Connecting to elevate the Arabica Son La brand

Son La is known as the largest Arabica coffee capital in the country, affirming its position on the coffee map of Vietnam and the world. Over the past 7 years, the Son La Coffee Association has played a good role as a bridge between the "4 houses", contributing to enhancing the value of specialty coffee, building the "Son La Coffee" brand.

Son La Coffee Association guides coffee picking techniques for households in Chieng Mai commune.

Bridge to create sustainable value chain

Established in August 2017, Son La Coffee Association is a professional social organization representing farmers, businesses, cooperatives and coffee processing facilities in the province. The Association operates non-profit, in the spirit of solidarity and connection between the State - Scientists - Businesses - Farmers, contributing significantly to building, protecting and developing the "Son La Coffee" brand.

Currently, Son La province has about 24,300 hectares of coffee, with an estimated output of over 37,700 tons of beans in the 2025-2026 crop year. In 2017, Son La coffee products were granted geographical indications for green coffee beans, roasted coffee beans and ground coffee. This is an important turning point in protecting and affirming the "Son La Coffee" brand.

Promoting its connecting role, the Son La Coffee Association has implemented many practical activities, such as: Organizing the Conference "Current situation and solutions to improve the quality and value of Son La coffee according to green and sustainable standards"; attending investment and tourism promotion events and meetings of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Coffee - Cocoa Association; propagating and guiding farmers on proper harvesting and processing techniques; participating in dialogue conferences, proposing recommendations from members to departments, branches, sectors and localities of the province. From the beginning of 2025 up to now, the Son La Coffee Association has continued to expand its membership network, admitting more scientific research units, specialty coffee production cooperatives; attending the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival, the Vietnam - China Coffee Festival (Yunnan, China), affirming the position and influence of Son La coffee beans in the international arena.

With the achieved results, in 2024, the Association was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) for its many contributions to the coffee industry; many members of the Association received certificates of merit from VCCI and the Provincial People's Committee.

Guide households in Muoi Noi commune to harvest coffee.

Maintaining the Son La Coffee brand

According to Mr. Vuong Van Hai, Chairman of the Son La Coffee Association, being granted the geographical indication “Son La Coffee” is the pride of the locality, a valuable intellectual property, helping to increase the value of the product, improve competitiveness and expand the market. The Association is closely coordinating with management agencies to monitor the use of geographical indications, ensuring that the products meet the correct quality, origin and reputation of the brand.

Up to now, 8 units in the province have been granted the right to use geographical indications, including: Minh Tien Import Export Joint Stock Company - Son La Branch; Phuc Sinh Son La Joint Stock Company; Son La Coffee Company; Bich Thao Son La Coffee Cooperative; Ara-Tay Coffee Cooperative; Detech Coffee Joint Stock Company; Cat Que Production and Trading Company Limited and Son La Coffee Processing Joint Stock Company. These are pioneering enterprises and cooperatives applying sustainable production models, deep processing and aiming towards international standards such as: 4C, Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance...

Coffee drying factory area of ​​Cat Que Production and Trading Company Limited.

Phuc Sinh Son La Joint Stock Company is an active member of the Son La Coffee Association. The company specializes in producing high-quality specialty coffee and is known for its famous brands, such as: Arabica Blue Son La, a high-quality Specialty Arabica coffee line that meets export standards; Cascara Blu Son La tea bags are made from red ripe coffee fruit peels, creating a drink that is highly appreciated by the market, especially the EU, US...

Mr. Vu Viet Thang, General Director of Phuc Sinh Son La Joint Stock Company, shared: As a member of Son La Coffee Association, we are supported in building a sustainable coffee production chain; learning and sharing experiences with members, contributing to maintaining the "Son La Coffee" brand as well as enhancing the value of coffee through promoting deep processing of coffee products, helping products easily penetrate demanding markets such as Europe and the US.

Ara-tay Coffee Cooperative, Muong Chanh Commune currently has 14 members and is associated with over 100 satellite households providing raw materials for processing specialty coffee. Currently, the Cooperative has 200 hectares of coffee and over 300 satellite hectares of households in the commune providing raw materials for processing 4 products, including: Natural green coffee beans, Honey green coffee beans, Natural coffee powder and beans. Each year, the Cooperative sells about 10 tons of green and ground coffee beans to the market, with an annual revenue of about 1.6 billion VND.

Ms. Cam Thi Mon, Director of Ara-tay Coffee Cooperative, said: Thanks to the support of the Association and management agencies, the Cooperative was granted the right to use geographical indications, an important condition to help products meet OCOP standards and affirm the brand in the high-end market. In particular, by joining the Association, we received support from members, information, experience sharing, and solutions to improve coffee quality. During the operation, the recommendations of members were received by the Association and reflected to the departments, branches, and sectors of the province, creating favorable conditions for business and production.

Coffee product display booth of Phuc Sinh Son La Joint Stock Company.

Entering the period 2025 - 2030, Son La Coffee Association sets the goal of expanding membership development, coordinating coffee replanting with new high-yield, high-quality varieties; promoting the production of specialty coffee and deep processing of products, such as: ground coffee, instant coffee, canned coffee, coffee husk tea... to increase value and income for farmers. At the same time, continue to promote the "4-house" connection, promote the image of "Son La Coffee - Northwest flavor", link production development with environmental protection, growing area codes and carbon credits. Organize technical training courses, share experiences in care, harvesting, processing, helping coffee growers adapt to the trend of green, modern agriculture.

Son La Coffee Association has affirmed its role in connecting and accompanying the government, businesses and people with the common goal of improving the quality and value of coffee beans, helping Son La Arabica coffee continue to spread its fragrance, reach far and wide, becoming a symbol of sustainable agriculture and the identity of the Northwest in the international market.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/kinh-te/ket-noi-nang-tam-thuong-hieu-arabica-son-la-nvTzZ6zDR.html