According to some recent opinions, Sa Pa tourism area is losing its attraction but statistics that this area is still a destination for many tourists.

This information was released by Mr Hoang Manh Dung, head of the Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism in Sa Pa district.

The number of tourists coming to Sa Pa in the first three months of this year reached more than 87,000, and one third of them are foreign tourists.

It is nearly a month before the holiday weekend combining the Liberation Day of South Vietnam (April 30^th) and International Labour Day (May 1^st), but most hotels in Sa Pa, Bac Ha town and Lao Cai city are already heavily booked.

The room price in small hotels in Sa Pa has increased lightly. The price of a double room is usually 250,000 VND but it now has increased to 300,000 VND or even 500,000 VND.

Also, according to the organizing board of the festival “Tour back to the original point 2010” from Lao Cai, Yen Bai and Phu Tho provinces, the Hung King Death Anniversary this year lasts 10 days and it is expected to attract around 5 million tourists. About 30 percent of them will come to Sa Pa, Bac Ha and ecotourism and community tourism destinations in Lao Cai province.

This year Lao Cai province is also opening a new tour route from Sa Pa to the three eastern districts of the province, Muong Khuong, Si Ma Cai and Bac Ha. This is the Hanoi – Lao Cai and Lao Cai - Hanoi new tour.