A group of French experts are working on a plan to help the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai develop sustainable tourism in Bac Ha town, the second most popular destination in the locality.

Accordingly, the town will be zoned into three main areas. Its centre is set to maintain traditional markets as well as culture, sports and entertainment activities and resort services.

Sites surrounding the centre are ideal for tourists to explore local customs associated with handicraft making, communal activities and local cuisine.

Eco-tourism, home-stay models and river and cave exploration tours will be developed in the outer vicinity.

Regarding the Bac Ha town planning project, the experts from the Aquitaine region also proposed suitable architecture models, grid systems and roads connecting local villages.

Doan Van Huong, Chairman of the Lao Cai People’s Committee, expressed his hope that the plan would be completed by the end of 2015.

Upgrades to the central bus station, waste water treatment and underground grid systems ought to be part of the final plan, Huong requested.

In the first half of 2015, tourist arrivals in Bac Ha climbed 30% over the same period last year. The locality has implemented projects to improve the central market and build roads to villages, but the projects are not closely linked and are not sustainable.

Source: VNA