Circle dance symbolizing unity at the "Spring Festival dedicated to Uncle Ho" in 2025. Photo: PV

Ninety-five years ago, on February 3, 1930, the Communist Party of Vietnam was founded, marking a great turning point in the history of the Vietnamese revolution. It ended the crisis regarding the path to national salvation and laid the foundation for glorious victories and remarkable achievements in the history of the Vietnamese nation.

Immediately after its founding, the Party led the Nghe Tinh Soviet revolutionary movement; successfully carried out the August Revolution of 1945, establishing the first people's democratic state in Southeast Asia; led the resistance war against French colonialism with the historic Dien Bien Phu victory, "renowned throughout the world and shaking the earth"; and led the resistance war against the US, saving the nation, liberating the South, and unifying the country. After nearly 40 years of implementing the reform initiated and led by the Party, our country has never had such a foundation, potential, position, and international prestige as it does today.

For the past 95 years, our Party has consistently maintained its steadfastness, humility, openness to feedback, and serious self-criticism and correction of shortcomings, earning the trust and support of the people. Our Party has always deeply grasped Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought on Party building and rectification, considering it a key, ongoing, and continuous task throughout all periods of the revolution, determining the Party's strength and prestige. In implementing the Party's guidelines, the organizational structure within the political system has been continuously improved, reformed, reorganized, streamlined, and its effectiveness and efficiency enhanced.

Delegates attending the meeting commemorating the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
and the 85th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Son La Provincial Party Committee. Photo: PV

Under the guidance of the Communist Party of Vietnam, in December 1939, the Communist Party cell at Son La Prison was established. Over 85 years of construction and development, the Provincial Party Committee has continuously improved its leadership capacity. Along with promoting the spirit of unity, dynamism, innovation, and determination of the entire political system from the provincial to the grassroots level, Son La province has achieved many important and comprehensive results in the fields of socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security, and building a stronger Party and political system.

In 2024, the province's gross regional product (GRDP at 2010 constant prices) is estimated at VND 36,274.729 billion, an increase of 6.3% compared to the previous year. State budget revenue in the province reached VND 4,134 billion, exceeding the central government's target. GRDP per capita is VND 57.6 million/person/year, an increase of VND 5.9 million/person/year compared to 2023.

Agricultural production is developing towards the application of high technology, clean agriculture, and organic farming. The province has recognized 8 high-tech agricultural zones; 308 safe agricultural and aquatic product supply chains; 188 OCOP products; 29 agricultural and aquatic products have been granted protection certificates by the Intellectual Property Office, and 2 products have been granted protection certificates abroad. Industrial production increased by 28.3%. The value of goods participating in exports reached 198 million USD, an increase of 6.1% compared to the same period last year. Tourism has seen positive developments, with the total number of visitors to Son La reaching 4.9 million, an increase of 7.5%; revenue reached 5,800 billion VND, an increase of 22.1% compared to the previous year. Moc Chau tourist area has been recognized as a National Tourist Area by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; for the third consecutive year, it has been honored as a leading regional natural destination in Asia.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the start of dragon fruit exports from Thuan Chau district to the Italian market in 2024. Photo: PV

The investment and business environment continues to improve, with the province approving 14 new investment projects with a total registered capital of VND 1,737.08 billion. Son La province was assigned by the Prime Minister as the managing agency for the Hoa Binh - Moc Chau expressway project, specifically the section within Son La province; the investment approval for the project has been completed; 201 out of 204 communes have paved roads leading to their centers. Moc Chau district has been recognized as Moc Chau town. To date, the entire province has 74 communes meeting the new rural standards, an increase of 9 communes compared to 2023, reaching 105.7% of the plan; 11 communes have met the advanced new rural standards, an increase of 3 communes compared to 2023, reaching 110% of the plan. Social welfare policies have been fully and promptly implemented. The poverty rate is now 10.89%, a decrease of 3.28 percentage points compared to 2023 (exceeding the set target).

The fields of culture, education and training, and public health care are given attention, and social security is ensured. Son La City has been inscribed in the UNESCO Global Learning Cities Network. Local military and defense work is carried out effectively. Political security and social order are stable, and national sovereignty and border security are maintained. Foreign relations are expanded, maintaining friendly cooperative relations with neighboring provinces of Laos.

Party building and strengthening the political system have been intensified. The province has implemented the "Four Good Party Branches" and "Four Good Grassroots Party Committees" models. To date, 70 out of 328 Party committees; 79 out of 507 Party branches; and 612 out of 4,102 Party branches under grassroots Party committees have registered for the model. 2,083 out of 2,248 Party branches have Party committees, reaching 92.66%.

Honored with the 65-year Party Membership Badge in the third awarding ceremony of February 3rd, Party member Dinh Van Duon, from the Sap Viet village branch, Ta Khoa commune Party Committee, Bac Yen district, proudly stated: "I was admitted to the Party in 1960 at the Ta Khoa commune Party Committee. This year, at 90 years old and with 65 years of Party membership, I have lived through the glorious historical moments of the Vietnamese revolution under the brilliant leadership of the Party. Now, at my advanced age, I still strive to contribute to the Party's cause, educate my children and grandchildren, and mobilize the people to wholeheartedly follow the Party and our beloved Uncle Ho."

Production line of Moc Chau Dairy Cattle Breeding Joint Stock Company.

2025 is a particularly important year, the final year of implementing and striving to complete the goals and tasks of the Resolution of the 15th Provincial Party Congress, term 2020-2025, the year of organizing Party congresses at all levels, term 2025-2030, leading up to the 14th National Congress of the Party.

Comrade Hoang Quoc Khanh, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, emphasized: The Provincial Party Committee will focus on leading and directing the implementation of the socio-economic development plan, ensuring national defense and security in 2025, and striving to achieve the goals and targets of the Resolution of the 15th Provincial Party Congress. It will also effectively prepare and organize the Party congresses at all levels leading up to the 16th Provincial Party Congress, term 2025-2030. The goal is to commence the Hoa Binh - Moc Chau Expressway project, the section within Son La province, in May 2025 and complete it in July 2028. Furthermore, it will focus on leading the reorganization of district and commune-level administrative units in the 2023-2030 period; and streamline the organizational structure of the political system according to the directives and orientations of the Central Committee, striving to complete it on schedule…

Leveraging its role as a reliable reserve force of the Party, youth union organizations at all levels in the province continuously cultivate and recommend outstanding members to the Party. Comrade Cam Thi Huyen Trang, Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union, shared: "The youth of Son La are proud to march forward under the Party's banner. Youth union organizations at all levels in the province always focus on educating young union members on ethics and revolutionary ideals; organizing political activities such as 'Vietnamese Youth Proudly Marching Forward Under the Party'; forums on 'The Party with Youth, Youth with the Party'; organizing competitions to learn about the Party's history and resolutions of Party congresses at all levels... helping young union members deeply understand the Party, have the will to strive for excellence in labor, study and work, determine the right motivation, and strive to join the ranks of the Party."

Proudly and confidently under the glorious banner of the Party, the Party Committee, government, military, and people of all ethnic groups in Son La province continue to uphold revolutionary traditions, the spirit of self-reliance and self-strength, the power of ethnic unity, enhance the leadership capacity and fighting strength of Party organizations and members, and are determined to build Son La province into a green, rapidly developing, and sustainable province. Together with the whole country, we will work in unity to successfully implement the resolutions of the Party Congress at all levels, contributing to the nation's entry into a new era, an era of national progress.

Source: Son La Newspaper