After more than 3 years of implementing Conclusion No. 94 of the Provincial Party Committee, Son La's tourism sector has undergone many changes with remarkable results. Each year, Son La receives over 12 million tourists, generating 12,600 billion VND in tourism revenue, experiencing rapid and stable growth at 13% per year and contributing approximately 6% to the province's GRDP. In particular, Son La province has developed many attractive tourist destinations and products, and accommodation and tourism service facilities are increasingly developing in both quantity and quality.
Son La has many tourism products associated with developing the cultural beauty and customs of the ethnic minority communities.
As a province with great potential for tourism development,Son LaSon La province has continuously innovated with a rich variety of products, leveraging its natural advantages, diverse culture, and investment resources. In particular, Son La province has implemented numerous solutions focusing on directing and executing projects in line with national target programs, ensuring the maximization of its potential and advantages, and effectively exploiting tourism resources in conjunction with national target programs; developing tourism products in a way that supports regional development and the group of eight expanded Northwestern provinces, creating mutual support within the region and beyond...
In Son La, many tourism products have been developed, linked to ecology, agriculture, and local culture, and are meeting the trends and needs of tourists. Currently, Son La province has 12 recognized tourist areas and destinations, including 1 national tourist area, 1 provincial-level tourist area, and 10 provincial-level tourist destinations.
In addition, Son La has five main tourism product groups, including: ecotourism and agriculture; cultural and historical tourism; community tourism; resort, entertainment and health tourism; and thematic tourism (sports; seminars, conferences, cuisine, etc.).
Comrade Bui Tien Sy, Secretary of the Party Committee of Ngoc Chien commune, Muong La district, shared: Along with diversifying tourism products in the area associated with the culture of ethnic minorities, the commune has also launched a mountain climbing tour to conquer Ta Chi Nhu peak, passing through the ancient tea forest of Nam Nghep village at an altitude of 2,979m above sea level, and a photo tour with the hawthorn fruit of Nam Nghep village…
Thanks to efforts in developing and diversifying tourism products, Son La has seen the formation and development of many new tourist destinations, creating highlights for Son La tourism, such as: Moc Chau National Tourist Area with many attractive destinations; Northwest Square - Son La City; Son La Prison National Special Monument; the Vietnam-Laos Revolutionary Base National Special Monument in Lao Kho village, Yen Chau district; Co Noi Crossroads Historical Site in Mai Son district; and the historical site of the resistance war against the French in Nhot village forest, Phu Yen district...
In addition, Quynh Nhai district has developed ecotourism, experiential tourism, sightseeing, and relaxation through ecotourism cooperatives, linked with traditional hair-washing festivals, Nang Han festivals, and traditional boat races.
Song Ma District maintains the operation of two traditional craft villages in Hai Son and Hong Nam hamlets, Chieng Khoong commune, in conjunction with organizing and restoring festivals. Sop Cop District develops a rural tourism model in Muong Va hamlet, Muong Va commune, Sop Cop district; collaborates with the Provincial Museum to survey, photograph, describe, and assess the current state and value of the Lac Man Temple historical and cultural relic in Sop Cop hamlet, Sop Cop commune, and prepares a dossier for submission for provincial-level relic ranking.
Van Ho District continues to develop community-based tourism villages associated with historical sites and scenic spots such as Tang Me Cave in Suoi Bang commune; Tat Nang waterfall and hot springs in Chieng Yen commune.
Bac Yen district is reviving the Xên Bản festival of the Thai ethnic group in Pac Nga commune; the Cau Mua festival of the Dao ethnic group in Phieng Con commune, the Xoe Thai dance in Muong Khoa commune; the A Phu Cave relic site in Hong Ngai commune, the Khe Ho ancient rock carving site in Hang Chu commune, and developing blacksmithing, flute making, and rice wine brewing in Hang Chu by the H'Mong people…
Comrade Pham Hong Thu, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Son La province, informed: Along with diversifying tourism products, Son La province also pays attention to community tourism. This is a sustainable direction that Son La province focuses on; besides its economic value, this model also brings sustainable cultural value to the locality. Many ethnic villages in Son La have developed community tourism, such as Hua Tat-Van Ho with the A Chu homestay, which has established a brand image; the primitive village of Hang Tau, Chieng Hac, Moc Chau; Ngoc Chien-Muong La..., which have attracted many tourists, especially foreign visitors, to visit and experience the community life of Son La's ethnic groups...
Along with solutions for developing and diversifying tourism products, Son La province has also directed the implementation of a program to survey and assess the potential, strengths, and tourism resources to focus on building and developing tourism products associated with preserving and promoting the cultural values of ethnic groups. Simultaneously, it has organized the restoration of excerpts from festivals, established folk art troupes to perform folk songs, folk dances, traditional musical instruments, and folk games at tourist destinations, and developed traditional crafts to serve the needs of tourists for enjoyment, research, and experience.
Comrade Hoang Quoc Khanh, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Son La province, stated: After three years of implementing Conclusion No. 94-KL/TU dated January 23, 2021, of the Son La Provincial Party Committee on the development of tourism in Son La province until 2025, with orientation to 2030, Son La province has achieved many outstanding results. In particular, it has completed and reached its goals one year ahead of schedule for two major objectives identified in the Resolution of the 15th Provincial Party Congress, term 2020-2025.
Two major goals were achieved ahead of schedule: firstly, the Moc Chau National Tourist Area was officially recognized under the provisions of the Tourism Law (this is the 8th tourist area nationwide to receive this recognition); and secondly, the Son La hydroelectric reservoir area was officially included in the national tourism system plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2045, as stipulated in Decision 509/QD-TTg dated June 13, 2024, of the Prime Minister.
Through cultural activities during holidays and festivals, Son La province has successfully integrated the display of cultural spaces of ethnic minorities, creating a highlight for tourism.
The growth of the tourism industry with its unique products has had a ripple effect on many other sectors and fields; creating a shift in the economic structure, contributing to poverty reduction, improving people's lives, and gradually building Son La province into a tourism center of the Northwest region.
In the overall development of tourism, and specifically in diversifying tourism products, Son La province is continuing to focus on directing districts and cities to develop tourism products associated with natural resources, advantages, and ethnic cultural identity. Simultaneously, it is strengthening the dissemination of laws related to tourism activities, thereby contributing to raising awareness among Party committees, government agencies, socio-political organizations, and the people about tourism development in a focused and targeted manner, with the motto: "Unique products linked with professional services, convenient and simple procedures, competitive prices, a clean and beautiful environment, and a safe, civilized, and friendly destination."
Quoc Tuan