AirROI ranking · 20263 markets ranked
Best Places to Buy an Airbnb in Lào Cai Province, Vietnam (2026)
Sa Pa is the best place to buy an Airbnb in Lào Cai Province in 2026, according to AirROI's ranking of 3 markets. Its listings averaged $3,500 in revenue over the 12 months to September 2026 and were booked on 28% of nights. It leads on the blend rather than on any one measure, placing 1st of 3 for market size, 1st of 3 for occupancy and 1st of 3 for year-round demand. Xã Mường Hoa and Tả Van come next.
- Markets tracked
- 4
- Active Airbnb listings
- 554
- Avg. revenue per listing
- $3,260
- Occupancy rate
- 27%
- Avg. nightly rate
- $45
- Avg. revenue, top 3 markets
- $3,070
The short answer
Lào Cai Province Airbnb Market at a Glance
Across Lào Cai Province, the 554 active Airbnb listings tracked by AirROI, a short-term-rental data firm, averaged $3,260 over the same period. They were booked on 27% of nights at about $45 a night; the ranking covers the 3 markets with at least 30 active listings.
The ranking weighs revenue per listing most, then occupancy and market size, then how evenly income spreads across the year and how it changed on the year. It reflects rental performance, not purchase prices or local short-term rental rules. How the ranking works.
Where the top 3 Airbnb markets in Lào Cai Province are
Each dot is one of the 4 markets AirROI tracks in Lào Cai Province, sized by active listings. Select a number to jump to its profile.
All money figures on this page are in US dollars.
Top 3
The Top 3 Airbnb Markets in Lào Cai Province
Each profile draws on the market's full AirROI report: how it earns, when in the year, who books and what sells. Monthly figures are averages per listing active in that month, so twelve of them add up to more than the annual average, which also counts listings that operated for only part of the year.
| # | Market | Avg. revenue | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Sa Pa Large market · High occupancy | $3,500 | 28% | |
 Xã Mường Hoa High earnings | $4,150 | 25% | |
 Tả Van | $1,560 | 21% |
1. Sa Pa
Known for: Large market · High occupancy
Top-earning Airbnb listings in Sa Pa - Avg. revenue
- $3,500
- Occupancy
- 28%
- Nightly rate
- $46
- Active listings
- 418
Where it places among the 3 ranked markets in Lào Cai Province
- Revenue 2nd of 3
- Occupancy 1st of 3
- Market size 1st of 3
- Year-round 1st of 3
- Growth No prior year
- How it earns
- Sa Pa is Lào Cai Province's largest Airbnb market, with 418 active listings to price against. Listings averaged $3,500 in revenue over the year, the second-highest of the 3 ranked markets. A typical listing takes in about $258 a month; the top quarter clear $567 or more.
- When it earns
- Demand in Sa Pa holds up through the year: September, the slowest month, still brings in about 61% of July's revenue.
- Who books
- Nearly all guests come from abroad, led by visitors from the United States, France and Germany.
- What sells
- The most common entire home has 1 bedroom (40% of entire homes), and houses make up 46% of supply.
- Who it suits
- It suits buyers who want income that holds up all year.
Revenue per listing by month
$513 $313- Median listing
- $258/mo
- Top 25% of listings
- $567+/mo
- Booked ahead
- 34 days
- Average stay
- 2.8 nights
- Guests from abroad
- 99%
- Most common home size
- 1 bedroom
Areas in the full report: Fansipan Mountain · Sa Pa Town Center · Cat Cat Village
Full Sa Pa Airbnb report2. Xã Mường Hoa
Known for: High earnings
Top-earning Airbnb listings in Xã Mường Hoa - Avg. revenue
- $4,150 −11% vs. last year
- Occupancy
- 25%
- Nightly rate
- $65
- Active listings
- 31
Where it places among the 3 ranked markets in Lào Cai Province
- Revenue 1st of 3
- Occupancy 2nd of 3
- Market size 3rd of 3
- Year-round 2nd of 3
- Growth 2nd of 2
- How it earns
- Xã Mường Hoa earns on price: guests pay about $65 a night, 42% above the Lào Cai Province average. Listings averaged $4,150 in revenue over the year, the highest of the 3 ranked markets. In a typical month the median listing brings in about $391, and the best quarter clear $755. Revenue per listing fell 11% over the year even with rates 22% higher, as bookings softened. With 31 listings it is a small market, so its averages can move more from year to year.
- When it earns
- Xã Mường Hoa has two seasons, July–August and December–January. July is the strongest month at about $649 per listing, and September the quietest at about $388.
- Who books
- Nearly all guests come from abroad, led by visitors from the United States, Malaysia and Singapore.
- What sells
- One-bedroom homes lead the market (50% of entire homes), and houses make up 61% of supply.
- Who it suits
- Best for buyers who can furnish and price for a premium stay and want income that holds up all year.
Revenue per listing by month
$649 $388- Median listing
- $391/mo
- Top 25% of listings
- $755+/mo
- Booked ahead
- 36 days
- Average stay
- 2.8 nights
- Guests from abroad
- 98%
- Most common home size
- 1 bedroom
3. Tả Van
Top-earning Airbnb listings in Tả Van - Avg. revenue
- $1,560 −1% vs. last year
- Occupancy
- 21%
- Nightly rate
- $32
- Active listings
- 76
Where it places among the 3 ranked markets in Lào Cai Province
- Revenue 3rd of 3
- Occupancy 3rd of 3
- Market size 2nd of 3
- Year-round 2nd of 3
- Growth 1st of 2
- How it earns
- Tả Van is Lào Cai Province's second-largest Airbnb market, with 76 active listings to price against. Listings averaged $1,560 in revenue over the year, the third-highest of the 3 ranked markets. Month to month, the median listing earns about $149 and a top-quarter listing $288 or more. Its 76 listings make it one of the smaller ranked markets, so its figures are less settled than those of larger ones.
- When it earns
- Tả Van's season runs from February to April, peaking in February at about $304 per listing; May, the quietest month, brings in about $182.
- Who books
- Nearly all guests come from abroad, led by visitors from Germany, the United States and France.
- What sells
- The most common entire home has 1 bedroom (67% of entire homes), and houses make up 72% of supply.
- Who it suits
- A good fit for buyers who want income that holds up all year.
Revenue per listing by month
$304 $182- Median listing
- $149/mo
- Top 25% of listings
- $288+/mo
- Booked ahead
- 38 days
- Average stay
- 3 nights
- Guests from abroad
- 99%
- Most common home size
- 1 bedroom
Full ranking
How All 3 Ranked Markets in Lào Cai Province Compare
The overall ranking with the five measures behind it. "Slow month" is a market's weakest month of revenue as a share of its best, so a higher figure means steadier income. Select a column heading to re-sort.
| Sa Pa Large market, high occupancy | $3,500 | 28% | $46 | 61% | – | 418 | |
| Xã Mường Hoa High earnings | $4,149 | 25% | $65 | 60% | −11% | 31 | |
| Tả Van | $1,561 | 21% | $32 | 60% | −1% | 76 |
By measure
Lào Cai Province Airbnb Markets Ranked by Revenue, Nightly Rate and Occupancy
The overall ranking balances five measures. These lists take one at a time, for buyers who care most about income, pricing power, bookings, a steady calendar, momentum or market size.
Largest Airbnb markets in Lào Cai Province
Active listings. Bigger markets have more comparable rentals to price against and more buyers at resale.
| # | Market | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Sa Pa #1 overall | 418 | |
| Tả Van #3 overall | 76 | |
| Xã Mường Hoa #2 overall | 31 |
Method
How the Ranking Works
The ranking covers the 3 markets in Lào Cai Province with at least 30 active Airbnb listings and data through September 2026. Each market is compared with the others on five measures, and markets are ordered by a weighted blend of where they place on each:
- Revenue per listing (35%): average revenue an active listing earned over the past 12 months.
- Occupancy (20%): share of available nights that were booked.
- Market size (20%): active listings. Bigger markets offer more comparable rentals to price against and more buyers when you sell.
- Year-round demand (15%): revenue in the slowest month as a share of the best month. The latest month is left out when its bookings look incomplete.
- Growth (10%): change in revenue per listing from the year before. Markets whose boundaries changed between years are scored in the middle.
Left out: 1 market whose data predates the latest refresh. The score measures how rentals perform. It does not include purchase prices, financing, operating costs or local short-term rental rules, which vary by address and should be checked before buying. Figures are in US dollars and match each market's own report; see the data methodology for how listings are tracked.
To check one property before buying, run its address and size through the free Airbnb calculator for a revenue, occupancy and nightly-rate range from comparable listings.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Airbnb Investing in Lào Cai Province
What is the best place to buy an Airbnb in Lào Cai Province?
Sa Pa ranks first of the 3 markets in Lào Cai Province in AirROI's ranking, with US$3,500 in average revenue per listing and 28% occupancy. Xã Mường Hoa and Tả Van follow. The ranking weighs revenue, occupancy, market size, seasonality and growth; it leaves out purchase prices.
What are the most profitable Airbnb locations in Lào Cai Province?
By revenue per listing, among markets with at least 60 listings, Sa Pa leads at US$3,500 a year, ahead of Tả Van at US$1,560. Profit also depends on what a property costs to buy and run, which varies far more between markets than revenue does.
How much does an Airbnb make in Lào Cai Province?
The average active listing in Lào Cai Province earned US$3,260 over the 12 months to September 2026, at 27% occupancy. Averages include listings that operated for only part of the year, so a listing rented all year typically earns more.
Where is Airbnb demand highest in Lào Cai Province?
Among ranked markets with at least 60 listings, Sa Pa has the highest occupancy, with 28% of available nights booked, followed by Tả Van at 21%. Its listings average about US$46 a night and US$3,500 a year.
Where are Airbnb nightly rates highest in Lào Cai Province?
Among ranked markets with at least 60 listings, Sa Pa has the highest average nightly rate, about US$46, followed by Tả Van at US$32. Tả Van is the least expensive, at about US$32. The average booked night in Lào Cai Province costs about US$45.
Which Airbnb markets in Lào Cai Province earn the most evenly through the year?
Among ranked markets with at least 60 listings, Sa Pa has the steadiest income: its slowest month, September, still earns about 61% of its best. Tả Van follows, at 60%. Steadier markets are easier to budget for, though they do not always earn the most per listing.
How many Airbnb listings are there in Lào Cai Province?
AirROI tracked 554 active Airbnb listings in Lào Cai Province over the 12 months to September 2026, across 4 markets. The largest ranked market is Sa Pa, with 418 listings, followed by Tả Van with 76.
Directory
All 4 Airbnb Markets in Lào Cai Province
Every Lào Cai Province city with an AirROI Airbnb market report, A–Z, with its active listing count.