Natural resources: Son La has the 5th largest area of natural forest out of 63 provinces. The forests here content rich genetic sources of rare animal and plant, besides that special-used forests are valuable for scientific researches like Sop Cop, Xuan Nha (Moc Chau district), Ta Xuan (Bac Yen district), Co Pia (Thuan Chau district). The province’s soil is quite rich, diversified and suitablefor developing economically valuable plants and domestic animals. Besides, its forestry land is plentiful (accounting for 7
Travel resources: Located in the center of the Northwestern mountainous provinces, Son La has 250 km of border with Laos, with convenient road and waterway traffic; is the land of 12 ethnic groups with long-standing cultural values; has a system of interesting caves, majestic waterfalls, hydroelectric lakes, hot mineral water mines, cool climate... Son La has many potentials and advantages to develop tourism activities.
Currently, Son La province has 96 relics, including: 02 special national relics, 16 national relics, 46 relics ranked at provincial level, 32 relics not yet ranked, typically: Son La Prison, King Le Thai Tong's Stele (City), Moc Ly Fort (Moc Chau), Thuan Chau Flag Tower, Na San stronghold, Co Noi Youth Volunteer Monument (Mai Son), Ta Vai Bridge (Yen Chau), Bat Cave scenic spot (Moc Chau), ... These are attractive addresses, which can attract thousands of tourists to visit each year. In terms of human tourism resources, Son La is a long-standing land of 12 ethnic groups, each with its own unique and similar cultural identity. Many ethnic villages and hamlets still retain many traditional cultural values, which are considered as special humanistic tourism resources to exploit, creating valuable cultural tourism products. Many ethnic villages have sufficient conditions to develop community ecotourism models associated with hunger eradication and poverty reduction, such as: Phu Mau, Na Bai, Chieng Yen commune (Van Ho); Ta So, Chieng Hac commune; Ang, Dong Sang commune (Moc Chau); Hai, Ca, Bo, Chieng An ward; Tong, Hum, Chieng Xom commune (City); Han 4, Han 5, Muong Do commune (Phu Yen); Lut, Ngoc Chien commune (Muong La); Ca, Duc, Chieng Khoang commune (Quynh Nhai); The highland markets of Lang Cheu (Bac Yen), Co Ma (Thuan Chau), Independence Festival (Moc Chau)... The ethnic groups of Son La have many festivals such as: Moi festival, Keo si festival, Lap Tinh festival, Ban flower festival, Xen Ban, Xen Muong, Xip Xi, Praying for rain, Praying for harvest, Nao Xong, Sowing seeds, Kin Pang Then, Washing hair, Xen Pang A, Muong A Ma, Celebrating new rice... and folk games such as: boat racing, throwing con, throwing pa pao, shooting crossbows, pounding rice cakes, tug of war, pushing sticks, hitting tu lu, dragon hatching eggs, To Mak Le... Regarding dance and folk music, there are xoe, xap dance, conical hat dance, khen dance, umbrella dance, tha kheng dance, bell dance, Cong Top dance, Au Eo, Cung Cau Thap, Loi Dang, Cau Vi... Regarding cuisine, there are ethnic dishes such as: Can wine, Hoang wine, Pa Pinh Top, Mo Tu Cay, Nhua Dang, Lam rice, Banh Day... are delicious, unique and attractive dishes for tourists. It can be said that with its geographical location and rich and diverse tourism resources, Son La possesses attractive natural and human tourism resources, which can create unique tourism products, contributing positively to the socio-economic development of the locality and to the tourism development of the whole country. In particular, Moc Chau National Tourist Area has been recognized by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 1077/QD-TTg dated April 22, 2024 and in 2022 and 2023, Moc Chau was honored by the World Travel Award (WTA) as "The World's Leading Regional Natural Destination".
Human resources: ▪ Proportion of agricultural labor in total social labor: 62.9%
▪ Proportion of trained labor: 61%
▪ Proportion of labor with certificates: 26%
(estimated implementation in 2023)
Traffic: Son La is located 302 km from Hanoi on National Highway 6 Hanoi - Son La - Dien Bien.
▪ In the entire province, there are 10 national highways, 19 provincial roads, and 134 district roads. Currently, there is an investment project underway for the construction of the Hoa Binh - Moc Chau expressway, with segments located in Son La province.
▪ Son La's waterways are mainly along the Da River by Ta Hoc port in Mai Son district.
▪ Regarding public transport, Son La has developed a private bus network of 6 routes connecting Son La City to neighboring districts.
▪ In Son La province, there are 11 passenger bus stations that have been announced to be classified and put into operation according to prescribed standards, and there are 05 static parking lots. Currently, there are no fixed pick-up and drop-off points announced to be put into operation and no rest stops for vehicles and traffic participants announced to operate according to regulations.
Power system: In 2015, the total commercial electricity in the province was 443.6 million kWh, Pmax was 104MW. The growth rate of commercial electricity in the whole province in the period 2011-2015 reached an average of 11.02%/year.
To meet the socio-economic development requirements of the province according to the set goals, the Provincial People's Committee has developed the province's electricity development plan for the period 2016-2025, with consideration to 2035 to determine the program. The power source and grid development process ensures meeting the needs of socio-economic development in the coming period.
Water system: The province has Mai Son water supply plant with the capacity of 4,800 m3/day and the water supply plant of Son La city with the capacity of 12,000m3/day. The province also improves water supply system for towns and residential areas, center of communes. Currently, water supply and wastewater treatment projects are planned to construct in Moc Chau.
Post and Telecommunication Systems: There are microwave system in the province’s town and districts’ centers which allows telephone calling, information transmission nationwide and worldwide. All communes have telephone system. Mobile phones can be reached in the centers of districts located along national highway No. 6 by the end of 2003.
Systems Industrial Zone: Industrial parks:
+ Mai Son Industrial park
+ Van Ho Industrial park
The economic structure:
- Economic structure:
+ Industry & construction: 27%; Service: 41,6%; Agriculture & fishery: 24,5%
- Export - import turnover:
+ Total exports: 186,6 million USD (’23)
+ Total imports: 13 million USD (’23)
Growth:
- GRDP growth: 0,75 % (’23)
- GRDP per capita: 51.39 million VND/person/year, an increase of 3.98% compared to 2022
Attracting investment: