Sơn La

ON LA PROVINCE

Square: 14174,4 km2.
Population: 1092,7 thousands people (2010)
City: Son La City.
Districts: Quynh Nhai, Muong La, Thuan Chau, Phu Yen, Bac Yen, Mai Son, Song Ma, Yen Chau, Moc Chau, Sop Cop.

OVERVIEW

Located 320km northwest of Hanoi, Son La town is often used as a half-way overnight stop on the way to Dien Bien Phu. There is not much to remark the town except a prison built in 1908 by the French colonialists to incarcerate the Vietnamese political prisonners

GEOGRAPHY

Son La belongs to North-West Vietnam, shares border with Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Lai Chau provinces on the north, Dien Bien Province on the west, Phu Tho and Hoa Binh provinces on the east and Laos on the south.

The province has many mountains, rives and mineral sources. Abundant water supply is suitable to hydroelectricity. Moc Chau Plateau is an ideal place to breed milk cow, plant tea and fruit.

CLIMATE

Annual average temperature is about 21ºC. The weather is cold, dry in winter and hot in summer

TOURISM

Son La owns following interesting sites. Son La Former Prison and Museum preserves revolutionary remains and exhibits precious objects introducing the historical and cultural traditions of the 12 ethnic groups living in Son La. Stretching out 150m long, Tham Tet Toong Cave is a wonder of nature. Along the walls of the cave, there are numerous stalactites and stalagmites. Ban Hin (Hin ethnic minority hamlet) is marked by the traditions and culture of the Thai. There, tourists enjoy drinking ruou can and watching xoe dance by Thai women. Then visitor like to go to Yen Chau Site to try special bananas, longans and mangoes.
In 2nd lunar month, when ban flowers begins to blossom, coloring the mountains in white, Thai ethnic group held Hoa Ban Festival. Boys and girls go flower picking to celebrate the spring and entertain themselves by singing, playing tinh and khen flute, dancing xoe.

TRANSPORT

Son La connects Hoa Binh by National Highway No. 6, Yen Bai by Highway No.37, Lao Cai by Higway No.279. Son La Town is 328km from Hanoi. In Na San Airport, Vietnam Airlines has daily flight from Hanoi to Son La.