Part II: Building Son La province into the economic and social center of the Northwest sub-region

After 10 years of restoration, renovation and construction of socialism (1954 - 1965), Son La has made a positive step forward. From a poor, backward, dispersed agricultural economy , it has become a locality with an initially developed economy. The transportation network; industry, small-scale industry such as mechanics, electricity, construction materials, food processing, printing... have been gradually formed and developed. Especially with the policy of adjusting lowland human resources to the mountainous areas to develop the economy and protect the Fatherland, Son La province has welcomed hundreds of thousands of workers from lowland provinces to build new economic zones, so the system of agricultural and forestry farms has begun to form and develop, creating premises and appearance to change many aspects of the province's economy and society.

The education career developed rapidly, thousands of teachers from the lowlands volunteered to go to Son La to build culture and education in the mountainous areas; the system of Ethnic Youth Schools and vocational and technical schools was formed. Most communes had primary schools, secondary schools and some districts had high schools. People's health care was given attention, most communes had clinics, medicine bags and medical staff. The positive development of Son La contributed, together with the northern provinces, to become a solid material and spiritual support for the struggle for national liberation and reunification of our compatriots in the South.

In 1975, after the South was completely liberated, the country was unified, the Vietnamese revolution entered a new period - the period of building socialism nationwide. In 10 years (1976 - 1985), with efforts, Son La province has achieved important achievements, achieving a fairly rapid growth rate in many fields. Since 1986, implementing the renovation process initiated and led by our Party.

After nearly 40 years of innovation, the people of all ethnic groups in Son La province, under the leadership of the Party Committee, together with the whole country, continue to promote the heroic tradition, overcome all difficulties and challenges, and achieve great achievements in all fields. The economic structure has shifted in a positive direction, agricultural production has developed towards improving productivity and product quality, associated with the application of high technology; industry has developed towards gradually increasing the proportion of processing industry, increasing the proportion of domestic value in products; services have focused on developing industries with competitive advantages.

Farmers in Binh Thuan commune harvest tea. Photo: Nguyen Thao

The total product in the province (at current prices) in 2025 is estimated at 82,789 billion VND, 1.49 times higher than in 2020; GRDP per capita in 2025 is estimated at 61.8 million VND/person/year, 1.4 times higher than in 2020. The proportion of digital economy in GRDP by 2024 will reach 6.76%. The electricity production industry continues to affirm its important role, the rate of households using electricity for daily life is over 96.9%, with more than 60 hydropower plants operating effectively, contributing greatly to the economic growth of the province and providing 5% -6% of the total national electricity output. Paying attention to promoting investment attraction, promoting rapid and sustainable tourism development, Moc Chau Tourist Area has been recognized as a National Tourist Area and a leading regional natural destination in Asia and the world for many consecutive years. By the end of 2025, the tourism industry is expected to welcome 5.3 million visitors (3.08 times higher than in 2020), with revenue reaching VND 6,300 billion (5.06 times higher than in 2020). All economic sectors have developed, with foreign-invested and private economies developing strongly in the fields of tourism, services, construction and investment in agriculture, rural areas, and agricultural and forestry processing, contributing positively to job creation, income generation, and budget revenue increase for the province...

The cultural and social fields are of interest, focusing on building an advanced culture imbued with national identity. The scale, capacity, quality of medical examination and treatment, epidemic prevention and control, care and protection of people's health are improved; the quality of education and training at all levels, the quality of human resources are constantly improved; social security work, ensuring people's lives are of interest and focus, timely and fully implementing social security policies; the poverty rate according to the poverty line for the period 2021-2025 decreased from 21.66% to 7.89%, an average decrease of 3.59%/year, exceeding the set target. In particular, the 2020-2025 term supported the elimination of 12,375 temporary and dilapidated houses with a budget of 612,330 billion VND, completing ahead of the schedule assigned by the central government.

The work of Party building, rectification and consolidation of the political system has been focused on and implemented comprehensively, synchronously and effectively. The work of inspection, supervision, enforcement of Party discipline and the fight against corruption, waste and negativity has had positive changes. Foreign affairs have been consolidated, strengthened and expanded, maintaining special friendly and cooperative relations with 09 provinces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, diversifying the contents and forms of cooperation, enhancing learning activities, exchanging experiences; building a peaceful, friendly, stable and comprehensively developed Vietnam - Laos border...

After nearly 40 years of innovation, Son La has become a fairly developed province in the Northern midland and mountainous region, in major directions the province has opened up a position for upward development. The 16th Son La Provincial Party Congress, term 2025-2030, has identified the general goal: Strengthening the building of a clean and strong Party and political system. Promoting the tradition of solidarity, potential, advantages, and cultural identity of ethnic groups; promoting innovation and digital transformation. Developing rapidly and sustainably, taking high-tech commodity agriculture and processing industry as the center, linking with eco-tourism and culture; improving people's lives; ensuring national defense and security; building Son La province into a fairly developed province, a center for processing agricultural products of the Northern midland and mountainous region, a key tourism center of the Northern midland and mountainous region and the Vietnam - Laos border area.

Dai Yem Waterfall Eco-tourism Area, Moc Chau Ward. Photo: Ha Hoa

To successfully achieve the goals, the Provincial Party Committee has also set out 24 main targets, 3 breakthroughs and 9 key tasks to focus on leadership, direction, and determination to bring Son La to develop rapidly, greenly and sustainably. In particular, focusing on leadership and direction to continue building and rectifying the Party and the political system to be clean and strong in all aspects. Organizing the political system apparatus according to a new model to operate smoothly, close to the people, serving the people and businesses well. Strengthening the fight against corruption, waste and negativity. Strengthening the people's trust and attachment to the Party committees and authorities at all levels.

The key tasks are to focus on human resource development. Resolutely, synchronously and effectively implement Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW dated August 22, 2025 of the Politburo. Improve the quality of training and fostering of cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers; strive for 100% of cadres, civil servants and public employees to master digital skills and apply technology in management and operation by 2030...

Investing in building synchronous and modern socio-economic infrastructure; promoting regional, inter-provincial and major economic centers in the country; focusing on investing in building the CT03 expressway (Hanoi - Hoa Binh - Son La - Dien Bien). Increasing investment and completing digital infrastructure. Promoting investment promotion and attraction activities; increasing investment attraction in the deep processing industry; exploiting the strengths of renewable energy according to Resolution No. 70-NQ/TW dated August 20, 2025 of the Politburo; developing the private economy quickly, sustainably, effectively and with high quality; developing cooperative economic organizations associated with green economy, circular economy, knowledge economy...

Promote administrative reform and digital transformation, enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of state management, improve the investment environment; build an open, transparent and equal investment environment, strongly improve indicators measuring the quality of administrative services...

Continue restructuring the agricultural sector; focus on developing high-tech agriculture, developing clean agriculture, organic agriculture, improving the quality of key agricultural products of the province according to the value chain associated with building, developing and protecting brands. Develop a circular economy in agriculture. Well implement the Project to build Son La into an agricultural product processing center in the Northwest region; complete the construction of the Son La High-tech Agricultural Zone.

Developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector; gradually turning Son La into a tourism center of the Northwest sub-region. Developing a smart tourism ecosystem; applying digital technology; promoting the growth of international and domestic tourists in both quantity and quality...

Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state management of resource exploitation and use; prevent and strictly handle all violations of land laws, resource protection and the environment.

Continue to build an advanced culture imbued with national identity. Effectively implement the National Target Program on health care, population and development and Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW dated September 9, 2025 of the Politburo. Gradually reduce the gap and polarization between rich and poor, increase development opportunities for all classes of people...

Continue to build a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, and modern People's Army and People's Police force. Firmly ensure national security and social security; harmoniously handle ethnic, religious, and social issues, and prevent the occurrence of complicated "hot spots" in security and order. Strengthen foreign affairs and international cooperation; promote economic development at Long Sap and Chieng Khuong border gates, creating an economic corridor connecting Son La with some northern Lao provinces. Strengthen cooperation in defense, security, crime prevention and control, especially drug crimes...

The 130th anniversary of the founding of Son La province took place in the atmosphere of the Party Committee, government and people of all ethnic groups in the province competing to achieve achievements to welcome the success of the Party Congresses at all levels, the 16th Son La Provincial Party Congress, towards the 14th National Congress of the Party. Promoting the glorious tradition of the heroic historical journey, so that today's generation can continue, determined to build the homeland of Son La to develop green, fast, sustainable, increasingly prosperous, happy, together with the whole country firmly entering the new era - the era of national growth.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/xa-hoi/ky-ii-xay-dung-tinh-son-la-tro-thanh-trung-tam-kinh-te-xa-hoi-cua-tieu-vung-tay-bac-JRiupW6Hg.html