Unique cultural experience of Lao Cai
Located at an altitude of more than 2,500 m above sea level, Y Ty commune, Lao Cai province, is famous for its cool climate all year round, especially harsh in winter. The temperature here sometimes drops below 0oC, making it one of the most attractive snow hunting destinations for young people.
With its wild beauty and unique climate, Y Ty is becoming an attractive tourist destination of Lao Cai province. Some popular experiential activities in Y Ty include: climbing mountains to conquer Lao Than peak, exploring Y Ty market, experiencing Ha Nhi ethnic villages such as Choan Then, Lao Chai, Mo Phu Chai, terraced fields of The Pa valley and Thien Sinh bridge...
In local language, Lao means two, while Than refers to the mountain ranges of each layer. With an altitude of 2,860m above sea level, Lao Than is known as the "roof of Y Ty" and is in the group of 15 highest peaks in Vietnam. On clear days, from the top of the mountain, visitors can look out to see the sea of floating clouds and welcome the brilliant sunrise - an experience that is both majestic and poetic.
Not only that, Lao Than is also a potential destination for adventure sports tourism, attracting many backpackers and trekking enthusiasts. This is also an experiential activity that more and more young people come to explore, conquer and find a "healing" between a busy life and daily pressure.
Developing sustainable tourism, preserving Ha Nhi culture
Y Ty is the only place where a large number of Ha Nhi ethnic people live. This place possesses a unique cultural identity, with long-standing customs and practices and the early morning Den Sang forest is likened to a "hanging forest" on the towering rocky mountain. The Trinh Duong house of the Ha Nhi people, made of clay, roofed with sedge, body 4-5 m high, became a typical architectural symbol adapting to the harsh climate and terrain.
The Y Ty market takes place every Saturday. This is an occasion for people to bring in many local products such as vegetables, agricultural products, herbs... grown and harvested by the ethnic minorities here. Not only traditional agricultural products, the market also sells many essential consumer goods such as clothes, household appliances, agricultural tools (plowers, hoes, etc.).
The Y Ty market is not simply a place to buy and sell, exchange goods, but also an opportunity for ethnic boys and girls to wear colorful traditional costumes, meet, chat and exchange culture, creating an unforgettable beauty of the Northwest highlands.
In order to improve the reputation, quality and competitiveness of local tourism products and services, the Innovation Support Center under the Ministry of Science and Technology has implemented a project to build and protect the "Y Ty Tourism" certification brand. The project is implemented in the central area of the commune and the villages of Ngai Tro, Ta Thin Thang, Lao Chai, Sin Chai, Choan Then, Mo Phu Chai with a total area of 1,115 hectares.
This is a strategic step, helping organizations and individuals doing tourism service business to grasp knowledge about intellectual property, improve product quality, and at the same time create trust for tourists when choosing services at Y Ty.
The project also contributes to the development of community tourism, preservation of Ha Nhi culture, raising people's awareness, reducing backward customs and increasing job opportunities and income for local residents. When combined with the completed transport infrastructure, the Y Ty Tourism certification brand will open a new phase for Lao Cai tourism industry, helping the locality develop the economy while preserving cultural identity and a sustainable ecological environment.
With the combination of infrastructure development, cultural preservation and certification brands, Y Ty is gradually becoming a sustainable tourism model, bringing socio-economic benefits and preserving unique identity to the locality.
