Fansipan Exploring Itinerary 2009

The “Back to Origin” Programme co-organised by north-western provinces of Lao Cai, Yen Bai and Phu Tho has, so far, gained considerable achievements of socio-economic development and cultural exchange.
Nonetheless, according to a number of tourism specialists and travel firms, there exists monotonousness and uncreativeness in events organisation, especially the lack of involvement of tourism businesses.
Attempting to improve the situation, Lao Cai Province has organised Fansipan climbing contests in Sapa and traditional horse races in Bac Ha. These initiatives have attracted the interest of travel firms and sponsors, particularly national carrier Vietnam Airlines, the major sponsor.
In 2009, the Fansipan Exploring Itinerary’ birth replacing the Fansipan climbing contests aims to attract the participation of tourism businesses, socialising tourist events organisation; help tour operators to meet visitors’ demands with suitable services and products.
Participants of FEI 2009 will be tourists instead of athletes competing to win the 3,143m peak. They join the itinerary to enrich their tourist experience and explore the beauty of Fansipan. They will also have chance to take part in photograph contest, rubbish collecting and other environmental protection activities. The FEI 2009 have drawn the participation of 14 travel firms of Lao Cai and Chinese province of Kunming.
Tourists will be excited with new 25-km Fansipan exploring itinerary: Sapa – Tram Ton – Fansipan – Sin Chai – Sapa and vice versa. Following the itinerary, tourists will be amazed with superb and poetic natural landscape of Fansipan, unique ethnic villages, Hoang Lien National Park’s biodiversity…
The FEI 2009 will award best ideas about ecotourism management and environmental protection in Hoang Lien National Park, tailoring Fansipan tour, best photos… with valuable prizes.
Regarding environmental protection, Netherlands SNV pledged to finance rubbish collecting activities along the Itinerary. Sapa People’s Committee will launch a campaign encouraging people to plant trees for tourist environment improvement in San Sai Ho Commune. In the framework of FEI 2009, a seminar on “Solutions to tourism development and management in Hoang Lien National Park” will be held. The seminar will have the presence of leading tourism and environment experts from central ministries and sectors, Netherlands SNV, Vietnam National Parks and Protected Areas Association (VNPPA), Kunming Mountain Climbing Association (China) and travel firms.
By a series of impressive activities, integrating tourism development and environmental protection, the involvement of travel firms, associations, tourism managing authorities and the major sponsor Vietnam Airlines, it is believed that Fansipan Exploring Itinerary 2009 will draw the attention of many visitors in the country and overseas, imprinting a hospitable and beautiful Sapa in their minds.