Lai Chau

Area: 9,068.8 sq. km.
Population: 397.5 thousand habitants (2012).
Capital: Lai Chau City.
Districts: Phong Tho, Tam Duong, Muong Te, Sin Ho, Than Uyen, Tan Uyen.
Ethnic groups: Thai, H'Mong, Viet (Kinh), Giay, Dao.

Minority ethnic people in Lai Chau Province

Geography
Lai Chau is situated on high mountainous region in the North West of Viet Nam, northern of Da River. Its neighbors are Yunna (China) on the north, Laos on the west, Lao Cai Province on the north-east, Dien Bien, Son La provinces on the south.

A range of mountain following Northern West - Southern East makes up the terrain The Pu Sa Leng point is 3,096m in height. There are sloping mountains, hill, valley, plateau, spring alternately. Falls and waterfalls with high flow are potential of hydroelectricity in Lai Chau.

Climate: Belong to tropical monsoon zone; the climate of Lai Chau is divided into two seasons: rain season and dry season. The annual average temperature is 21^oC - 23^oC.

Tourism
Tourists are interesting in custom of ethnic groups in Sin Ho Village or Tam Duong Townlet. They also fond of other sites such as: Tien Son Cave, Muong Lai Spring.

Transportation
The transportation is mainly by road. National Highway No.12 connects Dien Bien Phu City to Ma Lu Thang Border Gate crossing Lai Chau, and National Highway No.4D links Lai Chau with Sapa Townlet. Lai Chau City is 406km from Hanoi.