Lào Cai, Border city in northern Vietnam
Lào Cai sits at the junction of the Red River and Nanxi River, stretching across terrain marked by mountains, hills, and flatter areas. The city connects Vietnam to neighboring Yunnan Province and functions as a major transport hub for people and goods.
The city experienced border closures from 1979 to 1993 after an armed conflict with China created tensions between the nations. Once this period ended, the border reopened and trade and exchange between the two sides began to normalize.
Multiple ethnic groups live in the city and shape daily life through their own traditions and craft techniques. Markets show this diversity clearly as you walk through the streets and observe different languages and clothing styles.
The railway station regularly connects the city to Yunnan in China and serves as the main point for cross-border travel. Visitors should prepare for possible checks and documentation verification when entering and leaving the border area.
Soils around the city have varying compositions that allow different types of farming, from food crops to medicinal plants. This natural diversity has created its own agricultural culture that visitors can observe in local markets.
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