STRENGTHENING UNITY, INNOVATION, AND BUILDING SON LA PROVINCE TO BECOME AN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CENTER OF THE NORTHWEST SUB-REGION

In the 2020-2025 term, in the context of the world's rapid and complicated developments; unpredictable natural disasters and epidemics, especially the Covid-19 pandemic, but with the revolutionary tradition, the spirit of solidarity, the will to be self-reliant, the Party Committee, the government, the armed forces and the people of all ethnic groups in the province have strived to successfully implement the goals and tasks set out by the 15th Provincial Party Congress, achieving many important achievements, creating outstanding and comprehensive marks in all fields, creating a solid foundation for Son La province to continue to develop in the next period.

Hoang Quoc Khanh Secretary of Son La Provincial Party Committee

The economy maintains growth, the average 5-year growth rate of gross regional domestic product (GRDP) is estimated at 5.12%/year. The total regional domestic product (at current prices) in 2025 is estimated at VND 82,789 billion, 1.49 times higher than in 2020; GRDP per capita is estimated at VND 61.8 million/person/year. The economic structure has shifted in a positive direction, in line with the province's development goals. Agriculture has developed towards clean agriculture, organic agriculture, high-tech agriculture, and adaptation to climate change. Promoting the application of advanced science and technology, promoting mechanization, automation and digital transformation in agricultural production, contributing to improving productivity, quality, value and competitiveness of products; developing concentrated agricultural raw material areas associated with processing industry and consumption markets.

Industrial production has shifted towards specialization and modernization, from raw products to deep processing. Up to now, the whole province has planned 2 industrial parks (Mai Son Industrial Park, Van Ho Industrial Park), and 21 industrial clusters. The electricity production industry continues to affirm its important role, meeting the electricity demand for production and daily life in the province and connecting to the national grid.

Trade and services have developed strongly. Agricultural product consumption has been focused on; support has been given to building and developing agricultural product brands. Currently, 17 agricultural products are exported to 21 countries and territories. The tourism sector has seen many improvements, promoting cultural and agricultural advantages to develop diverse, unique and attractive tourism products, creating the Son La tourism brand on the Vietnamese and international tourism map. Moc Chau tourist area was recognized as a National Tourist Area in 2024; 3 consecutive years (2022, 2023, 2024) received the tourism award "Asia's Leading Regional Natural Destination" and 2 consecutive years (2022, 2023) as "World's Leading Regional Natural Destination". The Son La hydroelectric reservoir area has been officially included in the national tourism system planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2045. In 2025, the tourism industry is expected to welcome 5.3 million visitors, with revenue reaching 6,300 billion VND.

Comrade Hoang Quoc Khanh, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, along with provincial leaders and former provincial leaders, visited the booth introducing agricultural products of Son La province at the announcement ceremony of the opening of the Long Sap - Pa Hang international border gate pair in 2024.
Photo: PV

Investment attraction has been implemented synchronously; prioritizing resources for key areas, key projects, regional linkages, with spillover effects, creating momentum for socio-economic development. A number of capable and prestigious corporations and enterprises have invested in the province; the number of large-scale industrial and service projects is increasing. Focusing on investing in key infrastructure projects, connecting within the region, between localities, with economic centers of provinces and the whole country. Construction of the Hoa Binh - Moc Chau expressway, the section in Son La province, has started; supplementing the planning and submitting to the Ministry of Transport the Project on socialization of investment and exploitation of Na San Airport, putting into operation the National Highway 6 bypass through Son La city; completing the target of 100% of roads to the commune center being paved...

Attention has been paid to the fields of culture, society, education and health. Preserving and promoting the value of the nation's cultural heritage; promoting cultural and artistic activities; developing high-performance sports. The quality of medical examination and treatment, epidemic prevention and control, and people's health care has been improved; the work of preventing and controlling the Covid-19 epidemic has been carried out drastically and effectively. The scale of the school network has been consolidated and developed in a synchronous, standardized and modern direction. Son La city has been listed in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. The high school graduation rate has increased continuously over the years. Social security has been ensured; the work of eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses in the province has been completed 5 months ahead of the Government's direction; during the term, 12,375 temporary and dilapidated houses have been supported to be eliminated. The poverty rate according to the poverty line for the 2021-2025 period will decrease from 21.66% in 2021 to 7.89% by the end of 2025.

National defense and security are ensured. Step up the building of a clean, strong, disciplined, elite, modern People's Army and People's Police force in the province to meet the requirements and tasks in the new situation. Build and consolidate the all-people national defense, the all-people border defense, the people's security posture and the people's hearts posture. Proactively fight to defeat the plots and tricks of hostile and reactionary forces; maintain political stability, border security, social order and safety, create favorable conditions for socio-economic development and promote foreign affairs and international cooperation. Strengthen, expand and maintain the special friendly and cooperative relationship with the 9 provinces of Northern Laos.

The work of Party building and consolidation of the political system has been promoted, associated with studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle; promoting the pioneering and exemplary role of cadres and party members, especially leaders. Strengthening the fight against wrong and hostile viewpoints. Well implementing the democratic regulations at the grassroots level, building the great solidarity bloc of ethnic groups. Promoting the role of the Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations and mass organizations in participating in Party and State building. Innovating and streamlining the apparatus of the political system to operate effectively and efficiently in accordance with the policies and orientations of the Central Government and the practical situation of the province; synchronously and smoothly operating the 2-level local government model. The Party's inspection, supervision and discipline work has been focused on, contributing to preventing violations in party organizations and party members. Promoting administrative reform, in the 5 years (2020-2024), the province's administrative reform index has always been in the top 20 provinces and cities with the highest index in the country; digital transformation has been carried out synchronously, improving the satisfaction level of people and businesses with the quality of public service provision...

The above results are thanks to the attention, support and regular direction of the Central Party, the National Assembly, the Government, the Fatherland Front and the central ministries, branches, sectors and organizations; the determination and drastic leadership, direction and administration of the Provincial Party Committee, the People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee, the participation of the entire political system and the consensus of the people of all ethnic groups in the province.

Comrade Hoang Quoc Khanh, Provincial Party Secretary visited Moc Chau Island Tourist Area.
Photo: Huy Thanh

Along with the whole country entering a new era, an era of national growth, in the 2025-2030 term, the province sets the goal: "Building Son La province to become a fairly developed province, the economic and social center of the Northwest sub-region, the agricultural product processing center of the Northern midlands and mountainous region, the key tourist center of the Northern midlands and mountainous region and the Vietnam - Laos border area". To complete the above goal, the province will focus on leading and directing the good implementation of the following key tasks:

Firstly, continue to promote the building and rectification of the Party and the political system to be clean and strong in all aspects. Organize the apparatus and political system according to a new model, operate smoothly, effectively, close to the people, serve the people and businesses well. Strongly innovate the work of cadres, especially the work of evaluating cadres. Strengthen the fight against corruption, waste and negativity. Strengthen the trust and attachment of the people to the Party committees and authorities at all levels.

Second, focus on human resource development; fundamentally and comprehensively innovate education and training to meet the requirements of industrialization and modernization. Resolutely, synchronously and effectively implement Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW dated August 22, 2025 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in education and training development. Improve the quality of vocational training associated with the labor market; pay attention to vocational training in ethnic minority areas and particularly difficult areas. Have policies to attract and promote talents, build and use a team of scientific staff and experts in all fields, especially in the fields of science, technology and digital transformation.

Third, invest in building synchronous and modern socio-economic infrastructure; focus on investing in building, renovating and upgrading important inter-regional traffic routes; speed up and improve urban quality in a sustainable manner; continue to improve social infrastructure (education, health, culture, sports, etc.). Develop infrastructure to serve science and technology development, contributing to the successful implementation of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation. Effectively implement Resolution No. 70-NQ/TW dated August 20, 2025 of the Politburo on ensuring national energy security until 2030, with a vision to 2045; Promote the development of renewable energy, effectively exploit solar power, hydropower, wind power, biomass power associated with spatial planning, environmental protection, sustainable development and climate change adaptation. Effectively implement tasks and solutions according to the direction in Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW dated May 4, 2025 of the Politburo; develop the private economy, cooperative economy quickly, sustainably, effectively, high quality, associated with green economy, circular economy, knowledge economy.

Fourth, continue to implement Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW dated April 30, 2025 of the Politburo on innovating the work of building and enforcing laws to meet the requirements of national development in the new era. Promote administrative reform and digital transformation, improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state management, and improve the investment environment. Review and perfect mechanisms and policies to remove difficulties, create motivation to attract investment for socio-economic development, build an open, transparent and equal investment environment, and strongly improve indicators measuring the quality of administrative services. Comprehensively innovate the handling of administrative procedures, improve the quality of online public services and digital services for people and businesses.

Fifth, continue restructuring the agricultural sector, increase cooperation in agricultural production development; 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. Continue to build new rural areas associated with promoting the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program.

Sixth, focus on developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector. Develop Moc Chau National Tourist Area with many unique tourism products, attracting domestic and international visitors, striving to become one of the leading tourist areas in the Northern Midlands and Mountains; develop Son La Hydropower Reservoir tourism into a national tourist area. Develop a smart tourism ecosystem; promote the growth of international and domestic tourists in both quantity and quality.

Seventh, improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state management in resource exploitation and use; prevent and strictly handle all violations of land laws, resource and environmental protection. Focus on protecting, protecting, regenerating, and planting new forests every year; conserving and promoting the ecological value of forests, protecting forest capital, and socializing forestry.

Eighth, continue to build an advanced culture imbued with national identity, promote the cultural values ​​of ethnic groups in Son La and the Northwest region; strengthen comprehensive education in morality, intelligence, physical fitness, and aesthetics, and build a comprehensively developed Son La people. Effectively implement the National Target Program on health care, population, and development. Effectively implement Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW dated September 9, 2025 of the Politburo on a number of breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care, and improvement of people's health.

Ninth, build a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, modern People's Army and People's Public Security force, firmly ensuring national defense and security. Strengthen foreign affairs and international cooperation according to Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW dated January 24, 2025 of the Politburo, enhance economic cooperation with border provinces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic through promoting economic development in the Long Sap and Chieng Khuong border gate areas, creating an economic corridor connecting Son La with some northern Lao provinces.

With the spirit of solidarity, democracy, responsibility, creativity and development; the Party Committee, government and people of all ethnic groups continue to promote the revolutionary tradition, the will of self-reliance and solidarity among ethnic groups, improve leadership capacity and fighting strength, determined to seize opportunities, overcome difficulties and challenges, build Son La province to develop green, fast and sustainably, become the economic - social center of the Northwest Sub-region, join hands with the whole country, strive to successfully implement the Resolution of the 14th National Congress of the Party and enter a new era, the era of national development.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/xa-hoi/tang-cuong-suc-manh-doan-ket-doi-moi-sang-tao-xay-dung-tinh-son-la-tro-thanh-trung-tam-kinh-te-xa-hoi-cua-tieu-vung-tay-bac-region-pAVn1MqHg.html