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 Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Centre, in coordination with Economica Vietnam, on May 20 organised a consultation workshop to develop policy recommendations within the framework of implementing the Son La DDCI Sub-project under the GREAT 2 Son La Project.
Most Venerable Thich Thanh Quyet, member of the 16th National Assembly, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), and head of the Executive Board of the VBS chapter in Son La province (VBS Son La), together with several VBS dignitaries, paid a courtesy visit to Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Hoang Van Nghiem on May 19.
Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Dinh Viet, and Standing Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Ha Trung Chien on May 19 surveyed the construction and upgrading of the second campus of the Son La provincial General Hospital.
The 2026 contest for outstanding youth union officials and young disseminators among youths of the Son La provincial Border Guard Command, was held on May 19, with all planned contents completed.
The Youth Union of To Hieu ward, in coordination with the ward Women’s Union, on May 19 organised a series of activities to mark the 136th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890 – 2026).
Leaders of Son La province offered flowers at the monument “Uncle Ho with the Northwestern Ethnic Communities” and incense at the President Ho Chi Minh Temple at Tay Bac Square on May 19 morning on the occasion of the 136th birth anniversary of the late leader (May 19, 1890 – 2026).
The Son La provincial People’s Committee on May 18 held a conference to announce the decisions of the provincial People’s Committee Chairman regarding personnel appointments.
The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Region 3 branch on May 18 held a working session between the banking system and the wards of To Hieu, Chieng Coi, Chieng An and Chieng Sinh.
Bac Phuong Son La Floating Buoy Manufacturing JSC, in coordination with Bac Phuong Son La Energy JSC, held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a floats and plastic products factory and the 800 MW Son La hydropower reservoir floating solar power plant in Chieng Lao commune on May 18.
Long He commune on May 17 held a ceremony to inaugurate an entrance gate of Cha May hamlet, in commemoration of the 136th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890 – 2026).
The People and Nature Reconciliation (PanNature) under the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, in coordination with Forest Protection Sub-Department Area X and the Van Ho commune General Services Centre, organised the “Regreening Forest 2026” event in Na Bai hamlet, Van Ho commune on May 17. The activity was held in response to the International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22).
With its cool climate, stunning natural landscapes and vast orchards, Son La is emerging as an appealing “green tourism” destination for travellers near and far during summer holidays, while shaping its tourism brand and identity.
In commemoration of the 136th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890 – 2026) and the 85th founding anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Vanguard Children's Union (May 15, 1941 – 2026), the Standing Committee of the Son La provincial Youth Union and the provincial children’s union on May 17 organised an incense offering ceremony at the President Ho Chi Minh Temple at Tay Bac Square.
Tay Bac University on May 16 organised the Job Fair and Business Networking Day 2026, attracting the participation of seven businesses, recruiters, and training institutions, along with more than 1,000 domestic and Lao students.
A plum-picking contest was held on the morning of May 16, as part of the first Phieng Khoai Plum Festival 2026, attracting large numbers of local residents and tourists.
The Son La provincial Border Guard Command organised a tree-planting campaign to commemorate the 136th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday (May 19, 1890 – May 19, 2026) and launched the pilot “Macadamia Garden” model in Tham Ton hamlet, Xuan Nha commune on May 16.
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