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🏔️ North Vietnam · Province Guide

Lao Cai Province

Home to Sapa's famous rice terraces and ethnic minority villages, Lao Cai is the gateway to Vietnam's mountainous northwest.

🏔️ Mountain🌿 Nature🏕️ Camping
7Locations
Sep – Nov, Mar – MayBest Time
Capital
🏙️ Lao Cai City
Known For
Sapa trekking
Best Time
📅 Sep – Nov, Mar – May
Thắng cố
Thắng cố
Traditional horse meat stew from the Hmong people
Cơm lam
Cơm lam
Sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes over open fire
Phở chua Bắc Hà
Phở chua Bắc Hà
Cold rice noodles topped with sliced pork, fried shallots, peanuts, and a tangy-sweet sauce - completely different from the hot pho found elsewhere in Vietnam. A Bac Ha market specialty eaten by Tay and Nung people, best enjoyed at the famous Sunday market.
Cá suối Sapa
Cá suối Sapa
Fresh stream fish caught from Sapa's cold mountain creeks, grilled over charcoal with lemongrass and local herbs. The cold, fast-flowing water gives the fish a firm, clean-tasting flesh unlike anything from the lowlands - best eaten at riverside stalls near Muong Hoa Valley.
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