Lai Chau hydropower plant becomes an attraction in northwest

Over the past year, the Lai Chau hydropower plant has become the province’s latest tourist attraction.

The Lai Chau hydro-power plant, located on the upper Da River, was inaugurated in December, 2016, after five years of construction. It generates approximately 25 billion kWh per year. Thousands of engineers and workers were involved in the construction of the plant. The plant’s 137-meters-high dam required nearly 2 million cubic meters of cement. The plant, which was inaugurated a year ahead of schedule, has boosted Lai Chau’s socio-economic development, added VND7 trillion to Vietnam’s economy, and is helping to ensure national energy security.

Pham Hong Phuong, Director of the Project Management Unit of the Son La hydro-power plant said the project was designed and implemented by Vietnamese engineers.

Lai Chau hydro-power plant has become a tourist destination. Nam Nhun township, the site of the plant, has changed dramatically over the past year. Vo Van Viet of Quang Binh said “I have visited the Hoa Binh and Son La hydro-power plants. The Lai Chau hydro-power plant is really different. It’s modern and big. I appreciate the efforts of the engineers and workers.”

The Lai Chau hydro-power plant is more than 100 km from Lai Chau city, but the landscape along the road makes visitors forget about the distance.

Thanh Mai of Hanoi said “Though the road to Lai Chau power plant is long, we like the landscape along the road. We went to the meeting point of the Nan Na and Da rivers and took a boat along the Da river through the forest to the reservoir of the Lai Chau plant.”

Spring is the best time to explore the northwest region and Lai Chau province. To O Quy Ho pass, Sin Ho plateau, the Muong Lo rice field, and the waterwheel in Bo hamlet, the province has now added the Lai Chau hydro-power plant as a major tourist attraction.