A wide range of activities are underway for the 2014 Culture-Tourism Week at the popular mountainous resort town of Sa Pa in the northern province of Lao Cai.

The annual Fansipan Open tennis tournament kicked off on May 2 with the participation of 132 athletes from across Vietnam.

The players are competing in men’s singles and doubles events, womens’ doubles and a team event for both genders.

A festival featuring the daily life and traditional professions of the Mong ethnic people, such as handicraft making, farm equipment building and fabric weaving was held on May 1-2.

Visitors also have the chance to enjoy folk dances and local ethnic minority games, such as stilt walking, at the town’s park.

The annual cultural week will end on May 4.

Discovered in 1903, Sa Pa is famous for natural sites such as Ham Rong Mountain, Silver Waterfall, Rattan Bridge, Bamboo Forest and Ta Phin Cave. It is home to six main ethnic minority groups, who each has various traditional festivals, unique cultural practices and regular events, including Bac Ha market and Sa Pa love market.

Last year, Lao Cai welcomed more than one million visitors, over 20 percent higher than the yearly set target. The province is expected to receive 1.2 million arrivals this year, due to the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Highway opening to traffic in June 2014.-VNA