Lao Cai, Nov. 5 -- Blessed with a cool climate, misty charm, and occasional snowfall, Sa Pa in northern Lao Cai province has turned its Winter Festival into a signature tourism brand, making the mountain town a magnet for visitors during the year-end festive season and a major contributor to local tourism growth.

A winter holiday above the clouds

The Canadian travel site The Travel has described Sa Pa, Vietnam's "Land of Mist," as one of Asia's top ten snowy destinations and an ideal place for winter holidays. For many travellers, the town is an unmissable choice for a magical year-end getaway in Vietnam.

Sa Pa's winter usually begins in November and lasts until February - the perfect time for cloud hunting. From December, temperatures...