Lai Chau is a newly established province situated on high mountainous region, about
3-hour drive from
Dien Bien Phu. Its neighbors are Yunna (China) on the north, Laos
on the west,
Lao Cai Province on the north-east,
Dien Bien and
Son La Province on
the south. With Tam Duong, Lai Chau is one lunch or an overnight stop for people
traveling between Dien Bien Phu and
Sapa.
What to do? Some attractions in
Lai Chau include Sin Ho Village with colorful Sunday Market,
Tam Duong Townlet with Montagnards and other tourist sites such as Tien Son Cave
and Muong Lai Spring. The road from Lai Chau to Sapa is one of the most beautiful
drives in
Vietnam but it is very bumpy. Also, it can suffer severe damage during
the rainy season.
When to go? Lai Chau is in the tropical monsoon zone and is divided into two seasons: rain season
and dry season. The annual average temperature is 21ºC - 23ºC. It is also one of
the hottest places in
Vietnam in summer. June and July temperatures can climb to
40oC. During the rainy season the town is prone to severe flooding from the Da River.
The ideal time to visit Lai Chau is from September to April of next year.
Travel Tips: The route Dien Bien Phu – Lai Chau (around 4 hours) and Sapa – Lai Chau (from 6 to
8 hours) is good with breathtaking scenery. The latter route is the most spectacular
but can suffer severe damage during the rainy season, which delay your trip considerably.
