To attract investment in commercial housing and urban development, the province has proactively specified and promptly implemented new laws, creating an open and transparent investment environment. It has reviewed, issued, and adjusted the system of legal normative documents to ensure consistency with relevant laws. Administrative procedure reform has been accelerated, the quality of investment-related work enhanced, and provincial and urban planning adjusted to create clean land funds and provide clear development orientations for each region and area. In addition, the province has established specialised task forces to support and accompany investors throughout the project survey and implementation process.

Tran Thi Anh Tuyet, head of the Non-Budget Investment Management Division under the Department of Finance, said that over the past year, the department received and processed 33 applications for investment policy approval. Of these, the provincial People’s Committee approved 11 projects with a total registered capital of 14.95 trillion VND (569 million USD), including urban areas, residential areas, bus stations, cemetery parks, and urban renovation projects in Moc Chau, Van Ho, Yen Chau, and the former Son La city.

Urban development in Son La is shifting from small-scale, fragmented development to a model of integrated urban areas associated with ecology, services, and tourism. Many large-scale projects have been implemented, creating a new urban appearance. Notable among them are the Moc Chau Model Ecological Urban Area, covering nearly 98 hectares with a total investment of about 3.5 trillion VND, developed toward a modern urban area with synchronous infrastructure and a harmonious balance between green spaces and ecological landscapes; the Van Son ward Gateway Service Urban Area, spanning 38.7 hectares with a total investment of 2.35 trillion; and the Bo Bun Urban Area in Binh Minh ward, covering nearly 10 hectares with a total investment of 655 billion VND.

At the end of 2025, the province had 21 housing construction investment projects that had selected investors through land-use rights auctions, bidding for projects using land, and other lawful forms. Of these, 11 projects were eligible to mobilise capital through the sale or lease-purchase of off-plan housing or through the transfer of land-use rights with infrastructure for residents to build their own houses. These include Vincom Son La commercial center and commercial housing project; Nam La Stream commercial residential area in Lot No. 5, To Hieu Ward; and Buon hamlet urban area in Chieng Coi ward, among others.

The Moc Chau hotel, housing, and tourist market complex project in Moc Chau ward, invested by Tri Duc Urban Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, covers an area of 5.6 hectares and includes 120 housing units, comprising 100 townhouses and 10 villas, along with a 10-story hotel, a convention centre, a commercial market, and auxiliary facilities, with a total investment of over 370 billion VND.

Nguyen Thi Trang, a representative of the investor, said that the project has completed all technical infrastructure and is eligible for the sale of 120 off-plan housing units. The commercial market, convention centre, and hotel components are expected to break ground in 2026. The enterprise is accelerating progress to put the project into operation soon, attract residents to live and do business, and contribute to the formation of a civilised, green, clean, and beautiful urban space that appeals to tourists.

Attracting investment in commercial housing and urban development has brought about clear changes for Son La, with expanded urban spaces, increasingly modern architecture, and synchronously invested infrastructure. Diverse real estate products not only meet housing demand but also contribute to increasing budget revenues, creating jobs, and promoting sustainable economic development. With public consensus and strong efforts by the authorities, Son La is gradually asserting itself as an attractive destination for real estate investors in the northwestern region.