Son La’s services sector outperformed its 2025 plan, generating 16.77 trillion VND (638.04 million USD), up 9.5% from 2024, reinforcing its role as a key pillar of the provincial economy. Double-digit growth in retail sales and exports underscored the effectiveness of market-stabilisation efforts and tighter controls on trade fraud.

Identifying the spring crop as the most important production season of the year, the agricultural sector and localities across Son La province are stepping up preparations to secure seed structure, agricultural supplies and irrigation water, aiming to complete planting within the recommended timeline and achieve high yield and quality.

So far, farmers in Chieng Lao commune have grown more than 3,154 hectares of cassava, with various varieties.

Chieng So commune is home to 1,565 hectares of fruit, including 1,178 hectares of longan, 201 hectares of mango and 186 hectares of others.

Leveraging the climate and soil conditions of Na San Plateau, Chieng Mai commune has maintained and expanded its Arabica coffee area to more than 3,790 hectares.

Muong Khieng commune has nearly 9,400 buffaloes and cows, and about 7,000 pigs. In November, African swine fever was detected in pigs, while lumpy skin disease emerged among buffalo and cow.

The provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment on December 24 organised a conference providing an overview of forest resources and orientations for sustainable forestry development in Son La; information on biosphere reserves in Vietnam and around the world. It also shared experience and procedures for establishing biosphere reserves in accordance with UNESCO criteria.

A highlight of Son La province’s economic landscape in 2025 are its achievements in attracting investment. During the year, the province approved 39 new investment project proposals with a total registered capital of over 22.1 trillion VND (839.3 million USD), marking a 12.7-fold increase compared to 2024. These projects have become a key driver of growth, significantly contributing to the restructuring of the provincial economy.

Ta Xua bamboo tube tea has been listed in Top 20 outstanding projects in the National Startup Competition 2025.

Son La province’s aquaculture output in November is estimated at 685.2 tonnes, including 676 tonnes of fish, 0.2 tonnes of shrimp and 8.6 tonnes of other aquatic products .

Son La province recorded 192 newly established enterprises and affiliated units in November, with total registered capital of nearly 351 billion VND (13.33 million USD), up 260% and 127% year-on-year, respectively. The total number of businesses operating in the province has now surpassed 4,500.

Tay Nguyen University in Dak Lak province on December 10 hosted the award ceremony for the “Innovative Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation in the Coffee Sector” competition, organised by the coffee industry innovation cluster.

In November, the production index of Son La’s manufacturing and processing sector rose 36.28%, while that of the water supply, waste, and wastewater management sector increased 8%, and the mining industry edged up 0.06%. In contrast, the electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply sector fell 56.82%.

Son La province’s export value is estimated at 215 million USD in 2025, an increase of 91.9% compared to that in 2020, marking an average export growth of 13.9% in the 2021-2025 period.

Na Mon hamlet in Sop Cop commune has more than 26 hectares of orange orchards. This year’s favourable weather conditions have resulted in an average yield of about 10 tonnes of fruit per hectare.

An appraisal team from the provincial Department of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary, and Fisheries on December 3 declared that Gia Phu commune meets the conditions to be officially recognissed as free from African swine fever (ASF).

Exports contribute to promoting production development, expanding markets and economic relations, improving competitiveness and attracting capital and technology. In recent times, along with expanding production areas in accordance with standards and improving product quality, Son La province has focused on developing export support services, helping to sell agricultural products stably and sustainably.

Since October 2024, the provincial Cooperative Alliance has entrusted the provincial Bank for Social Policies to manage and use funds from the provincial Cooperative Development Support Fund for cooperatives, cooperative unions, and members of cooperative groups to borrow in accordance with Government Decree 45/2021/ND-CP.

The GREAT Project Management Board and the GREAT Project Management Consultancy Office on November 27 evaluated the effectiveness and scalability of the subproject on developing Son La’s commercial medicinal herb zones under the GREAT 2 Project in To Mua and Song Khua communes.

Since the beginning of this year, farmers in Van Ho commune have planted 557 hectares of various vegetables, mainly Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, cauliflower, chayote, and tomatoes, with a total yield of 6,684 tonnes.