The National Agricultural Extension Centre, in collaboration with the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, organised a seminar titled “Raising Awareness of Safe Fruit and Vegetable Production” in Son La province on September 9. The event forms part of the “Strengthening Safe Crop Value Chains in Northern Vietnam” project.

Over the past eight months, total mobilized capital from credit institutions in Son La province reached VND42.5 trillion ($1.61 billion), an increase of 10.82% compared to the same period in 2024. Total outstanding loans stood at approximately 51.8 trillion, up 8% year-on-year.

The total retail sales of goods in Son La province in August reached over VND3.47 trillion (131.5 million USD), an increase of 16.5% compared to the same period last year.

Son La province currently has 1,094 cooperatives with over 39,500 members. Among them, 883 are agricultural cooperatives, which serve as a bridge for scientific and technological transfer, forming value chains for product consumption, creating high-quality products that meet market demands, and increasing member incomes.

Since the beginning of this year, residents of Sop Cop commune have planted 38 hectares of new citrus trees, bringing the total citrus-growing area to over 450 hectares.

Chieng Mai commune has over 3,600 hectares of coffee, primarily in the hamlets of Cu, Phieng Quai, Tong Chinh, Sang Na Tre, and Tho Pat.

Co Ma commune held the opening ceremony of the Highland Market Fair 2025 on September 1. Attending the event were representatives from the provincial Party Committee’s Board for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation, leaders of neighbouring communes, as well as a large number of local residents and tourists.

The Son La provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD), held a meeting on August 29 to implement activities under the second phase of the project to mitigate, adapt to climate change in agroforestry in the Northwestern region (VM076).

Alongside ongoing efforts to develop technical infrastructure and ensure ready land availability for investment projects, the Son La provincial Industrial Parks Authority (SIPA) has actively innovated and enhanced its investment promotion strategies to improve the investment climate within local industrial parks (IPs).

In July, Son La province saw the establishment of 114 new enterprises and affiliated units, an increase of 143.1% compared to the same period last year, with a total newly registered capital of 186 billion VND (7 million USD).

In line with the Government’s preferential credit policies, the provincial branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP Son La) has implemented a loan programme to support households engaged in production and business activities in disadvantaged areas.

To increase value and enhance competitiveness for farm produce, Son La province has focused on building, managing, and developing brands, as well as fostering trust and uniqueness to secure a solid foothold in the global market.

Since the beginning of this year, 29 new cooperatives have been established across Son La province, bringing the total to 1,179 with approximately 11,800 members. Of these, 998 are currently operating, primarily in the agricultural sector, accounting for nearly 80%.

Currently, there are seven active foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in Son La province, with a total registered capital of 153.6 million USD.

Son La province has 2,964 hectares of aquaculture areas and 7,000 fish cages. In July, the province’s total aquaculture output reached nearly 611 tonnes, including 602 tonnes of fish and 8.7 tonnes of other aquatic products, up 1.94% and 1.78% year-on-year respectively.

Taking advantage of a natural area of 164sq.km, flat terrain, fertile soil, and abundant water resources, the people of Mai Son commune have focused on developing agriculture, particularly fruit cultivation, in a specialised, high-tech direction to improve the quality and value of agricultural products.

Son La is increasingly establishing itself as an attractive investment destination, thanks to the active efforts of local authorities. A key player in this success is the provincial Centre for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion, which serves as a vital bridge supporting hundreds of businesses, cooperatives, and household enterprises in expanding their markets both domestically and internationally.

The Silviculture Research Institute (SRI) under the Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, in collaboration with the Farmers’ Unions of Son La province and Yen Chau commune, on August 11 launched a training workshop on Teak (Tectona grandis) seedling propagation and plating in Yen Chau.

A working delegation from the Son La provincial Industrial Zones Management Board on August 9 visited and worked with representatives from Dream Plastic Co., Ltd. and Mavin Foods Joint Venture Co., Ltd. in Ninh Binh province to exchange experience in investment attraction and strengthen cooperation with businesses that have been investing in Son La’s Mai Son Industrial Park.

Son La province currently has 445 cooperatives owned by farmers, operating in various sectors such as crop cultivation, animal husbandry, aquaculture, agricultural services, handicrafts, tourism, and general services.