Photographer Bạch Nam Hải Documents Seven Years of Tourism Growth in Sa Pa

Between 2017 and 2024, Vietnamese photographer Bạch Nam Hải tracked the shifting landscape of Sa Pa in Lào Cai province. As reported by Saigoneer, the documentary project, titled 'Trên Đỉnh Đổi Thay' (Mountains of Change), began during a planned ten-day visit that expanded into three weeks. Over the next seven years, Hải returned repeatedly to document the town's expansion. The series focuses on the sharp contrast between mountain geography and rapid commercial development driven by leisure travel.

The visual record highlights multistory hotel projects rising along hill slopes above valley floors. Alongside construction sites, Hải photographed local ethnic families and agricultural workers pursuing ordinary routines amidst misty conditions. The images illustrate how fast-paced tourism infrastructure intersects with daily mountain customs. For travelers visiting Sa Pa today, the collection offers context on how the town center and adjacent valleys changed over the past decade.