To attract FDI projects, Son La has actively connected with international organisations and Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad to promote the province’s potential and advantages. It has also intensified the dissemination of information and promotional materials on investment, trade, and tourism; participated in international conferences and fairs; and sent working delegations to seek collaboration opportunities with foreign businesses.

At the end of 2025, the province had eight FDI projects with a total registered capital of approximately 161 million USD. They include the Phuc Nickel Mine project in Ta Khoa commune; the Vietnam-Korea high-quality fruit and forestry plant centre; Takii Vietnam Seed Company in Moc Son ward; the project on tea planting and processing for export by Li Garden Vietnam in Thao Nguyen ward; the high-tech agricultural product preservation and processing plant project and the tea plant project by Satoen Vietnam in Van Ho commune; a service project by CJ CGV Vietnam - Son La branch; and the Dream Plastic Mai Son Plant project by Dream International Limited (the Republic of Korea) in the Mai Son Industrial Park. Investors primarily come from New Zealand, Japan, and the RoK, with investments focusing on high-tech agriculture, agricultural product processing, mining, and industrial production.

Among the ongoing FDI projects, the Dream Plastic Mai Son Plant project, located in the Mai Son Industrial Park, has a registered capital of 7 million USD and aims to produce children's toys and plastic products, with a designed capacity of about 20 million products per year. Jang Kyung Ho, Deputy Director of Dream Plastic Co., Ltd., stated that the company appreciates the timely support from the provincial departments and agencies in completing investment procedures and is committed to carrying out the project on schedule while complying with legal regulations.

The project on tea planting and processing for export to Japan by Satoen Vietnam Co., Ltd., located in Sao Do 2, Van Ho commune, with 41 hectares of raw tea gardens, is equipped with modern technological lines and applies an automated, closed-loop production process. The capacity is 2 tonnes of green tea per day and 2.5 tonnes of Matcha tea per day. Satoen’s products have been granted international certificates, including HACCP, HALAL, and GLOBAL GAP.

Additionally, the Phuc Nickel Mine project by Phuc Nickel Mine Co., Ltd. (part of Blackstone Minerals Limited, Australia) is the largest FDI project in Son La, with a total investment of 136 million USD. However, the project is temporarily suspending mining operations to complete procedures for licence extensions as required. Other FDI projects are mainly in agriculture and agricultural processing with small to medium scales, lower investment capital, and seasonal operations.

Ha Ngoc Chau, Deputy Director of the Department of Finance, mentioned that in 2025, the department reviewed investment approval applications, issued investment registration certificates, and processed procedures for the purchase of shares and capital contributions by foreign-invested entities. It also coordinated with the provincial Department of Public Security to review matters related to national defence and security, ensuring compliance with legal procedures and timelines.

Furthermore, the department handled the registration and approval of the purchase of shares and capital contributions for some foreign-invested companies, as well as evaluated the proposal to approve the investment policy for the Ta Khoa High-Tech Processing Plant project. It also worked with relevant agencies to guide the adjustment of investment certificates and urges FDI enterprises to adhere to periodic reporting, enhance investment activity monitoring, and promptly address violations, delays, or inefficiencies.

Currently, FDI attraction has not met expectations, as Son La is a region with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions. Infrastructure is not yet fully developed, it is far from major economic centres and consumer markets, investment costs are high, skilled labour is limited, and the scale of enterprises and cooperatives is small. As a result, it has not been attractive enough for foreign investors.

The province has yet to have any FDI projects eligible for special investment incentives under the 2020 Investment Law, highlighting the challenges in attracting investors with large financial capacity and advanced technology. Most FDI projects are small-scale, under 10 million USD, and focus on agriculture with low added value and technological application. The Van Ho Industrial Park, despite being approved for over 216 hectares, has no infrastructure investors. Similarly, industrial clusters and border gate areas lack logistics infrastructure and support services, and the border economic zone has not been formed, limiting its appeal to cross-border investment flows.

Attracting FDI is crucial for promoting sustainable growth. The province focuses on solutions such as improving infrastructure, land planning, speeding up site clearance, and simplifying administrative procedures to create an attractive investment environment for foreign investors. The main focus is on developing industrial zones and clusters, completing logistics infrastructure to enhance appeal. Improving the quality and transparency, and shortening the time for administrative procedures for businesses are also essential. Additionally, the province is working on creating attractive investment incentive policies, particularly in high-tech agriculture and eco-tourism. Proactively selecting investors and coordinating with central ministries and agencies for investment promotion activities aim to attract projects with advanced technology, environmental friendliness, and contribute to enhancing competitiveness and ensuring sustainable growth for the local economy.