In recent years, Son La has become a bright spot of the northwest region in socio-economic development, especially agriculture and tourism. On December 25, 2023, the Prime Minister approved the Master Plan of Son La province for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050. This is the legal basis to synchronously connect planning schemes of administrations at all levels and sectors; shape strategic breakthroughs in institutional reform and infrastructure development; and promote the attraction of domestic and foreign investments.

Son La province's industrial structure last year changed in the direction of increasing the proportion of manufacturing and processing industries, and gradually narrowing the mining industry.

The value of goods exports and imports between Son La province and its neighbouring Lao provinces reached over 982,000 USD in 2023.

The total area of fruit trees in Son La province reached 71,380 hectares in 2023, an increase of 1.12% (941 hectares) from the same period the previous year, reported the provincial Statistics Office.

This year's spring crop, Song Ma district planted over 1,790 hectares of rice, with the main varieties being fragrant sticky rice 86, sticky rice 86, 87, 97 and BC15, Dien Bien, Nhi Uu and Nghi Huong sticky rice. 

In January, the total output of aquatic products in Son La province reached nearly 900 tonnes, a year-on-year increase of 4%. Of the total, farming output reached 770 tonnes, and 125 tonnes were caught.

Minh Tien Group Joint Stock Company is currently implementing coffee production and consumption linkages with 470 households on a total area of 543.7 hectares in four hamlets in Chieng Mai, Chieng Ban and Na Ot communes, Mai Son district.

Currently, Bac Yen district has nearly 563 hectares of cardamom grown under the canopy of natural forests, with an output of nearly 550 tonnes per year, bringing in an income of about 40 million VND (1,636 USD) per ha. 

With 84,752 hectares of fruit trees, Son La has become the largest fruit garden in the North. It also boasts the largest Arabica coffee area in the country with over 20,000 hectares; along with 5,235 hectares of tea, 9,259 hectares of sugarcane, 42,537 hectares of corn, and over 15,300 hectares of cassava.

Son La has so far had 27 products bearing the local name granted protection certificates, along with five high-tech agricultural areas, and 280 safe food and seafood supply chains.

Now Son La province has 864 agricultural cooperatives and six agricultural cooperative unions with 30 member cooperatives.

With the aim of building key, signature agricultural products of each region, Son La province has focused on developing items under the “One Commune-One Product” (OCOP) programme in line with the process of agricultural production restructuring, thus contributing to increasing income and product value, and protecting the environment.

Digital society is one of the three pillars of the national digital transformation programme, along with digital government and digital economy. Recognising that importance, all-level authorities and localities in Son La province have synchronously deployed many solutions to promote digital society building activities with many positive results.

Last year, Thuan Chau district focused on consolidating and improving the operational efficiency of cooperatives and creating conditions for them to access production development support policies.

Promoting its role as an organisation representing businesses and a bridge connecting them with state management agencies, Moc Chau district’s Business Association has supported its members to develop and invest in expanding production and business, increase revenue,  fulfill their obligation of paying to state budget, create jobs for locals, and actively participate in social welfare activities.

In 2023, Son La province attracted 24 new investment projects with a total registered capital of 17.6 trillion VND (715.3 million USD), two and five times higher than the respective figures in the previous year.

In January, Son La province planted 2,520 hectares of all kinds of vegetables, an increase of 4.91% over the same period last year. The province’s vegetable production reached 4,334 tonnes, up 1.95% year-on-year.

The People’s Committee of Moc Chau district on January 24 held a conference reviewing biomass corn production in 2023, and launch a plan on building biomass corn production and consumption chains in 2024.

Son La province currently has 57 small and medium hydropower projects that have been completed and put into operation. In 2023, they contributed 2.5 billion kWh to the national grid and paid over 460 billion VND (18.7 million USD) to the local budget, contributing to ensuring energy security and serving the local socio-economic development.

Most main products of Son La province's manufacturing industry saw a year-on-year output growth in 2023. Cassava starch topped the list with an expansion of 28.48%. It was followed by whole-bean roasted coffee, 9.76%; Portland cement 8.75%; pasteurized fresh milk, yogurt, fermented or acidified milk and cream 8.59-8.72%; pure water 8.1%; and ice bars 6.84%...