Attending the meeting were Mr. Nguyen Minh Tien, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Vice Chairman of the Appraisal Council; representatives from central ministries and agencies; experts and scientists; leaders of provincial departments and agencies; members of the Appraisal Council; and the consulting unit responsible for preparing the revised provincial planning. The meeting was held in a hybrid format, combining in-person and online participation with representatives from several central ministries and agencies.

The scene at the meeting.

The adjustment of the Son La Provincial Planning is being carried out based on Resolution No. 1681/NQ-UBTVQH15 dated June 16, 2025, of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on the rearrangement of commune-level administrative units in Son La province in 2025, and Resolution No. 66.2/NQ-CP dated August 28, 2025, of the Government on addressing difficulties and obstacles in adjusting planning at all levels when rearranging administrative units and organizing a two-tiered local government model. This is a particularly important task, aiming to ensure consistency and synchronization between planning and spatial development organization, meeting the development requirements of the province in the new phase.

Chairman of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association.

A representative from the urban infrastructure engineering unit gave a speech.

Over the past period, the People's Committee of Son La province has proactively and actively coordinated with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and relevant agencies and units to implement the adjustment of the provincial planning in accordance with the provisions of the Planning Law of 2025 and the resolutions and directives of the Central Government; ensuring progress, quality, and suitability to the practical requirements of the locality.

Delegates from Son La province attended the meeting.

A representative from the consulting firm spoke at the meeting.

Son La is one of 11 provinces that did not implement the reorganization of provincial-level administrative units according to Resolution No. 60-NQ/TW dated April 12, 2025, of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam; it has a natural area of ​​14,109.83 km², ranking 6th nationwide. Currently, the province has 75 commune-level administrative units, a population of approximately 1.4 million people, with 12 ethnic groups living together in unity and long-standing ties.

Representatives from the Provincial Department of Finance received the feedback.

Son La province aims to become one of the leading provinces in the Northern Midlands and Mountains region; a center of the western sub-region; a key tourism destination in the region and the Vietnam-Laos border area; and a center for processing agricultural products in the Northern Midlands and Mountains region. By 2050, Son La aspires to become a green, culturally rich province; economically prosperous, politically stable; rapidly developing in culture and society; and ensuring strong national defense and security.

Comrade Nguyen Minh Tien, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, delivered a speech.

During its development, Son La possesses many outstanding potentials and advantages, especially its important geo-economic and geo-political position in the Northern Midlands and Mountains region; serving as a gateway connecting the Northwest region with the Hanoi Capital region, the Northern Delta provinces, and the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Its diverse topography and ecosystems create favorable conditions for the development of commercial agriculture, high-tech agriculture, renewable energy, ecotourism, and the green economy. The Moc Chau National Tourist Area and the Son La hydroelectric reservoir area are identified as important growth drivers for the province.

Besides its advantages, Son La is also facing many difficulties and challenges such as: heavily fragmented terrain, high infrastructure investment costs while resources are limited; a small-scale economy with low competitiveness; limited quality of human resources, especially high-quality human resources; inconsistent socio-economic infrastructure; and the increasing impact of climate change and the growing demand for environmental and resource protection.

Therefore, this revision of the Provincial Planning is of great importance in order to promptly update inappropriate content; clearly identify potential and driving forces for development; determine strategic breakthroughs, and provide a scientific basis for leadership, guidance, and management of the province's development in the coming period.

At the meeting, the Appraisal Council reviewed and commented on the revised Provincial Planning document, focusing on the following contents: the position and role of Son La province in the region and the country; opportunities, challenges, and bottlenecks in development; development perspectives, objectives, and plans; priority sectors and strategic breakthroughs; spatial organization of development; resource allocation and solutions for implementing the plan. The Council also commented on the draft Appraisal Report prepared by the Standing Agency of the Appraisal Council.

Based on the appraisal opinions of ministries and agencies; the feedback from experts and members of the appraisal council, provincial departments and agencies, and the consulting unit, the opinions have been incorporated to finalize the revised Provincial Planning content and submit it for approval in accordance with regulations.

Thuy Ha