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 provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the Department of Education and Training, opened the 2026 Son La traditional student athletics tournament on April 23 at the provincial Culture and Sports Centre Stadium.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Dang Ngoc Hau on April 23 inspected the administrative procedure reform work in Muong E commune and addressed difficulties and recommendations related to the Pha Din Pass spiritual and cultural tourism site.
After two days of competition from April 22–23, the 2026 Excellent Rapporteur Contest organised by the provincial Border Guard Command concluded successfully, meeting all planned objectives with a strong sense of urgency, discipline and responsibility.
Inspection and Supervision Delegation No. 29 of the Party Central Committee’s Politburo and Secretariat, led by Nguyen Dung Tien, deputy chief of the Office of the State President and deputy head of the delegation, and Le Thi My Hanh, member of the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission and deputy head of the delegation, held a working session with the provincial Party Committee’s Organisation Board on April 23.
In recent times, production, business, and commercial activities in Son La province have maintained positive growth momentum. Goods have remained abundant and diverse, meeting the consumption needs of the people. However, prices of certain essential commodities, especially petroleum products, have shown an upward trend and complex developments due to global influences. In response, the Market Management Sub-department has given timely advice and implemented various measures to control the market, preventing hoarding, speculation, and unreasonable price increases.
Dang Ngoc Hau, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, together with a provincial working delegation, on April 22 inspected the implementation of the programme on eliminating temporary and dilapidated housing arising in 2026, as well as administrative procedure reform in Chieng La commune.
The provincial Tax Department on April 22 held a conference to launch its 2026 tax administration tasks. Attending the event were Nguyen Dinh Viet, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, along with leaders of several provincial departments and agencies, local tax officials, and representatives of businesses operating in the province.
As part of the series of activities at the Son La Book and Science-Technology Festival 2026, the “The House of Wisdom” booth presentation contest created a highlight with impressive reading experience spaces, attracting a large number of visitors.
Nguyen Dinh Viet, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, on April 21 chaired a working session with relevant units on the progress of the Hoang Van Thu Industrial Cluster technical infrastructure investment project.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Cong on April 21 chaired a working session with a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to prepare for developing a project on results-based payments for the emission reductions achieved by reduction of deforestation and forest degradation, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks during the period of 2014 in Vietnam (JICA-GCF).
Viet–Lao International Community Tourism Development Cooperation Co., Ltd., based in Hung Yen province, on April 21 held the inauguration ceremony of its Huong Lien Travel Office in To Hieu ward, Son La province.
Ha Trung Chien, member of the Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee and Standing Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, on April 20 chaired a meeting of the provincial council reviewing nominations for the titles of “People’s Teacher” and “Meritorious Teacher” for the 17th round in 2026.
The Han Thuc (Cold Foods) Festival, observed on the third day of the third lunar month, is regarded by many Vietnamese families as an occasion to honour ancestors, gather together to make banh troi (floating cake) and banh chay (lean cake), and reflect on their cultural roots and traditions.
The People’s Committee of Chieng La commune, in coordination with Tay Bac University, on April 19 organised a workshop on the current situation and orientations for sustainable agricultural development in the commune.
The People’s Committee of Son La province and Bach Mai Hospital on April 18 held a conference to strengthen the province’s healthcare capacity and signed an agreement on comprehensive healthcare cooperation for the 2026–2031 period.
Nguyen Minh Tien, Vice Chairman of the Son La provincial People’s Committee, on April 16 chaired a meeting on the progress of site clearance, construction, and public investment disbursement for projects across the province. The meeting was connected online to communes and wards.
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