The area is set to cover about 53,000ha, including 16,000ha of the lake and 37,800ha of the land surrounding it.

The general plan is being built in a way that ensures space, architectural and landscape development and urban design will optimise the potential and advantages of Thac Ba Lake in terms of water and forest landscapes, ecological environment, cultural identities of local ethnic groups, intangible cultural values, and waterway and road transport.

The advisory unit has been studying impacts of Noi Bai - Lao Cai Expressway, National Highway 70, National Highway 37, National Highway 2D, and the Yen Bai amphibious airport on the plan drafting. It has also been working on the overall space of the entire national tourism area, along with the development orientation and principle for each part of the area.

The general plan will include detailed orientations for zoning space of residential areas, and developing typical tourism products that capitalise on local cultural values, ecosystem, climate, resources, characteristics of the national tourism area, and the socio-economic situation of Yen Bai province.

It will also specify typical features of and solutions for architectural and landscape zones, central places, those located at the gateway of the core zone of the national tourism area, the square of the area, and the greenery and water surface spaces, among others. Besides, the principles and requirements for the space, architecture, and landscapes of existing zones and expanded places will be proposed.

According to authorities’ assessment, the draft general plan on building the Thac Ba Lake national tourism area and its vicinity by 2040 has managed to combine sustainable tourism and urban development on the basis of conserving and bringing into play natural and traditional cultural values, ensuring defence and security, and guaranteeing the safety of hydropower reservoirs and dams in response to climate change,

During the plan making process, Yen Bai has collected opinions from members of the verification council, ministries, sectors, central agencies, provincial departments, and experts, who examined the plan’s coverage and contents related to natural resources, environment, investment, finance, industry and trade, planning, transport, culture, tourism, agriculture, forestry, and defence - security.

By now, Yen Bai has completed a dossier on the draft general plan which will be submitted to the Ministry of Construction so as to hold a verification conference serving the plan perfection. After that, the draft will be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval. This is an important legal basis for the province to develop Thac Ba Lake and its vicinity into an attractive destination with typical tourism products based on local culture and the lake’s ecosystem in the northern midland and mountainous region.