Son La province attracts investment in agricultural processing
Processing is considered the decisive stage in the agricultural value chain, helping diversify products and optimise profits. Son La province has been actively attracting investment into the agricultural processing sector, creating a solid foundation for transforming agricultural structures, building agri-product brands, and increasing farmers’ incomes.
The VFI Son La Food Processing Plant in the Mai Son Industrial Park.
Since the beginning of this year, Son La has had two new processing plants put into operation: the VFI Son La Food Processing Plant and the BHL Modified Starch Factory. In addition, the DOVECO Son La Fruit and Vegetable Processing Centre has installed the Tetra Recart paper carton production line - Sweden’s first technology applied in Vietnam for fruits and vegetables, opening up major opportunities to enhance product value and ensure sustainable sale for farmers.
The processing line at the BHL Modified Starch Factory in the Mai Son Industrial Park.
The inauguration and operation of the BHL Modified Starch Factory mark a strategic shift for the processing industry, moving away from dependence on low-value raw products. Unlike regular starch, modified starch is produced using advanced technology and offers superior properties such as heat resistance and strong adhesion. This high-quality product has become an essential raw material in advanced industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, paper, and textiles, helping Son La’s agricultural products become more competitive and capable of entering deep into global supply chains.
Vu Hung Binh, General Director of BHL Son La Group, shared that the BHL Modified Starch Factory project started construction in early 2025 and, after nearly eight months, was completed and put into operation. The factory covers 1.64 hectares in the Mai Son Industrial Park with a design capacity of 300 tonnes per day and is equipped with two state-of-the-art production lines and an automatic control system. It can produce more than 1,000 product codes across five key categories. This breakthrough enables BHL products to meet international standards and produce in time for the 2025-2026 cassava season.
Workers at the Doveco Son La Fruit and Vegetable Processing Centre during a production shift.
At the Doveco Son La Fruit and Vegetable Processing Centre, after two years of operation, the modern processing complex has reached a total capacity of 52,000 tonnes per year. In 2025, Doveco Son La continues to operate the Swedish Tetra Recart packaging line - the first of its kind in Vietnam, with a capacity of 6,000 cartons per hour, equivalent to 6-8 million cartons per year.
According to Pham Ngoc Thanh, Deputy General Director of Dong Giao Food Export Joint Stock Company, the new line allows the packaging of many premium agricultural products from Vietnam and Son La, including sweet corn, pineapple juice, and various beans, thereby promoting consumption, boosting exports, creating jobs, and increasing the value of the agricultural supply chain for farmers and cooperatives in the region.
The fruit and vegetable sorting and preliminary processing line at the Doveco Son La Fruit and Vegetable Processing Centre.
Since 2021, the province has implemented and completed 10 new projects, raising the total number of processing facilities to 21 factories and nearly 600 small-scale establishments, involving many reputable domestic and international corporations. Currently, the province has nine large-scale coffee processing facilities, meeting over 50% of the province’s fresh coffee cherry output; more than 20 enterprises and cooperatives processing tea; a sugar factory with a capacity of 5,000 tonnes of sugarcane per day; two cassava processing plants; four fruit and vegetable processing plants; and one dairy processing plant. Agricultural and food export value has grown strongly from 104.1 million USD in 2021 to an estimated 208 million USD in 2025, with key export products including coffee, tea, cassava and cassava-based products, banana, mango, longan, and passion fruit.
Workers and engineers install the processing line at the VFI Son La Food Processing Plant.
According to Ha Nhu Hue, Director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, the department is currently implementing comprehensive solutions to create a favorable and efficient investment environment. The focus is on attracting investment into deep processing, maximising current capacity, and accelerating key projects in the Mai Son Industrial Park. At the same time, the department prioritises developing technical infrastructure in industrial clusters and encourages businesses to expand production, apply advanced technologies, improve product quality, and meet environmental requirements.
Agricultural processing has become a driving force behind Son La’s agricultural breakthroughs. In the coming period, the province aims to continue attracting investment, accelerating project progress, and improving product quality, with the goal of strengthening Son La’s position in international markets and increasing farmers’ incomes.
The Centre for Agricultural Extension and Digital Transformation, in coordination with the Quynh Nhai commune People’s Committee, held a workshop on the potential of cage aquaculture on hydropower reservoirs on August 5. The event brought together nearly 100 delegates, including officials, representatives from businesses and cooperatives and fish farmers from Quynh Nhai, Muong Sai, Muong Gion, Muong Chien and Muong Khieng communes.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Minh Tien on August 5 held a meeting with representatives of provincial departments and agencies to review investment promotion plans for projects in the Moc Chau National Tourism Area. The event was connected online to Van Son ward and Chieng Son commune.
Nestled in Ta Xua commune, the Ta Sua’s Stories indigo-dyeing workshop offers a glimpse into how the traditional craft of the Mong ethnic community is being revived. Through hands-on demonstrations of age-old techniques and handcrafted products, the workshop combines cultural preservation with community-based tourism, creating jobs and additional income for local residents.
Nguyen Dinh Viet, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, on August 5 chaired a meeting on accelerating the disbursement of public investment capital in 2026.
Lo Minh Hung, Chairman of the provincial People's Council and deputy head of the provincial Steering Committee for the Development of Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation (Steering Committee 329), on August 5 chaired a meeting to review the committee's performance in July and outline tasks for August.
The People's Committee of Son La province has appointed Ha Thi Ngoc Yen as Director of the provincial Department of Science and Technology, effective August 1, 2026. The appointment was announced at a ceremony on August 4 following a decision signed by the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee on July 31.
The Son La provincial Department of Public Security held a counter-terrorism and hostage rescue drill 2026 at Son La Sugar Joint Stock Company on August 4. The exercise was attended by Nguyen Thanh Cong, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, along with leaders of the provincial Department of Public Security, the provincial Military Command and relevant professional units.
Nguyen Dinh Viet, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, on August 4 inspected the proposed site for a resettlement area to serve the Dong Phu Yen Pumped Storage Hydropower Project.
The Thuan Chau commune Youth Union on August 4 presented certificates of merit from the provincial Children’s Council to two student members, Tong Van Khac Huy and Luong Hai Nam, in recognition of their bravery and quick thinking in saving a young child from drowning.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Dang Ngoc Hau on August 4 held a working session with the provincial Department of External Affairs and relevant agencies on the development of the provincial Border Economic Development Project for the 2026-2030 and 2030-2035 periods.
Son La Hydropower Company, in coordination with the Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue Police Division under the Son La provincial Department of Public Securities, organised a training course on fire prevention, firefighting, rescue operations, and a firefighting drill for 2026 on August 3-4.
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Three children who were swept away by flash floods in Gia Phu commune on the evening of August 1 were found after an overnight search operation led by provincial authorities. The body of the last missing child was recovered at 7:40 a.m. on August 2, concluding the rescue effort.
The Moc Chau Farm People's Credit Fund held a ceremony in Thao Nguyen ward on August 1 to celebrate its 30th founding anniversary (August 1, 1996 – 2026).
Dang Ngoc Hau, Vice Chairman of the Son provincial People's Committee and head of the provincial Border Affairs Steering Committee, chaired a conference on July 31 to review border affairs in the first six months of 2026 and roll out tasks for the remaining months of the year. The conference was connected online to 13 border communes.
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