Son La: The tourism industry has played a crucial role in the economy, contributing to poverty reduction, cultural preservation, and environmental protection.

Over the years, Son La province's tourism industry has been developing steadily, demonstrating effective exploitation of its tourism potential and resources, while also aiming for sustainable development. The tourism sector has played a crucial role in the economy, contributing to economic growth, poverty reduction, cultural preservation, and environmental protection. Tourism also creates numerous job opportunities and promotes the development of other industries and sectors.

Over 33 years of construction and development, Son La's tourism industry is gradually asserting its role as an economic sector. The province identifies tourism development as a strategic breakthrough in the economic restructuring, and a crucial solution for effectively exploiting its natural potential, cultural identity, people, and geographical location.

Son La province is striving to achieve the goal of making Son La a safe and attractive tourist destination in the Northwest region; developing Moc Chau National Tourist Area into one of the leading tourist areas in the Northern Midlands and Mountains region; developing the Son La hydroelectric reservoir area into a national tourist area; and building Son La province into a tourism center of the Northwest region. The development of tourism aims to make it a key economic sector, with a ripple effect on many other industries and fields; creating a shift in the economic structure, contributing to poverty reduction, and improving the lives of the people.

With the guidance and support of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, and the Provincial People's Committee; the coordinated efforts of all levels and sectors; and the responsible participation of the business community and the people, Son La's tourism sector has made breakthroughs in recent years: infrastructure has been invested in; tourism products are increasingly diverse and attractive; tourism services are becoming more professional; and the image of Son La has been widely disseminated. This is thanks to key policies and orientations such as Resolution No. 19-NQ/TU dated April 1, 2013, of the Standing Committee of the Son La Provincial Party Committee on tourism development until 2020, with a vision to 2030; According to Conclusion No. 94-KL/TU of the Executive Committee of the Son La Provincial Party Committee (15th term) on the development of tourism in Son La until 2025, with orientation to 2030, the Son La tourism industry has experienced remarkable growth and development, from changes in awareness to investment in infrastructure systems, shifts in labor structure; and development of service facilities such as hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, and other tourism service businesses.

All levels, sectors, and localities should pay attention to implementing Resolution No. 41/2022/NQ-HĐND dated August 31, 2022, of the Son La Provincial People's Council, which stipulates a number of policies to support tourism development in the province during the 2022-2026 period. This resolution focuses on four main policy groups, including support for tourism product development, tourism promotion and advertising, investment support, and support for community tourism development.

Through this, agencies, localities, tourist areas and destinations, community tourism villages, and organizations and individuals operating in the tourism sector eligible for support under the Resolution can promptly grasp and proactively register to respond to tourism development plans and promotional programs; research and select appropriate support policies for their units and prepare support application dossiers in accordance with regulations, contributing to creating momentum to promote the development of tourism products and services, improving the effectiveness of propaganda and promotion work, and developing tourism human resources... The effective and decisive implementation of policies in the implementation of national target programs (National target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas; National target program on building new rural areas; Sustainable poverty reduction support program, etc.) has also actively supported and contributed effectively to the implementation of tourism development tasks.

Investment attraction activities have been intensified, and many new tourism products have been developed and upgraded, especially community tourism, eco-agricultural tourism, and tourism around the Son La hydroelectric reservoir, connecting with unique cultural events.

The system of tourist areas and attractions is becoming increasingly professional; digital transformation is being promoted, and the application of technology in communication, promotion, and tourism development is being strengthened; many tourism competitions are organized on digital platforms, attracting widespread interest and participation from the community and young people nationwide, contributing to enhancing the image and brand recognition of Son La tourism. These activities not only create an attractive and creative playground but also help discover many new ideas, images, and products that are distinctly Son La, serving effective and modern propaganda and promotion efforts.

In addition, the province focuses on preserving and restoring historical sites and cultural heritage, as well as festivals. Cultural and tourism events are organized in conjunction with promotional activities, and new types of service businesses and tourism products are developed, contributing to the formation of tourist areas and attractions, making Son La a famous and attractive destination for both domestic and international tourists. The province currently has 641 accommodation establishments, including 7 hotels that meet 3-star standards or higher.

Tourists visit the Son La Prison historical site.

The coordination of activities to promote and develop tourism has been implemented effectively, specifically: The province participated in organizing and implementing the tourism development linkage program of 8 expanded Northwest provinces with Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang; implemented activities to strengthen linkages and cooperation in tourism development with tourism associations of provinces such as Thanh Hoa, Hung Yen, Quang Ninh, Nghe An, and other expanded Northwest provinces... organized surveys, signed cooperation agreements, and launched many domestic and international tourist routes.

Simultaneously, the province maintains relations with 20 foreign embassies in Vietnam; welcomes and works with delegations from embassies of various countries visiting and working in Son La (Laos, Japan, China, Australia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Azerbaijan, Austria, Denmark, Indonesia) to attend major provincial events on investment promotion, trade, culture and tourism; coordinates with Vietnamese diplomatic representative agencies abroad (Vietnamese Consulate General in Nanning - Kunming, China; Vietnamese Consulate General in Luang Prabang, Laos; Vietnamese Embassies in Israel, Turkey) to support the province in participating in events to promote and introduce local culture, tourism and products, and seek partners and markets...

With synchronized solutions for tourism development, Son La province has achieved two major goals identified in the Resolution of the 15th Provincial Party Congress, term 2020-2025, one year ahead of schedule: Moc Chau National Tourist Area has been officially recognized according to the provisions of the Tourism Law (this is the 8th tourist area nationwide to be recognized and selected by the World Travel Awards as a "Leading Regional Natural Destination in the World"); the Son La hydroelectric reservoir area has been officially included in the national tourism system planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2045, as stipulated in Decision 509/QD-TTg dated June 13, 2024, of the Prime Minister.

The number of tourists visiting the province has been increasing year by year. In 2019, Son La province welcomed 2.5 million visitors, generating 1,900 billion VND in tourism revenue. In 2024, Son La is expected to welcome 4.9 million visitors, with tourism revenue reaching 5,800 billion VND. In the first six months of 2025, Son La is projected to welcome nearly 3 million visitors, with estimated revenue of 3,500 billion VND. These results have made a significant contribution to socio-economic development, affirming tourism as an important economic sector of the province.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/son-la-nganh-du-lich-da-phat-huy-vai-tro-quan-trong-trong-nen-kinh-te-gop-phan-xoa-doi-giam-ngheo-bao-ton-van-hoa-va-bao-ve-moi-truong-20251207074949762.htm