Son La

Location: Northwestern of Vietnam

Population: 1,149 million (2013)

Area: 14.174 km²

Weather: Like Sapa, the weather in Son La is quite comfortable. You can travel to Son La every time a year but in each season, the scenery is different and unique.

Located in the Northwestern region of Vietnam, Son La is the fifth largest province in the country. It has two large plateaus named Son La and Moc Chau and an immense area of crop fields. The rest includes valleys, high hills and mountains. This province is co – inhabited by various ethnic group such as H’mong, Dao, Kinh, Muong, Tay, Thai and so on, while the Thai is the largest group.

The natural beauty of Son La, a typical highland area with green field and hill are irresistible attraction to tourists. Besides, the unique traditions and customs of the Thai and other minorities are also attractive for visitors to experience.

Right in the central of Son La city, tourists would have chance to visit the most renowned relic of this province, which is Son La Former Prison and Museum. The site is preserving historic objects – evidences of a heroic time during the war and exhibiting the historical and cultural tradition of 12 ethnic groups.

Son La Highland is most famous for its imposing Moc Chau plateau, which is an ideal place for milk-cow breading, tea and fruit planting. Tourists should not miss to take photos of the villages, wooden houses and terraces of the locals or walk down the valleys and meet the locals. Besides, visitors can also be welcomed to some other destinations such as “Hang Doi”, “Thac Dai Yem” and green tea hills and immense forests of pine hidden behind soft mist. Another indispensable destination is the gigantic hydroelectric dam of Son La, the biggest hydroelectric dam of Indochina. Furthermore, Son La is a venue of ecoregions for ones who want fresh air and peacefulness.

Coming to Son La, visitors not only have chance to admire its natural beauty but also enjoy specialties there such as bamboo rice, five-colored sticky rice, Thit gac bep, grilled meat and so on.

THINGS TO SEE

Mong village

Mong village is a great destination for people who look for a new and interesting ecotourism site. This captivating cultural village is located in the area of Hua La district in Son La province. Upon the arrival at the village, tourists will notice the distinctive scenery constituted of spectacular mountains and rivers. The villages is surrounded by primitive forests with full of precious trees and orchid flowers. The best time for visitors to come is spring because when spring comes, apricot flowers, plum flowers will show off their beauty to create a colorful picture. Addition, the yellow bees fly around, dancing cheerfully and adding to the brilliant scenery of Mong village.

Moc Chau Highland

Moc Chau is considered as one of the greatest resource for North-western Vietnam’s tourism. Among all the special characteristics of the highland, the most precious resource of this place is its climate. This land has an annual average temperature of 20^oC and a much more favorable winter compared to the other parts of the region. The most typical tourism activity in Moc Chau is sightseeing. Indeed, there are hundreds of natural sites that you should not miss. In addition, the highland’s traditional festivals is another thing that can attract tourists from all over the country. Visitors can also have chance to enjoy local dishes as well as try the daily life of ethnic people.

Son Moc Huong Cave (Bat Cave)
From Moc Chau town, only a few minutes driving towards Son La city will take you to Son Moc Huong Cave. Inside this cave, stalactites and stalagmites create a picture of rainbows.  A lot of stalactites reach a length of nearly 20m, they look like the banyan trees’ roots touching the ground. In addition, the stalactites and stalagmites are also in many different shapes such as elephant, lion, fairy or even floating clouds. Visitors can also find several pond inside the cave. This is becoming an ideal place for tourists to explore the beauty of Son La province.

THINGS TO EAT

There are many local specialties in this place such as dried buffalo meat, local grilled fish, bamboo rice, snail from Suoi Bang, veal meat and local cucumber.

BEST RESTAURANTS IN SON LA

Son La Restaurant

Address: Quyet Thang ward, Son La city, Son La province

Phone: 0212 3852 336

BBQ Son La

Address: 366 To Hieu, Chieng Le, Son La city, Son La province

Phone: 0212 8577 888

Bamboo Restaurant

Address: 104 Truong Chinh, Quyet Thang ward, Son La

Phone: 0931 685 609

559 Restaurant

Address: No.559, Alley 05, Giang Lac street, Group 3, Quyet Thang ward, Son La.