The project to improve livelihoods of ethnic minorities through agriculture and improve nutrition in Son La province, funded by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Save the Children International (SIC) in Vietnam, has brought practical results, benefiting women and children in ethnic minority areas after two years of implementation.

Every two years, Son La province organises a selection of outstanding rural industrial products. This initiative has become a driving force, encouraging businesses and cooperatives to develop local specialty products and expand their production and business.

The Executive Committee of the Son La provincial Cooperative Alliance on June 20 held its 11th Conference for the 2020–2025 term to review the performance during the first half of the year, launch tasks for the second half, and commend exemplary individuals and collectives in 2025.

Since the beginning of the year, farmers in Co Noi commune, Mai Son district, have planted over 500 hectares of vegetables and various crops, yielding more than 40,000 tonnes.

As part of a policy to grow fruit trees on sloped land, Nam Et commune in Quynh Nhai district has planted over 110 hectares of fruit trees, including orange, pomelo, mango, longan, and banana. Of this area, 100 hectares are now in harvest, yielding an annual output of 400 tonnes.

Van Ho district has an impressive 4,430 hectares dedicated to fruit trees, with the primary crops being longan, mango, orange, and "hau" plum.

Son La province boasts over 1 million hectares of agricultural land, including nearly 85,000 hectares of fruit trees, yielding an annual output of approximately 451,779 tonnes of various fruits. Currently, several fruits, such as “hau” plum and mango, are entering their harvest season, with longan soon to follow.

Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Son La province and Chairman of the provincial OCOP Council Nguyen Thanh Cong on June 13 chaired a meeting to evaluate and rank OCOP products. The event, the first of its kind this year, gathered representatives from provincial departments, sectors, businesses, and cooperatives with products under evaluation.

The VH6 pear variety, known for its mildly sweet taste and thin skin, has been cultivated by households in Tay Xua commune, Bac Yen district since 2017. Early results have proven its effectiveness, opening up a new agricultural development direction for highland communities.

The People’s Committee of Son La province, in coordination with Vietnam Airlines, Saigon Co.op, Go!, and WinCommerce, held a ceremony in Moc Chau township on June 10 to mark the distribution of Son La’s signature “hau” plums on Vietnam Airlines flights and across the retail networks of Saigon Co.op, Go!, and WinCommerce.

Leveraging the advantages of climate and soil, businesses, cooperatives, and farmers in Moc Chau township have, in recent years, introduced new crop varieties into production and applied scientific and technological advances in cultivation to enhance the competitiveness of agricultural products in the market.

In the first five months of 2025, Son La province’s total export value hit nearly 102 million USD, an increase of 14.4% compared to the same period last year.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Cong, and a delegation of the provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Centre attended the launching ceremony of the Green Consumption Campaign and Son La Plum Festival organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Trading Cooperatives (Saigon Co.op) on June 7.

Nguyen Thanh Cong, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee and head of the provincial Steering Committee for Agricultural Production, Processing, Sale, and Export (Steering Committee 598), chaired a working session with the People’s Committee of Yen Chau district regarding the sale of “hau” plums in the locality on June 3.

Son La province has 214 products evaluated, rated, and certified as OCOP (One Commune One Product) items of 3 stars or higher.

The Moc Chau Plum Picking Festival – an annual cultural and tourism event – has become a signature agricultural tourism brand of Moc Chau township. Taking place from May 31 to June 1, the festival promises to offer exciting, unforgettable experiences and leave a lasting impression on every visitor and local resident.

Son La city has more than 4,000 hectares of fruit trees, mainly in Chieng Ngan, Chieng Xom, Chieng Den, Chieng Co and Hua La communes and Chieng An ward. The annual fruit yield exceeds 31,000 tonnes.

Since the beginning of 2025, more than 850 households in Muong Lan commune, Sop Cop district have received loans from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, with total outstanding value exceeding 60 billion VND (2.3 million USD).

Cooperatives in Song Ma district are ramping up innovation and operational reform, actively forging production and distribution linkages to improve the quality, value, and competitiveness of local agricultural products. Their efforts have helped raise members’ incomes and spur local socio-economic growth.

The Trung Hieu Organic Cooperative, located in Buc hamlet, Chieng Sung commune, Mai Son district, is actively partnering and closely cooperating with local residents and cooperative members to develop corn and vegetable cultivation. It stands out as a model in promoting organic and sustainable agricultural production.