The Son La provincial People’s Committee on October 21 issued a plan to prepare a dossier nominating a proposed world biosphere reserve along the biodiversity corridor linking Muong La Nature Reserve with Ta Xua Special-Use Forest.

Nguyen Dinh Viet, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, and Head of the Steering Committee for the Implementation of National Target Programmes in Son La province for the 2026-2030 period, on October 21 chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee to reach consensus on several key issues related to the programmes.

Ta Khoa commune comprises 12 hamlets, with 3,082 households and more than 15,320 people. The Thai ethnic group accounts for over 30% of the commune’s population. Local Thai people continue to preserve traditional brocade weaving, ethnic costumes, folk songs, the xoe dance, and folk games, enriching spiritual life and strengthening community bonds.

The provincial Civil Servant Recruitment Council 2026 has approved a list of nine candidates from high-quality human resources who meet the eligibility requirements and qualifications to participate in the civil servant recruitment examination for provincial- and commune-level administrative agencies.

Lo Minh Hung, Standing Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People's Council, on October 20 chaired a working session to review preparations for a project to upgrade facilities for Son La Newspaper and Radio-Television, and address difficulties in developing economic-technical norms and pricing for various types of journalism.

Cha A Cua, Deputy Secretary of the Son La provincial Party Committee and President of the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, held talks with the Lao Front for National Construction Committee of Luang Prabang province to exchange experience in front affairs in the Lao province on October 20. The two sides agreed on future cooperation priorities and signed the working minutes for the 2026–2028 period.

Cha A Cua, Deputy Secretary of the Son La provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, on October 20 afternoon led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Vietnamese Consulate General in Luang Prabang as part of their working trip to Laos. The delegation was received by Consul General Vu Ngoc Ly.

Nguyen Dinh Viet, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Son La provincial People's Committee, led a Son La delegation in a working session with Xuan Thien Group JSC in Ninh Binh province on October 20 to discuss plans to break ground on the Dong Phu Yen pumped-storage hydropower project.

The fourth week of the 2026 Son La online contest on administrative reform attracted 20,801 entries over four days, from October 12 to 15. Of these, 3,301 submissions correctly answered all 20 questions.

Standing Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Council Lo Minh Hung, Member of the Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee and Standing Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Council Vi Duc Tho, and Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Council Nguyen Viet Cuong on October 19 jointly chaired the fourth thematic session of the 16th provincial People’s Council for the 2026-2031 term.

The State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV), in coordination with the Son La provincial Party Committee, held a conference on October 19 to approve a draft audit report on the management and use of public finances and public assets in 2025.

Making use of local medicinal herbs, the Muong La Medicinal Herb Cooperative in Sub-zone 1, Muong La commune, has developed a range of natural herbal products, gradually building its brand, expanding markets, increasing the value of local agricultural produce and creating jobs for rural workers.

From mid-October through February, Navel orange orchards in Phieng Khoai commune turn golden against a backdrop of lush green foliage. The delicate citrus fragrance and fresh mountain air attract visitors eager to explore the orchards, experience local farming and sample fresh produce. The seasonal appeal is helping promote local agricultural products, increase their value and boost tourism.

The provincial Department of Justice on October 18 held a training conference on legal knowledge and professional skills for more than 100 grassroots mediators from Long He commune. The commune is one of two selected as pilot locations for implementing the project “Enhancing the Capacity of Grassroots Mediators for the 2024–2030 Period” in 2026.

The People’s Committee of Binh Thuan commune has held its Agricultural Products, Culture and Tourism Festival 2026 from October 15 to 18, featuring a wide range of cultural, sport and experiential activities that attract large numbers of local residents and visitors. The event helps promote local farm produce, showcase the cultural identities of ethnic groups, and preserve and promote traditional cultural values associated with experiential tourism development.

The Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee and the organising committee of the online contest on the Resolutions of the 14th National Party Congress and the 16th provincial Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term held a conference on October 16 to review the contest and present awards to its winners.

With more than 10,500 hectares of water surface spanning four communes - Quynh Nhai, Muong Chien, Muong Gion and Muong Sai, the Quynh Nhai reservoir area offers significant potential for economic development. Alongside cage fish farming and ecotourism, the area is attracting renewable energy projects, opening up sustainable livelihoods that help local residents increase their incomes and improve their livelihoods.