A ceremony to launch the "Return to the Roots" tourism programme 2011 was held in Nghia Lo, Yen Bai Province on February 26. This is a tourism cooperative programme between the northern provinces of Yen Bai, Phu Tho and Lao Cai.

At the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan praised the three provinces' efforts in promoting tourism and said their cooperation provides a good example for others to follow. He said he hopes the programme will create more tourism products and give all three provinces a facelift for developing tourism.

Over the six years of the programme, Phu Tho, Yen Bai and Lao Cai provinces have invested thousands of billions of VND in tourism infrastructure. With nearly 1,000 accommodation facilities, including at least one four - star hotels, more than 500 hotels and 260 restaurants, the three provinces have met the increasing demands of both domestic and foreign tourists, even in the high season.

Since the programme's implementation, the three provinces have received more than 25 million tourists, including 2 million in 2010, and earned more than VND1,000 billion. They aim to receive more than 5.5 million visitors in 2011, including about 400,000 foreigners and earn more than VND1,200 billion. The programme attracted over 60 travel agents to conduct tours.

Now that the 2011 programme has been officially launched, the provinces will host a wide range of activities, such as the Hung Temple Festival in Phu Tho, a cultural week to promote Thac Ba Lake in Yen Bai, the Thuong Temple Festival, on the cloud festival in Sapa, and a horse race in Bac Ha, Lao Cai Province

(Source: VOV)