(en.sonla.gov.vn) As the second-largest fruit-growing region in the country, Son La province is entering the peak harvest season for many of its key fruit crops. Since early June, agricultural products such as mangoes, longans, passion fruit, and bananas have come into full season, creating an urgent need to boost consumption and expand market access—especially amid intensifying competition and increasingly stringent quality demands from export markets.
Clear export targets and strategic market orientation
In 2025, Son La province has set a target of reaching USD 35.2 million in fruit export value. Key export-oriented products with projected volumes include: 16,400 tons of mangoes, 4,100 tons of longans, 8,000 tons of bananas, 2,350 tons of passion fruit, and several thousand tons of other fruits such as avocados, plums, dragon fruit, and cantaloupes.
Farmers adopt automated irrigation systems for longan orchards
To realize this export target, the province has been implementing a comprehensive range of measures: expanding standardized cultivation areas, ensuring strict management of planting area codes, enhancing traceability, and promoting digital transformation in traceability, logistics, and trade promotion.
Proactive market development to avoid agricultural surplus bottlenecks
Son La province currently has over 85,000 hectares of fruit orchards, with the largest concentrations in the districts of Mai Son, Yen Chau, Moc Chau, Song Ma, and Thuan Chau. The total harvest output for 2025 is estimated to exceed 450,000 tons, with nearly 60% of that volume expected to come during the peak harvest season from June to August.
To mitigate the risk of “bumper harvests but low prices” the province has directed relevant sectors and local authorities to work closely with businesses and cooperatives to strengthen supply–consumption linkages. A wide range of distribution channels—from traditional markets to modern platforms such as e-commerce sites, domestic supermarket chains, international border gates, and even demanding export markets like China, South Korea, and Japan—are being actively activated.
In particular, trade promotion activities have been conducted in a coordinated manner. Events such as Son La mango week in Hanoi, the Longan and agricultural product week in Ho Chi Minh City, and a series of supply–demand connection conferences across various provinces and cities have significantly contributed to enhancing product visibility, fostering business linkages, and ensuring timely product distribution.
Strengthening raw material zones – Ensuring quality and stability
Ambitious export targets require agricultural products to meet high and consistent quality standards. Currently, the province has been granted 325 planting area codes and 105 packing facility codes in accordance with export market requirements. More than 3,800 hectares of fruit orchards have been certified under VietGAP, GlobalGAP, or organic standards.
In addition, widespread efforts have been made to control pesticide residue levels, provide technical training on cultivation practices, guide farmers in maintaining production diaries, and promote the adoption of bio-safe farming procedures.
Toward official and long-term export channels
Son La has identified its 2025 export target of USD 35.2 million not merely as a trade figure, but as a key indicator of the province’s capacity for integration and sustainable agricultural development. Gradually reducing reliance on informal cross-border trade and shifting toward official export channels is a long-term strategy aimed at enhancing the position of Son La’s agricultural products in international markets.
Applying high technology to the production of paper-canned products
The province is also actively investing in logistics infrastructure, including cold storage systems and pre-processing and packaging centers, while coordinating with central ministries to expand border gate access and promote negotiations to open new export markets such as the UAE, Thailand, and Australia.
The peak harvest season represents a “golden opportunity” for Son La to assert its potential and standing on Vietnam’s agricultural map. With a clear strategic vision, strong commitment from the entire political system, and close cooperation between businesses and local communities, Son La is steadily turning challenges into opportunities—bringing its specialty fruits to international markets and making meaningful contributions to sustainable agricultural development and improved livelihoods for upland farmers.
Quoc Tuan
Translated by Huyen Vu