Coffee plants have transformed the village.

November brings the chilly winds, and that's when it begins.Son LaThe coffee harvest season has begun. From Muong Chanh, Chieng Mai, Chieng Mung to Muoi Noi, Thuan Chau, Sop Cop, Chieng Coi, Chieng An… everywhere is bustling with the laughter and chatter of people harvesting coffee.

Arabica coffee plants were introduced to Son La in the 1990s, initially as a trial planting on a few hectares in high-altitude, cool-climate areas such as Chieng Ban, Muong Chanh, Chieng An, and Chieng Coi. No one could have imagined that, more than 30 years later, those first coffee plants would take root and spread rapidly, becoming a key crop that has helped tens of thousands of highland households escape poverty and become wealthy.

Mr. Luong Van Duong, a Thai ethnic minority resident of Bo village, Chieng An ward, still vividly remembers his early days cultivating coffee. Mr. Duong shared: “Back then, the villagers were very poor, only growing corn and cassava. With government support in terms of seeds and techniques, I converted all my fields to coffee cultivation. The first year was difficult, the plants were weak, but gradually they adapted to the soil and yielded high productivity. Now, I earn over 100 million dong annually.”

Mr. Luong Van Duong, from Bo village, Chieng An ward, Son La province, harvesting coffee. Photo: Van Ngoc

Now, on Mr. Duong's hillside, rows of lush green coffee plants stretch endlessly, their ripe berries a vibrant red. He proudly boasts that thanks to coffee, his family now has a house, a motorbike, a grinder, a threshing machine, and his children are receiving a proper education.

Visiting Chiềng Mai commune today, one can easily notice the significant changes in its appearance. Long stretches of clean, well-maintained concrete roads; bright red tiled-roof houses springing up amidst the lush green valleys of coffee and fruit trees. The lives of the people are changing day by day.

In Khoang Bien village (Chieng Mai commune), primarily inhabited by the Thai ethnic group, life used to be difficult due to year-round corn and cassava cultivation. Now, the village has transformed thanks to coffee cultivation.

Mr. Lo Van Thuy, Party Secretary and Head of the village, happily shared: “Now there are only two poor households left in the village. Coffee provides a stable income, this year the yield reached 7-8 tons/ha, the selling price is high, and the villagers are very happy. The old red dirt road has now been concreted, and everyone is enthusiastic about doing business.”

This year, coffee purchase prices have reached a high level, increasing by nearly 10,000 VND compared to last year. Photo: Van Ngoc

Coffee plantations not only green the hills but also sow seeds of hope. Highland people now not only sell fresh coffee cherries but also know how to process, dry, roast, and grind them, creating higher-value products. Many cooperatives have been formed, helping people to connect in production and consumption more easily.

For the 2025-2026 coffee crop season, Son La province has over 24,300 hectares of coffee, with an estimated yield of 37,700 tons of coffee beans. This year, the purchase price reached a high level of 28,000–30,000 VND/kg of fresh fruit, an increase of nearly 10,000 VND compared to the previous year.

During the harvest season, along the highland roads, you can see baskets of bright red coffee beans and long rows of fresh berries waiting for traders. Many cooperatives and businesses buy directly from the orchards, creating jobs for thousands of local workers with an income of 4,000–5,000 VND per kilogram of harvested coffee.

Coffee plants have helped ethnic minority communities in Son La province earn a stable income and improve their livelihoods. Photo: Van Ngoc

Strengthening linkages for sustainable development

In order to develop sustainable coffee cultivation, Son La province has issued many policies to support replanting, conversion to specialty coffee, and the establishment of raw material areas that meet export standards.

Mr. Tran Dung Tien, Deputy Director of the Son La Department of Agriculture and Environment, said: “In the period 2021-2025, the province has replanted and rejuvenated more than 2,800 hectares of coffee, introducing new varieties such as TH1, TN7, TN9, Starmaya... suitable for the local climate. Currently, the province has more than 1,100 hectares of specialty coffee, with a production of nearly 1,000 tons/year.”

Thanks to synchronized policies, Son La has become the largest Arabica coffee growing region in the country, accounting for 47.9% of the national area and 73% of the northern region. The province has 60 coffee cooperatives, 5 industrial processing plants, and 15 household-scale preliminary processing facilities, many of which have achieved RA, 4C, and VietGAP certifications.

Son La province is stepping up the processing of coffee products to meet market demands. Photo: Van Ngoc

Notably, Son La has been granted geographical indication "Son La Coffee" to 7 units, with 5 OCOP products (including 1 product that meets national 5-star standards). Brands such as Phuc Sinh Son La, Minh Tien Coffee, Bich Thao Cooperative, Muong Chanh Coffee, Chieng Ban... have entered many demanding markets such as the EU and North America.

Currently, Son La coffee has become a key export item, with an annual production of 34,000 tons and a value of 100 million USD, accounting for nearly half of the province's total export value.

Coffee growing area in Chiềng Cơi ward, Sơn La province. Photo: Văn Ngọc

Coffee cultivation not only provides a stable income for people in mountainous regions but also contributes to reshaping the rural economy. From the hills laden with coffee, roads have been built, electricity has been brought in, and schools and health centers are more modern and well-equipped.

According to statistics, the poverty rate in Son La province decreased by an average of 3.59% per year, with the poverty rate among ethnic minorities decreasing by 3.5% per year, exceeding the target set in the Resolution of the 15th Provincial Party Congress.

Coffee has become a "crop of change," helping people become more attached to the land and farming, and moving towards sustainable business.