Accounting for nearly 16% of the province’s population, the Mong ethnic people in Son La consist of three main groups Flower Mong (Mong Lenh), White Mong (Mong Do), and Black Mong (Mong Du). Together, they have created a rich and distinctive cultural heritage imbued with strong ethnic identity, reflected in their costumes, language, festivals, and traditional crafts. In highland villages, these traditional cultural values are personally preserved and passed down from generation to generation by cultural torchbearers within the community.

In response to the requirement for fundamental and comprehensive renovation of education and training, the provincial education sector, together with local authorities, has prioritised budget allocations and mobilised various resources to build and upgrade schools. These efforts have gradually created more spacious and modern learning environments that meet the demands of educational reform.

A delegation from Son La, Lao Cai, and Lai Chau provinces on December 15 surveyed the tourism potential around the Son La hydropower reservoir.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Dang Ngoc Hau on December 15 chaired a meeting with departments, agencies and local authorities on measures to lift the province’s Citizen and Business Service Index and performance in delivering online public services.

For students in urban areas, learning English is no longer unfamiliar. However, in remote and mountainous regions, particularly among ethnic minority communities, access to foreign languages, especially for preschool children, remains a major challenge. To address this gap, the education sector has rolled out the “Solution to manage and improve the quality of organising English familiarisation activities in preschools.” After more than a year of implementation, the initiative has begun to yield positive changes, offering children in mountainous areas an opportunity to early engage with a foreign language.

After five years of implementing Subproject 3 on supporting sustainable employment, under Project 4 of the National Target Programme on Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the 2021-2025 period, Son La province has supported 132 workers in finding jobs at domestic companies and enterprises. This has contributed to creating sustainable livelihoods and improving incomes for people in many disadvantaged areas.

As part of the 2025 cultural, sports, and tourism festival for ethnic minority and mountainous communities in Tuong Ha commune, villagers and visitors packed Ban Cai flower garden on December 14 to watch and take part in folk games.

The provincial Department of Health and the provincial General Hospital, in coordination with the Cardiovascular Centre of Hanoi-based E Hospital and Vietnam Children’s Fund Social Enterprise (VCF SE), on December 13 organised a programme providing free cardiovascular disease screening and consultation for local children under 18 years old.

The provincial Red Cross Society, in cooperation with the Hai Phong city Red Cross Society and the provincial Hospital of Traditional Medicine, on December 12 organised a programme to provide medical examinations, health consultations, and free medicine to 250 residents in Muoi Noi commune.

The Son La provincial Department of Public Security on December 12 launched a campaign to intensify its crackdown on crime and safeguard security and public order ahead of the 14th National Party Congress, the elections of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils for the 2026-2031 tenure, the 2026 Lunar New Year and early-year festivals.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Dang Ngoc Hau on December 12 chaired a working session with leaders of relevant departments and sectors to review the planning of the Chieng Khuong Border Gate.

The Youth Division of the provincial Department of Public Security, in coordination with Chieng Hoa commune, on December 11 held an inauguration ceremony for a model classroom building at the Tao Van Moi satellite campus of Chieng Cong Ethnic Semi-Boarding Primary School.

With the motto “Where there are women, there are women’s movements,” in recent years, the Women’s Union of Chieng Hoa commune has implemented various emulation movements and campaigns in diverse and practical forms. These activities have attracted women from highland and remote hamlets to join the organisation, contributing to building a strong and effective local Women’s Union.

The Steering Committee for the second phase of the Gender-Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism project in Son La province (GREAT 2 Son La) convened a regular meeting to review project progress, discuss activities for 2025-2026, and propose additional budget allocations.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Dang Ngoc Hau on December 11 inspected the progress of a project to upgrade the Long Sap main border gate into an international one, and reviewed the implementation of a programme to do away with temporary and dilapidated houses in Long Sap commune.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Minh Tien on December 11 inspected preparations for the groundbreaking ceremonies of the Chieng Dong Water Plant project and another on renovation and construction of facilities within the provincial Party Committee compound, in celebration of the 14th National Party Congress.

The Son La Department of Public Security on December 11 organised the Firefighting and Rescue Skills Competition 2025 for its firefighting and rescue police force.