The first Son La Coffee Festival in 2023 took place from October 20th to October 23rd, 2023.

Son La province has the largest area of ​​Arabica coffee cultivation in the country, with over 20,000 hectares, of which more than 18,000 hectares have been granted sustainable and equivalent certifications. Several concentrated, specialized production areas have been established, following a production, processing, and consumption chain based on the application of science and technology, gradually meeting the needs of production, consumption, and export. Son La coffee products have been exported to 20 countries in the EU, North America, the Middle East, and ASEAN countries at stable prices; contributing to increasing the income of coffee growers, creating more jobs, and contributing to restructuring production towards increasing the value of coffee in Son La, which is highly appreciated by domestic and international consumers.

In line with the policies of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, and the Provincial People's Committee on focusing on the sustainable development of Son La coffee, contributing to enhancing its value and affirming its position in domestic and international markets, and simultaneously honoring coffee growers, producers, processors, and traders, the first Son La Coffee Festival in 2023 was organized by Son La province with many practical and meaningful activities, aiming to honor coffee growers, producers, processors, and traders, and to encourage the community to work together to foster the development of the coffee industry in Son La province in particular and Vietnam in general. This contributes to stabilizing livelihoods and increasing income for coffee growers in the area.

The festival is an opportunity to honor those who grow, produce, process, and trade coffee.

Regarding information about the first Son La Coffee Festival in 2023, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Cong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Head of the Festival Organizing Committee, said: This first-ever provincial-level festival is expected to contribute to promoting and enhancing the value and position of Son La coffee in the market; honor coffee growers, producers, processors, and traders; and encourage the community to work together to foster the development of coffee culture. At the same time, it aims to showcase the unique image of coffee culture, its people, potential, and strengths, creating a friendly and hospitable image of Son La, attracting investors and tourists; and to promote production development, connect supply and demand, foster innovation, increase income, and stabilize the lives of ethnic minorities.

Comrade Vuong Dinh Hue - Member of the Political Bureau, Chairman of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam - attended the Opening Ceremony.

At the Opening Ceremony, Son La province was honored to welcome Comrade Vuong Dinh Hue - Member of the Political Bureau, Chairman of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, along with other members of the Central Committee of the Party, leaders of central ministries and agencies; leaders of provinces and cities, and leaders of the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association who attended to provide guidance, encouragement, and high praise for the activities of the Festival in general and the Opening Ceremony in particular.

A large number of locals and tourists came to visit and experience the festival.

Within the framework of the Festival, there were also activities such as: an exhibition with the theme "Son La Coffee - Integration and Development" with the participation of 100 booths showcasing socio-economic development achievements, tourism products; safe agricultural products of Son La province and coffee products from districts, cities, and businesses inside and outside the province; a seminar on sustainable development and enhancing the value of Son La coffee; and a conference connecting the consumption of coffee and agricultural products in Son La with the participation of more than 300 delegates including managers, scientists, representatives of domestic and foreign non-governmental organizations, processing and trading entrepreneurs, and coffee growers who gained valuable knowledge and experience on cultivation, harvesting, preliminary processing, processing, consumption and export of Arabica coffee products in the future.

Within the framework of the festival, a Farmers' Talent Competition was held with lively and meaningful events.

The Son La Provincial Farmers' Talent Competition, themed "Sustainable Coffee Production, Adapting to Climate Change," saw the participation of teams from Mai Son, Yen Chau, Sop Cop, Thuan Chau districts and Son La city. The event was lively and engaging, providing a valuable platform for the province's coffee-producing farmers.

The inauguration of the Son La Coffee Processing Plant and the Cascara Tea Production Line of Phuc Sinh Son La Joint Stock Company affirmed the determination of the entire political system in the province to implement policies to attract and support investment in the province, especially in the field of agricultural product processing and Arabica coffee processing.

The Son La Book Fair 2023 at the festival is a new feature that attracts a large number of officials, citizens, and students to visit, read, and buy books.

The Coffee Gala is a gathering place for networking, exchanging knowledge, and sharing coffee tastes between coffee producers and consumers. It's a venue for showcasing the art of coffee brewing and decoration, for enjoying and exploring the mysteries and secrets of a cup of coffee; displaying hundreds of beautiful photos of Son La coffee, introducing and promoting coffee plants, production activities, and consumption by coffee farmers, cooperatives, and businesses in Son La; and the Son La Book Fair 2023, featuring attractive activities to promote and introduce books from publishing houses, spreading reading culture in the community, along with activities creating a beneficial playground for students in the city and surrounding districts.

The closing ceremony of the first Son La Coffee Festival in 2023, themed "Son La Arabica - The Source of Creativity," marked the end of a successful festival.

The first Son La Coffee Festival in 2023 was a great success, leaving a lasting impression.

It can be affirmed that the first Son La Coffee Festival in 2023, organized on a provincial scale, was a special event of great significance for coffee farmers, coffee processing and trading businesses in particular, and the people of Son La province in general. It opened a new era, a new phase, new opportunities, promising new developments for Son La coffee, enabling it to reach domestic, regional, and global markets.

Le Hong