town is as close as you’re likely to get to the Chinese frontier in this part of the country. The border crossing is not open to foreigners.
Unfortunately, the surrounding vistas are characterised as much by brown dirt as they are green hills, as mountain slopes are scooped away to create flat land for future development.
Renamed from the original Tam Duong, the new Lai Chau town is a good place to break up the trip between Sapa and Muong Lay or Dien Bien Phu, but few would choose to overnight here otherwise. It’s a functional hub for both the local Montagnards, who come to buy and sell, and for those involved in all the various construction projects going on in the area.
There’s a cave nearby, Dong Thieu Duong, accessible by a one hour hike, that’s a good day-trek if you happen to stay longer.
The area has a large number of ethnic minorities, and new roads have made the mountain-top village of Sinh Ho a good destination for a day trip, or a stop-off on the way through.
How to get there?
By road: From Hanoi, tourists take the bus to Lao Cai and visit Sapa for a few days before catching the bus from Sapa to Lai Chau which takes around 2 hours.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Lai Chau is in the dry season when it is cool, but Vietlong Travel suggests that tourists should visit Lai Chau in the rice season in around September or Springtime because there are farming activities, flowers, festivals to see during the way.
Things to see
This province is not the must-see Vietnam holiday destination, but if you travel to Lai Chau, there are some nice places that are worth visiting like Sin Ho plateau, Fairy cave in Sin Ho, Tien Son cave in Binh Lu, Tac Tinh fall in Tam Duong.
It has 20 different ethnic groups who still keep their tradition, culture, and way of living as centuries ago. Some Vietnam travel companies offer homestay and trekking tours in Lai Chau to discover the hidden charm of this land. Should you want a tour to Lai Chau, please contact Vietlong Travel to receive a suggested tour itinerary.
Accommodation
Tam Duong is the capital of the province. If you come here, Muong Thanh hotel and Tay Bac hotel are the best choices. The hotels offer a clean room, hot/cold shower, AC, free wifi and restaurant that serve delicious local dishes.
