Hanoi (VNA) – Prime MinsterNguyen Xuan Phuc has stressed the need to preserve Sa Pa’s traditional culture,considering this the most important job during the transformation process.

At a working session with key leaders of thenorthern border province of Lao Cai in Hanoi on December 6, the PM agreed inprinciple to transform Sa Pa district in the province into a town, aiming toseek an international status for Sa Pa, which has been recently recognised as anational tourism site.

Apart from protecting traditional culture, it is a must to improve livingstandards of local people, the leader said.

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He urged relevant ministries and agencies to coordinate with Lao Cai to rollout typical criteria for Sa Pa, explaining that the development of amountainous town differs from that in the delta area.

Therefore, an assessment council should be established to submit the plan tothe Government before it is sent to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee,the PM said.

Regarding Lao Cai’s socio-economic development, the leader asked the provinceto pay attention to border economy, tourism and organic agriculture, andcomplete local infrastructure to promote the economic corridor which links LaoCai, Hanoi, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh of Vietnam with China’s Yunnanprovince. 

He also agreed with the province’s proposals to turn Lao Cai into a leadinglocality in the North-western region, in terms of not only poverty reductionbut also budget balance.

In 2017, Lao Cai recorded an economic growth rate of about 11 percent, withgross regional domestic product (GRDP) per capita reaching 51.2 million VND(2.247 USD), up 11.3 percent over the previous year, ranking second amongnorthern midland and mountainous provinces, after Thai Nguyen.

Covering more than 68,000ha, Sa Pa has a population of 65,000, belonging to sixethnic groups, of which ethnic minorities make up 87 percent of the totalpopulation.

Located 350km northwest of Hanoi capital city, Sa Pa is 1,600m high above sealevel, with the average temperature of 15-18°C. The whole town is dominated bythe Hoang Lien Son mountain range which is famous with the Indochina’s highestmountain of Fansipan at a height of 3,142m above sea level.

Discovered in 1903 by the French, Sa Pa has many natural scenic sites such asHam Rong Mountain, Thac Bac (Silver Waterfall), Cau May (Rattan Bridge), BambooForest and Ta Phin Cave.

Last year, Sa Pa welcomed 1 million tourists, up 35 percent year-on-year,earning more than 2.5 trillion VND (110 USD) from the tourism sector. Thenumber of holiday-makers to Sa Pa is expected to reach 2.5 million in 2017,about 4 million in 2020 and over 8 million in 2030. -VNA