Visitors to the northern province of Lao Cai increased by 25 per cent year-on-year in the first seven months of this year, according to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The department attributed the increase to tourism-stimulation programmes as well as more convenient transportation conditions, thanks to the new Noi Bai – Lao Cai Highway, which helps cut time by 50 per cent.

The province, from now to the end of the year, will organise additional programmes to attract more visitors. It has also invested VND200 billion (US$9.5 million) to upgrade infrastructure to serve tourism demand in the 2014-16 period.

In addition, it plans to open a new bus route south of Lao Cai City to Sa Pa, the border gate and several tourism areas.

Lao Cai currently has 450 accommodation establishments, with a total of 5,400 rooms. — VNS