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.

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.

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 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.

Son La Hydropower Company, Son La Power Company and the Son La Power Services Enterprise, in coordination with the provincial Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation and Son La General Hospital, on December 12 held a voluntary blood donation drive in response to the Vietnam Electricity (EVN)’s 11th blood donation campaign.

Working Group No. 2 of the provincial Party Committee’s Steering Committee 2009 on December 12 conducted a working session to review the implementation of the “Digital Literacy for All” movement in To Hieu and Chieng An wards.

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.

A range of activities have been carried out to support disadvantaged students.

Toward the 81st founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the 36th All-People's National Defense Day, schools across Son La province have organised various flexible educational activities, integrating history lessons into real-life experiences. This creative approach is helping foster patriotism and national pride among the younger generation.

The People’s Committee of Tuong Ha commune on November 29 organised the Job Fair 2025 in Lien Hop and Dong La hamlets.

The Bui family’s council of Son La province on November 29 coordinated with the Club of Physicians of the Bui Family in Vietnam and the provincial Centre for Disease Control to organise a charity programme to provide free health check-ups, consultation, Phaco surgery support, and medicine for about 500 poor people and policy beneficiaries in Son La province.

The Son La provincial Centre for Disease Control, in collaboration with Son La Medical College on November 29 organised a communication event in response to the National Action Month for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control 2025 and World AIDS Day (December 1).

Upholding the tradition of “drinking water, remembering its source,” Son La province has consistently prioritised housing support for people with meritorious service to the revolution, helping stabilise their lives and improve both material and spiritual well-being for policy beneficiaries in the locality.

Ta Hoc commune was established via merging Na Bo and Ta Hoc communes. It now has 20 villages and residential clusters, with over 3,200 households and 13,704 residents, including 8,408 people of working age. Most rural labourers in the commune are from the Mong, Thai, and Kho Mu ethnic groups. Focusing on job creation for rural workers, the commune has coordinated efforts to improve vocational training, implement preferential credit programmes for job creation, and connect with enterprises to recruit workers, helping people secure stable jobs and increase their income.

Son La has channeled investment into school infrastructure and upgraded equipment for boarding and semi-boarding campuses, while accelerating literacy initiatives and expanding vocational training and job creation for local workers.

The Son La provincial Red Cross Society, in cooperation with the Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) and the Sustainability Investment Promotion and Development Joint Stock Company (SIPCO), organised a programme in Long Phieng commune on November 25 to distribute water purifiers as part of community and climate action initiatives.