Lào Cai, Hanoi, and Haiphong.

On 1 July 2025, Lào Cai city was dissolved following a national administrative reorganization. Lào Cai province was merged with Yên Bái province to form a new Lào Cai province, and the provincial city level was removed. The former city area was divided into two wards (Cam Duong and Lào Cai) and two communes (Coc San and Hop Thành). Provincial administrative functions moved to Yên Bái.