Tourism development - a key economic driver of Lao Bao

Lao Bao is advancing tourism, strengthening trade, and fostering Vietnam-Laos cooperation through cultural and economic initiatives.

Lao Bao Town has actively developed tourism into a key economic sector, in line with Huong Hoa District’s directives, yielding positive results. The town’s tourism activities promote local and Laotian products, expand markets, create jobs, and boost income for residents on both sides of the border.

In recent years, as industrial projects in Se Pon District, Savannakhet Province, Laos, have become operational, the volume of goods and raw materials transported between Da Nang Port and Laos has risen. Capitalizing on this opportunity, Lao Bao authorities and residents have launched initiatives such as pedestrian streets, zodiac animal displays, and border market fairs to enhance tourism and services.

The number of visitors to Lao Bao has increased significantly. In 2023-2024, the town opened three night-time pedestrian streets along Nguyen Hue Road featuring culinary and cultural programs, attracting over 35,000 visitors from local and neighboring areas, including Se Pon, Laos. Revenue from market stalls along the street reached approximately US$150,000.

A Laotian Food Stall at Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street, Lao Bao Town - Photo: M.L

The snake mascot, displayed at Lao Bao Town Park during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Snake in 2025, attracted over 55,000 visitors, who also enjoyed the specialties of both Vietnam and Laos.

Building on this success, the Lao Bao Border Market Fair, launched at the Lao Bao Trade Center on December 21, 2024, has become a regular event. The Lao Bao People’s Committee has organized five weekly Saturday market fairs, each featuring nearly 50 stalls from Huong Hoa District and Laos. The fair is thoughtfully divided into sections showcasing food and beverages, ethnic Van Kieu and Pa Ko handicrafts, commercial stalls, and cultural performances.

More than just a marketplace, the fair has become a vibrant weekend destination, promoting cultural exchange and driving economic growth. Visitors can explore and purchase authentic Laotian products in Lao Bao, bypassing the need to cross the border. At the same time, the event offers businesses, cooperatives, and vendors a valuable platform to showcase their products, connect with customers, and expand their market reach.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan, a visitor from Dong Ha City, shared: "I heard about the border market through the media and friends, so I brought my family here to explore. We got to shop for goods from both Vietnam and Laos. The market is spacious, and the variety of products is impressive. I’ll definitely recommend it to my friends."

To further attract tourists and facilitate business for border residents, Lao Bao Town Chairman Le Ba Hung said that local authorities have simplified border travel procedures, allowing the use of border passes instead of passports, and easing agricultural product transport across the border.

“We recommend further infrastructure investment, including the Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, Lao Bao Park, the border market fair, and the Densavan area to highlight the cultural and culinary identity of the border region while promoting local goods and attracting tourists,” said Hung.

Moreover, Hung said cross-border tourism should be facilitated, particularly for tours to Ban Dong Museum and the Densavan Border Trade Zone. Lao Bao also urges higher authorities to expedite investment in the Lao Bao - Densavan Cross-Border Economic and Trade Zone to foster economic and tourism development between Vietnam and Laos.

With clear strategies and targeted solutions, Lao Bao Town is steadily emerging as a key hub for trade and tourism, enhancing the well-being of its residents and reinforcing Vietnam-Laos economic and cultural cooperation.

Minh Long - Tung Lam