Following the guidelines of the Party and State, the province has focused on building economic diplomacy to serve development, centering on people and businesses. Efforts concentrate on supporting enterprises and residents in international economic integration; effectively implementing policies on land, investment, taxation, and business registration; simplifying administrative procedures; promoting economic zone and production area planning, transport infrastructure, border gates, and logistics to reduce costs, support exports, and attract foreign investment.

In May, the province commenced construction of the Hoa Binh – Moc Chau Expressway section passing through Son La, 73 days ahead of schedule. It has coordinated with the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam to monitor the detailed planning of Na San Airport for the 2021-2030 period. The province has also developed investment plans for key transport projects during 2026-2030, such as the expressway between Moc Chau and former Son La city, expanding the Hoa Binh – Moc Chau Expressway from 2 to 4 lanes, and regional linkage roads connecting Son La with Yen Bai province (now Lao Cai).

The provincial People’s Committee has directed a review and addition of transport and logistics development projects into Son La’s provincial master plan for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, serving as a basis for attracting investment and allocating resources. The province aims to effectively operate the economic zones at Long Sap and Chieng Khuong border gates and routes connecting to Laos and China, thereby promoting exports.

Simultaneously, Son La is accelerating the planning of a logistics centre in Moc Chau, linked with the agricultural wholesale market along National Highway 6 and the Hoa Binh – Moc Chau Expressway; and a logistics centre in Mai Son connected to Mai Son Industrial Park and Na San Airport, with convenient access to National Highways 6, 4G, and 37, supporting production, processing, consumption, and export of agricultural products. 

Relevant departments proactively update international economic information, share with enterprises, intensify investment promotion on online platforms, and assist businesses in participating in international events to showcase products and seek partners.

Since the beginning of this year, the province has organised delegations to work with the Embassies of India and the Republic of Korea in Vietnam; participated in numerous investment, trade, culture, and tourism promotion events such as the International Tourism Fair, India–Vietnam Business Opportunity Meeting in Hanoi, Lao Cai International Tourism Fair, and the “Korea Meeting 2025” conference in Hung Yen province. 

Provincial agencies have actively promoted products and investment through activities like participating in the “International Trade in the Era of Growth” forum with exhibition booths featuring tourism and agricultural products; producing promotional clips in English, Chinese, and Russian for delegations visiting Russia; collaborating with Vietnam Post to sell products on e-commerce platforms and nationwide post offices; and co-organising livestream events such as the 2025 Phieng Khoai Plum Harvest Festival.

Ha Nhu Hue, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, noted that authorities at all levels and sectors have actively connected and promoted sale and export of agricultural products through international cooperation, providing advertisement publications to Vietnamese representative offices abroad. Thanks to intensified diplomacy and promotion activities in investment, trade, and tourism, the province’s export turnover reached 112 million USD in the past six months, with agricultural shipments increasing by 10.5%. The department has also coordinated with relevant units in market updates, and supported production, circulation, and export activities; organised livestreams to sell agricultural products; promoted products on e-commerce platforms; and pushed administrative reforms to facilitate businesses.

Building on the special friendship tradition between Vietnam and Laos, during the last sugarcane season, Son La provincial authorities cooperated with Houaphanh province to support sugarcane sale for farmers. Ho Trung Kien, head of the Plant Protection and Cultivation Sub-department, said quarantine was conducted properly, flexibly, and quickly, allowing the Lao province’s sugarcane to be transported promptly to Son La Sugar Factory while ensuring quality. The imported sugarcane has a high sugar content, meets food safety standards, and complies with regulations. Son La Sugar JSC purchased over 3,000 tonnes, valued at more than 4 billion VND (152,900 USD).

Identifying economic diplomacy as a key focus in foreign policy and a driving force for development and integration, Son La continues to intensify market exploration, expand international cooperation, and mobilise maximum external resources combined with internal strengths for economic development.