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.
Due to the impact of Storm No. 1 (Maysak), prolonged heavy rainfall occurred in Long Phieng commune, increasing the risk of serious landslides. Following a review, authorities discovered significant signs of ground instability near the home of Giang Lao Co, a resident of Co Lac hamlet. Several large cracks appeared and extended along the hillside directly behind his house, posing a serious threat to the safety of his family and their property.
After two days of vibrant competition in the final round, the 2026 provincial contest for outstanding rapporteurs and public communicators closed on July 8 afternoon at Studio S350 of Son La Newspaper and Radio-Television.
Implementing the 500-day campaign to search for, recover, and identify the remains of fallen soldiers, Son La province has completed DNA sample collection from the remains of unidentified martyrs and continues to carry out search and recovery operations. The province is also preparing the necessary conditions to collect DNA samples from the relatives of unidentified martyrs.
The Son La Party Committee on July 7 opened the 2026 provincial contest for outstanding rapporteur and public communicators at Studio S350 of Son La Newspaper and Radio-Television.
The provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment held a meeting on July 7 to review and expedite the implementation of Plan No. 2959 jointly issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Ministry of Public Security on strengthening land surveying and cadastral mapping, the establishment of cadastral records, and the completion of the national land database for the communes of Chieng Mung, Mai Son, Ta Hoc, and Chieng Sung.
The People's Public Security Publishing House has released "The Fight Against Drug Crime in Son La and the Case of the Heroes," a book by Colonel Tran Anh Tuan, a Hero of the People's Armed Forces and former Director of the Son La provincial Department of Public Security. The event came ahead of the 64th traditional day of the People’s Police Force (July 20, 1962–2026).
The Son La provincial Department of Public Security on July 7 held a ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the People's Public Security Force’s tradition day (July 12, 1946 – 2026).
Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Cong, who is head of the Steering Committee 982 on the implementation of the project on surveying, cadastral documentation and land database development in the province, chaired a meeting on July 6 to review the implementation progress of Plan No. 2959/KH-BNNMT-BCA on the work, jointly issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Ministry of Public Security. The meeting was connected online to 75 communes and wards throughout the province.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Dang Ngoc Hau, who also heads the representative board of the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies' Son La branch (VPSP Son La), on July 6 chaired a meeting to review second-quarter performance and launch tasks for the third quarter of 2026.
Ha Trung Chien, member of the provincial Party Committee’s Standing Board and Standing Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, on July 6 chaired a meeting with provincial departments and agencies to review the progress of fund disbursement for science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation in 2026.
In June, on the hillsides of Phieng Khoai commune, Tai Nung pear orchards begin harvesting. After more than 10 years of taking root in this land, under the hands of dynamic farmers who dare to think and act, the pear trees have gradually affirmed their brand in the market thanks to superior quality, safe production processes, and clear traceability.
Alongside the 12 ethnic groups living in Son La, smaller ethnic communities such as the La Ha, Kho Mu, and Khang have enriched the province's vibrant cultural landscape with their unique traditions. Over time, many of their cultural practices faced the risk of disappearing. However, thanks to the dedication of local artisans, the collective efforts of their communities, and, most importantly, the practical support and practical solutions of authorities at all levels, the cultural heritage of these smaller ethnic groups is being preserved, safeguarded, and promoted.
In response to Vietnam Health Insurance Day (July 1), the provincial Social Security and organisations supporting participant development on July 4 organised a launch ceremony for a communication campaign to provide information, answer questions, and offer consultations on health insurance policies for local residents. The event was held simultaneously at all local social security offices.
As part of the Thuan Chau Culture, Sports and Tourism Festival 2026, Thuan Chau commune on July 3 morning reenacted the traditional Xen Ban, a traditional festival that embodies the distinctive cultural identity of the Thai ethnic people.
Lo Minh Hung, Standing Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the provincial People's Council, and head of the working group of the provincial Party Committee’s Standing Board on the development of a standard political school, on July 3 chaired a meeting to review the implementation of tasks in the second quarter of 2026 and outline key priorities for the third quarter.
The provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment has issued a decision assigning 200 civil servants and public employees to directly assist commune- and ward-level People's Committees in implementing Plan No. 2959/KH-BNNMT-BCA jointly issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Ministry of Public Security on March 29, 2026 on completing the national land database.
Chieng On Border Guard Station, in coordination with the Phieng Khoai commune Women's Union, held a signing ceremony for the cooperation agreement to implement the "Accompanying Border Women" programme for the 2026–2030 period in Phieng Khoai commune’s Lao Kho 1 hamlet on July 2.
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