In the clear skies of early summer, the Na Ka plum valley in Thao Nguyen ward came alive with the sounds of traditional khen (panpipe) music, singing and cheers during the 10th Moc Chau Plum Picking Festival - Thao Nguyen 2026. The festival painted a vibrant picture of cultural colours and the joy of the ripe plum harvest among ethnic communities across the plateau.

At an altitude of more than 1,500 meters above sea level, Ta Xua is almost year-round covered in clouds and mist. This cold climate and dense fog have created the ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees with a uniquely distinctive flavour of the northwestern mountains and forests.

Within the framework of the Plum Festival and the first Cultural and Sports Contest 2026 of Yen Son commune, many cultural, sports, and experiential activities took place, attracting a large number of local residents and visitors.

Within the framework of the 10th Moc Chau Plum Harvest Festival, Thao Nguyen ward on May 23 organised a livestream session to promote agricultural products of Moc Chau. The event was attended by representatives of Thao Nguyen ward, businesses, cooperatives, partner organisations, and digital creators on the TikTok platform.

The consortium of Xlabs Co., Ltd. and Endeva, in collaboration with the Son La Centre for Agricultural Extension and Digital Transformation, organised a workshop titled “Inclusive Supply Chain Innovations in Son La” on May 21–22.

The People's Committee of Thuan Chau commune has organised on May 22-23 the “Skilled Grassroots Security and Order Protection Force” competition for Cluster No. 5 , with 20 teams from 10 communes across Thuan Chau area taking part.

The Son La provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the People’s Committee of Yen Son commune, on May 22 organised a seminar on improving productivity and product quality, and promoting market access for plum products in Yen Son commune in 2026.

These days, the atmosphere of lychee harvesting is bustling across hamlets in Muong Bu commune. People are picking fruit, sorting, and packing it directly in the orchards before transporting it to collection points, ready for traders’ trucks to take the produce to market. This year’s lychees are both abundant and sold at good prices, bringing significant income to local residents.

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.

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.

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 provincial People’s Committee, in coordination with Vietnam Airlines, and major retailers WinCommerce, Saigon Co.op and GO!, on May 15 held a ceremony in Phieng Khoai commune to launch the transport of Son La plums to Vietnam Airlines flights and retail systems nationwide.

At this time of year, plum orchards on the Moc Chau Plateau enter their peak harvest season. Amid the lush green foliage hang clusters of ripe red plums weighing down the branches, while baskets filled with ripe plums are transported on trucks traveling across the country, bringing Moc Chau plums to consumers nationwide.

The first Long Phieng Plum Festival 2026 officially opened in Yen Thi hamlet, Long Phieng commune on May 9.

Identifying the crucial role of rural infrastructure, Muong La commune has mobilised resources to invest in infrastructure systems, focusing on transportation, irrigation, and cultural facilities, contributing to socio-economic development and improving people’s living standards.

The provincial People’s Committee has issued a plan to implement the National Programme on supporting enterprises in improving productivity and the quality of products and goods in 2026 in Son La province.

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.

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).

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 Son La provincial Women’s Union is organising a training conference on April 16-17 to improve professional capacity in credit operations and the management of entrusted funds through the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) and the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) in 2026. The programme brings together 87 Women’s Union officials from 75 communes and wards, along with provincial-level staff.