Exhibition booth of Binh Thuan General Production, Business and Service Cooperative, Binh Thuan commune.

Son La province has strengths in agricultural products, medicinal herbs, and handicrafts. From 2013 to the present, the Provincial Council for the Selection of Outstanding Rural Industrial Products has recognized 148 products at the provincial level, with 23 products selected at the regional level and 11 at the national level. In 2023 alone, 10 outstanding products participated in the regional selection for 2024, including: Wild apple tea (Mountain Medicinal Herbs Cooperative, Muong La commune); pure ground coffee (Bich Thao Coffee Cooperative, Chieng Sinh ward); dried Moc Chau cordyceps (Moc Chau Cordyceps Cooperative, Co Do ward); Chieng Lao rock honey (Chieng Lao Agricultural Cooperative, Chieng Lao commune)... Other products include smoked buffalo meat (Bien Cuong, Toan Quyen Agricultural Cooperative, Sop Cop commune) and dried plums (Quyet Thanh Agricultural Cooperative, Thao Nguyen ward).

Ms. Le Thi Hong Anh, Director of the Provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center, said: The selection of typical handicraft products is organized every two years, adhering to a strict process at all levels: commune/ward - province - region - national. The evaluation criteria are comprehensive, covering quality, design, mass production potential, regional culture, and commercialization. Recognized products will receive support for trade promotion and advertising at trade fairs and on e-commerce platforms, creating opportunities to expand their markets.

The "Trong Nguyen Tea" product display booth of Binh Thuan General Production, Business and Service Cooperative.

The "Trong Nguyen Tea" product of the Binh Thuan Production, Business and General Service Cooperative in Binh Thuan commune has been recognized at the provincial, regional, and national levels. Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh, Deputy Director of the Cooperative, shared: Thanks to this recognition as a typical product, the Cooperative has received support for technological improvements, packaging investment, and factory upgrades to meet export standards. Revenue has increased by nearly 30% annually, expanding exports to the Taiwanese market with approximately 500 tons of dried tea per year.

Meanwhile, the business of Dao Thi Hieu in Quynh Nhai commune has researched and processed products made from fish and shrimp from the Da River, such as fish cakes, fish sausages, fish floss, fish ham, dried fish, etc. In 2023, Da River fish sausages were selected as a provincial-level product. Ms. Hieu shared: Currently, on average, the household purchases nearly 20 tons of fresh Da River fish and shrimp each year to process into products. Thanks to support in participating in exhibition booths and product introductions organized by the locality, fish cakes and fish sausages are becoming more and more known and chosen by customers.

The area for displaying, introducing, and storing coffee bean samples of Phuc Sinh Son La Joint Stock Company, Chieng Mung commune.

The products selected as typical rural industrial products are all representative of rural industrial production in each locality; showcasing the characteristics and strengths of each region. This is an opportunity to develop production with large volumes of goods, increasing competitiveness with similar products on the market.

In 2025, Son La province will organize the provincial-level selection of outstanding handicrafts in the third and fourth quarters. The Provincial Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion will accept registration applications until July 31, 2025. Participating products are divided into four groups: Handicrafts; processed agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products and food; equipment, machinery, tools and mechanical parts; and other products.

Ms. Dao Thi Hieu from Quynh Nhai commune livestreams her fish cake and fish sausage products from the Da River.

Ms. Le Thi Hong Anh, Director of the Provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center, stated: "We will coordinate with the Department of Industry and Trade to support businesses in completing their applications, advising on designs and technical standards to increase their chances of meeting the standards. At the same time, we will promote communication, identify innovative products with regional value to participate in the selection process. We will strengthen communication about the benefits of participating in the selection; support businesses in improving designs and applying technology; prioritize products with stable raw material sources and environmentally friendly practices; and enhance post-selection support such as promotion and sales connections. Resources from industrial promotion programs, OCOP, and new rural development programs will also be integrated to create conditions for the sustainable development of these products."

With the active participation of departments and agencies, the selection of typical rural industrial products not only elevates Son La's products in the domestic market but also gradually affirms its position on the export map - realizing the goal of developing rural industries in a professional, efficient, and sustainable direction.