Son La develops tourism into a spearhead economic sector

Son La tourism is making important progress, the image and brand of the destination have been affirmed on the Vietnam tourism map. Many typical tourism products have been formed, imbued with the cultural identity of ethnic groups, environmentally friendly, making Son La one of the attractive destinations on the tourist journey through the Northwest.

Tat Nang Waterfall, Chieng Yen Commune, Van Ho District remains pristine.

Specify potential and advantages

Son La has an important position, is the center of the Northwest region; is the gateway connecting Hanoi, the provinces of the Red River Delta with the Northwest and connecting with the provinces of Northern Laos. As a land with great potential for tourism resources, Son La has a fresh, cool climate, majestic mountains and plateaus; has 12 ethnic groups rich in cultural identity, with 17 national intangible cultural heritages (of which the Thai Xoe art has been recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity), 64 historical and cultural relics - ranked scenic spots.

Promoting potentials, advantages, and developing sustainable tourism, the Resolution of the 15th Provincial Party Congress, term 2020 - 2025, has set out many important goals: "Strengthening the synchronous implementation of solutions to develop the tourism industry; ensuring professionalism, modernity and sustainable development; striving for tourism to truly become a spearhead economic sector by 2030.

Promote the attraction of investment resources for Moc Chau National Tourist Area, striving to be recognized as a National Tourist Area by 2025, becoming one of the leading tourist areas in the Northern Midlands and Mountains. Orientate the development of a tourism planning for Son La Hydropower Reservoir into a national tourist area. Strengthen tourism promotion and advertising in a focused and key direction, connecting tourism development with the Northwestern provinces and the Northern Lao provinces.

Binh Yen Bay on Son La hydroelectric reservoir in Quynh Nhai district

To achieve the set goals, on January 23, 2021, the Provincial Party Committee issued Conclusion No. 94-KL/TU on tourism development in Son La province to 2025, with a vision to 2030. After 4 years of implementing Conclusion 94-KL/TU, tourism in Son La province has achieved important results. Many plans have been established and implemented in accordance with the province's socio-economic development plan, such as: Son La province planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050; general planning and zoning plans, detailed planning of Moc Chau National Tourist Area; inter-district planning along National Highway 6; planning along the Da River reservoir; zoning planning of the Moc Chau District's typical agricultural ecosystem conservation area; general planning for the construction of Ta Xua Tourist Area and surrounding areas; Construction zoning plan of Pha Din Pass Tourist Area...

Notably, the completion and finishing 1 year ahead of schedule of 2 major goals identified in the Resolution of the 15th Provincial Party Congress, term 2020 - 2025, which are Moc Chau National Tourist Area officially recognized according to the provisions of the Law on Tourism and 3 consecutive years voted by the World Tourism Awards Organization as "Asia's Leading Regional Natural Destination" and 2 consecutive years voted "World's Leading Regional Natural Destination". The Son La hydropower reservoir area is included in the national tourism system planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2045.

Tourists experience plum picking on Moc Chau plateau

Mr. Tran Xuan Viet, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, informed: With the goal of making tourism truly a spearhead economic sector, Son La focuses on developing fast and sustainable tourism associated with preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ethnic groups, tangible and intangible cultural heritages and local products; developing eco-tourism and resorts associated with protecting and embellishing the environmental landscape.

Son La takes cultural tourism with the core value of traditional national cultural identity as the foundation to form other types of tourism; develops natural tourism as a unique product to increase competitiveness. Encourages the expansion of community tourism development, job creation, linked to hunger eradication, poverty reduction and new rural development; takes advantage of agriculture to create attractive tourism products.

Positive signals

Developing tourism infrastructure, in the period of 2021 - 2025, Son La province has allocated nearly 1,150 billion VND for 14 projects; the whole province attracted 13 investment projects in the fields of tourism, services, trade, agriculture, with a registered capital of 14,515 billion VND. Many large-scale, modern tourism projects and tourist areas according to international standards have been formed and put into operation. The system of tourist accommodation facilities in tourist areas and spots has also been invested in, meeting the experience needs of tourists. Currently, the whole province has more than 600 tourist accommodation facilities; of which 29 hotels and resorts have been ranked from 1-5 stars.

Tourists experience Bach Long Glass Bridge at Moc Chau Island

In May 2022, Moc Chau Island Tourist Area of ​​26 Moc Chau Tourism Joint Stock Company officially came into operation with the opening event being the inauguration of Bach Long Glass Bridge recognized by 3 prestigious world organizations, including: The longest cliff path in the world; the longest glass-bottomed bridge in the world; the longest glass bridge in the world with a length of 632 m.

Along with that are attractive tourism products for the first time in the Northwest, Son La, such as: Zipline, thrilling rainbow slide or mini F1 race track; enjoy Northwest specialties at Tabamboo bamboo restaurant with an area of ​​2,950 m²; relax at the train hotel, glamping resort...

Mr. Mai Tri Tue, Deputy General Director of 26 Moc Chau Tourism Joint Stock Company, informed: Moc Chau Island aims to become a high-class tourist and resort area, associated with the responsibility of preserving nature and the environment - preserving good cultural values. Thereby, becoming the top ideal destination for all tourists who love experiences, looking for sublimation in life.

The province currently has 12 recognized tourist areas and tourist spots, including: Moc Chau National Tourist Area, 1 provincial tourist area and 10 provincial tourist spots. Son La tourism was formed on the basis of inheriting, promoting and perfecting 5 types of tourism that have been formed, such as agricultural eco-tourism; cultural and historical tourism; community tourism; resort, entertainment and health tourism; thematic tourism, with gradually synchronized, modern and professional tourism infrastructure.

Cultural experience at Happy Land Moc Chau

Moc Chau town currently has many attractive tourist areas and spots such as: Dai Yem Waterfall Eco-tourism Area, Moc Chau walking street, Son Moc Huong cave, On village's five caves, Happy Land Moc Chau, Tay Tien Regiment 52 Memorial Area, heart-shaped tea hill, Na Ka plum valley... Community tourism villages, homestays in Na Ang residential group, Dong Sang ward; Vat Hong residential group, Muong Sang ward; Ta So village, Chieng Hac commune... Along with that, there are tea hills, grasslands, fruit gardens, attracting a large number of tourists to visit.

Moc Chau always focuses on promoting its image through festivals and sports events of national and international stature. In particular, digital transformation in tourism development activities is emphasized, such as building digital maps, smart tourism, digitizing tourist areas and destinations, 360-degree virtual reality tours, and scenic spots in the area.

Most recently, Moc Chau organized the Program to Search for KOL faces (people with great influence on social networking platforms) for Moc Chau tourism 2025. The program had 50 groups of contestants from localities inside and outside the province. The contestant groups participated in the competition to produce creative video content about Moc Chau tourism experiences at famous tourist destinations on the Moc Chau plateau. The products must ensure content, reflect authentically and vividly the experiences; be posted publicly on personal social networking platforms and include the program's hashtag.

KOLs film videos of Moc Chau travel experiences.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, Vice Chairwoman of Moc Chau District People's Committee, shared: Moc Chau focuses on applying digital technology; using official media channels, social networks, tourism websites to introduce typical tourist destinations and unique experiences of Moc Chau; building image, brand and creating trust in service quality, attracting tourists to visit and experience.

Located in Moc Chau National Tourist Area, Van Ho district is also a destination for many tourists to explore the community tourism villages with strong Thai and Mong ethnic characteristics; this place still has many beautiful and majestic landscapes, especially the system of waterfalls that still retain their wild beauty.

Mr. Vu Thanh Hai, Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee, informed: The district directs communes to develop green tourism, associated with preserving natural landscapes; supports funding for communes to restore and recreate some traditional and unique festivals of ethnic groups, while preserving typical cultural features, introducing the culture and people of Van Ho, creating tourism products to attract tourists, especially foreign tourists.

Tourists experience Chieng Khoa waterfall, Van Ho district

Based on the potential and strengths of each region to focus on developing different tourism products, renewing products. In the city, there is the Northwest Square; the special national relic Son La Prison. The highlands of Bac Yen are increasingly attracting tourists from all over the world to new emerging destinations, such as: Ta Xua cloud hunting, experiencing "Dinosaur spine", visiting A Phu couple cave, admiring terraced fields in Xim Vang.

Yen Chau district has the special national relic of the Vietnam - Laos revolutionary base in Lao Kho village, Phieng Khoai commune. Mai Son district has the Co Noi crossroads historical relic. Phu Yen district has the Nhot village forest historical relic of the resistance war against the French. In addition, there is also Pha Din Pass tourist area, Thuan Chau district; Son La hydroelectric reservoir area tourist area in Quynh Nhai district, Muong La; "Fairy tale countryside" in Ngoc Chien commune, Muong La district...

Passionate about traveling, Mr. Hoang Hai Nam, Hanoi, has visited many tourist attractions in the localities of Son La province. Mr. Nam shared: I see that Son La has many beautiful landscapes and landscapes that still retain their pristine beauty. This land has many unique cultural features, rich and delicious cuisine. Surely Son La will be a destination that attracts many tourists to visit and experience.

Goat fighting competition at Nam Nghep village, Ngoc Chien commune, Muong La district

During the recent April 30 and May 1 holidays, localities in the province welcomed over 220,000 tourists; tourism revenue is estimated at over 255 billion VND. This is a positive signal for Son La to continue developing tourism in the direction of "Unique products - Professional services - Convenient and simple procedures - Competitive prices - Clean and beautiful environment - Safe, civilized and friendly destinations".

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/son-la-phat-trien-du-lich-tro-thanh-nganh-kinh-te-mui-nhon-20250512140200874.htm