The speaking numbers from the "boost" of the Fansipan cable car
In 2016, when the Fansipan cable car just started operating, Lao Cai welcomed about 2.77 million visitors, with revenue of 6,405 billion VND. By 2025, this number had risen to 10.5 million visitors, with revenue exceeding 46,000 billion VND. In the first 6 months of 2026 alone, the province welcomed nearly 6.75 million visitors, with revenue of over 25,370 billion VND, aiming for the target of 11.28 million visitors and 51,100 billion VND in revenue for the whole year. After more than a decade, the number of visitors has increased more than 4 times, and revenue has increased more than 8 times - a growth rate rarely achieved by any locality.
After a decade since the Fansipan cable car became operational, Lao Cai tourism has reaped impressive sweet results.
Specifically, Sa Pa , before 2016, it welcomed less than 1 million visitors annually. By 2025, it surpassed 4.3 million visitors, with revenue of about 19,000 billion VND, an 11-fold increase compared to before the cable car. In early 2026, Agoda recorded Sa Pa as one of the fastest-growing destinations in Asia in 2025, while Sun World Fansipan Legend led bookings in Vietnam on this platform in the first half of 2026, across 8 Asian markets.
Since its operation, the three-rope cable car line set two Guinness World Records upon its launch; Sun World Fansipan Legend has also been honored multiple times by the World Travel Awards as the "Leading Natural Landscape Attraction in the World" and "Leading Cultural Attraction in the World".
Poetic scenery of the Muong Hoa train line.
Explaining this breakthrough, Mr. Tran Son Binh, Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism of Lao Cai province, stated that the 10 years of Sun World Fansipan Legend's presence have brought a "new wind, new vitality, and new prospects" to tourism in Sa Pa and Lao Cai, manifested in three aspects: creating world-class tourism products; changing community awareness towards sustainable development; and creating an environment that strongly attracts investment. According to him, to date, Sa Pa has attracted over 80 large projects with a total registered capital of over 65,000 billion VND. Sun World Fansipan Legend alone accounts for nearly 1/5 of the total number of visitors to the province and nearly half of the visitors to Sa Pa.
Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee, also affirmed that Sun World Fansipan Legend "plays an extremely important role" by welcoming over 10 million visitors in a decade, serving as a leader in creating world-class tourism products that have transformed Sa Pa's appearance, while also accompanying the province in promotion, social security, and job creation for over 400 local workers.
Rose Festival at Sun World Fansipan Legend.
A "Century Project" for Lao Cai born from a challenging decision
Few know that the decade-long journey of the Fansipan cable car began with a not-so-easy investment decision. Sharing at the recent "Decade of Blooming" anniversary of Sun World Fansipan Legend, Mr. Tran Minh Son, Member of the Founding Council, Standing Vice Chairman of Sun Group's Board of Directors, shared: At the time when the provincial leaders directly invited investment, Sun Group had just completed the Ba Na cable car, its financial resources were nearly depleted, and the number of visitors was not yet high. The Fansipan project required the use of a three-rope cable system – three times more expensive than the single-rope system at Ba Na, while no one knew if it would attract customers. The decision to invest in such a project with uncertain returns was truly difficult for the leaders of Sun Group at that time.
The show "Dinh Thieng Du Ky" (Journey to the Sacred Peak) opens an exploration of the sacred Fansipan peak through the vibrant highland market space in Ban May (Cloud Village).
What prompted Sun Group to overcome that hesitation was a statement from a senior leader deeply etched in his mind: "You guys should do something for the country, for future generations, don't just think about profit." With that spirit, along with the aspiration to "beautify the land," Sun Group was determined to overcome all difficulties and challenges, persevering for 800 days and nights to realize the Fansipan cable car project, which is likened to a miracle of Vietnamese intellect.
A decade later, that decision has proven its value not only by numbers but by the appearance and position of an entire region that has transformed.
Ban May – where local artisans directly share the culture of the Northwest with visitors.
After 10 years, not only the Fansipan cable car, but also a well-developed ecosystem in the town in the clouds: the Muong Hoa mountain train, a magnificent spiritual cultural complex, Ban May, a series of four-season festivals, and artistic programs rich in Northwest identity. At Ban May, artisans from the H'Mong, Red Dao, Tay, Giay, Ha Nhi... ethnic groups themselves become cultural ambassadors, introducing brocade weaving, cuisine, and traditional arts to visitors. Ms. Ly Tho So, a Ha Nhi woman working at Ban May, shared that this job not only brings stable income to her family and the villagers but also "helps the younger generation understand and preserve their ethnic culture".
Spiritual complex on the summit of Fansipan.
From a cable car project, Fansipan has become a lever that has turned Sa Pa from a trekking spot into an international-class resort, cultural, and experiential center, driving the development of the entire ecosystem of services - accommodation, cuisine, and travel.
The spectacular growth of Lao Cai tourism is also a typical testament to the spirit of Resolution 68 of the Politburo on private economic development. “ The success of businesses is the measure of the government's administrative capacity. Lao Cai province commits to strong action and ensures the philosophy: businesses are development partners, investors are growth drivers, and customer satisfaction is the measure of the government's service efficiency,” Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee affirmed.
This collaboration, after a decade, has not only beautified a land but also written a model of public-private partnership, where the long-term vision of the government meets the aspiration to contribute from businesses, together bringing Sa Pa and Lao Cai to a new level on the international tourism map./.
