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Moc Chau Plateau, Son La
Country: Vietnam
Province: Son La

Tinh Son La Holiday Weather today


Date/time of update: November 5, 2024, 3:25 am, Timezone: GMT+7
Overcast Clouds

Temperature: 18.61°C
Temperature feels like: 18.59°C
Minimum Temperature: 18.61°C
Maximum Temperature: 18.61°C
Atmospheric pressure: 1021hPa
Humidity:79%
Visibility: 10000m
Wind speed: 1.42m/sec
Wind Direction: 127 degrees
Cloudiness: 99%
Sunrise: 2024-11-04 11:08:53
Sunset: 2024-11-05 10:26:16

Son La is 280km north-west of Hanoi. Son La Province is bordered to the east by Lao Cai, Yen Bai and Phu Tho Provinces, to the south-east by Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa Provinces, to the south by Laos, to the west by Dien Bien and Lai Chau Provinces.

Son La is 280km north-west of Hanoi. Son La Province is bordered to the east by Lao Cai, Yen Bai and Phu Tho Provinces, to the south-east by Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa Provinces, to the south by Laos, to the west by Dien Bien and Lai Chau Provinces.

Phu Yen Son La
Muong Tac Valley, Phu Yen Son La
 
 
 
Van Yen Ferry, Phu Yen, Son LaVan Yen Ferry, Phu Yen Son La

Geography

The province has a mountainous terrain with limestone forested mountains, small valleys and flat plains. The two biggest rivers of Son La are the Da and the Ma Rivers. Moc Chau District of Son La with the width of 25km and the length of 80km is a plateau of 1,050m above sea level. Moc Chau has a temperate climate and has great potential for developing agriculture and tourism.

Red soil at Mai Son, Son La where coffee grows
Red soil at Mai Son, Son La where coffee grows

Climate

The climate of Son La is tropical monsoon characterized by torrential rains in the summer (from May to September) and cold and dry winter (from November to January). Besides, Son La is influenced by the dry and hot winds from Laos in the summer which make the weather intolerable sometimes.

Buffalo riders on the Moc Chau Plateau in Son La Province
Buffalo riders on the Moc Chau Plateau in Son La Province

People and Population

There are 12 ethnic groups in Son La, of which the biggest are the Muong, Thai (mostly Black Thai), Kinh and the Hmong. Most of the ethnic groups in Son La maintain the traditional lifestyle for centuries.

Moc Chau tea plantations
Moc Chau tea plantations

Economic Potential

There is a great potential for developing tourism, agriculture and the mining industries in Son La. Son La Hydro-Power Plant is among the biggest in Vietnam. And, there are huge land areas for tea plantations, sugarcane plantations, grasslands, mango plantations which have earned the reputation nation-wide for the quality. Besides, Son La is famous for the herds of cows for milk and for meat; the bee honey...

Mountains at Moc Chau
Mountains at Moc Chau

 

The former prison of Son La
The former prison of Son La

Son La Travel Guide, Tourist Attractions and What to see in Son La

Most foreign travelers only come to Son La as a stop on their way to Dien Bien Phu or from Dien Bien Phu back to Ha Noi. But there are quite a few tourist attractions in Son La which justify a trip to.

1/ Moc Chau Plateau

Moc Chau Plateau is perfect for developing eco tourism, for relaxing family holidays and for adventure travel like trekking, hiking, biking and motorbiking. The Vietnamese tourists would come to the Moc Chau Plateau to get away from the heat of the Red River Delta in the summer.

Moc Chau Plateau Son La Vietnam
Moc Chau Plateau Son La Vietnam

Most people travel to Moc Chau via Route 6. Alternatively, you can travel to Moc Chau and Son La via a less beaten route which goes via Phu Tho Province, Phu Yen and Bac Yen Districts of Son La.

2/ The Da and the Ma Rivers

The Da and the Ma River offer opportunities for boat cruises and for white-water rafting, tubing...

Scenic route 6 running through breathtaking nature at Van Ho, Son La
Scenic route 6 running through breathtaking nature at Van Ho, Son La

 
Scenic road in Son La Vietnam
Scenic road in Moc Chau, Son La Vietnam
 
 
 
Idyllic landscape at Yen Chau, Son La
Idyllic landscape at Yen Chau, Son La
 
 
Sublime mountains and valleys at Mai Son, Son La
Sublime mountains and valleys at Mai Son, Son La
 
 
The Da River at Ta Khoa, Bac Yen, Son La
The Da River at Ta Khoa, Bac Yen, Son La

3/ Former Battlefields

For travelers who would like to learn about the wars, then there are many former battlefields at Son La to visit such as Na San, the Prison of Son La, Road No. 6, Co Noi, Moc Chau… Visiting these sites guided by Paradissa expert tour guide on the topic, you can certainly piece things together to make up something very interesting.

Na San Airfield where you can visit and learn about the Na San Battle
Na San Airfield where you can visit and learn about the Na San Battle between the French and Viet Minh during the First Indochina War

 

Co Noi T-Junction
Co Noi T-Junction, a target heavily bombed during the French War

4/ Mount Pha Luong and Mount Ta Xua

Many young Vietnamese are traveling to Son La for climbing Mount Pha Luong (at Moc Chau) and for an adventure to Mount Ta Xua (between Son La and Yen Bai Provinces).

On the top of the breathtaking Pha Luong Mountain in Moc Chau, Son La Province, Vietnam
On the top of the breathtaking Pha Luong Mountain in Moc Chau, Son La Province, Vietnam

 

Untouched sublime mountains at Ta Xua in Bac Yen District, Son La Province
Untouched sublime mountains at Ta Xua in Bac Yen District, Son La Province

5/ Stunning Clouds at Ta Xua, Hang Dong in Bac Yen District

Stunning clouds at Hang Dong, Bac Yen District, Son La Province
Stunning clouds at Hang Dong, Bac Yen District, Son La Province

 

Dawn over Ta Xua, Bac Yen District, Son La Province
Dawn over Ta Xua, Bac Yen District, Son La Province

 

Magnificent clouds at Ta Xua, Bac Yen District, Son La Province
Magnificent clouds at Ta Xua, Bac Yen District, Son La Province

Things to Do, Adventure Travel and Family Tours in Son La

1/ Adventure Tours

Paradissa Travel offers a number of soft adventure tours to Moc Chau Plateau including relaxing and sightseeing trips, photography tours, bike tours, agricultural tours. 

Son La is also visited on our adventure tours through the untouched Northwest of Vietnam which can be done by car or by mountain bike. These adventures can range from 5 days to 9 days.

For those who love mountain hiking, then Paradissa offers a 3 or 4 days mountain trekking trips to the Sa Mu Peak in Xim Vang, Bac Yen. This adventure trip is by far off the beaten track. It is also at Ta Xua that Paradissa offers adventure holidays to adore the beautiful clouds and sublime mountains of over 2,000m in elevation.

A huge boulder on the trek to the peak of the Pha Luong Mountain in Moc Chau Son La
A huge boulder on the trek to the peak of the Pha Luong Mountain in Moc Chau Son La
The Sa Mu Peak offers great trekking adventure tours
The Sa Mu Peak offers great trekking adventure tours

2/ Historical Tours

Paradissa hosts a number of historical tours to visit former battlefields in Son La and other historical sites in the Northwest of Vietnam. Please contact Paradissa travel experts for further information.

Moc Ly, a French stronghold brought down by the Viet Minh during the North West (Tay Bac) Campaign
Moc Ly, a French stronghold brought down by the Viet Minh during the North West (Tay Bac) Campaign

 

Breathtaking landscape around the Pu Hong Mountain which marked the most brutal battle of the Na San Battle
Breathtaking landscape around the Pu Hong Mountain which marked the most brutal battle of the Na San Battles

3/ Family Trips

The Moc Chau Plateau in Son La Province is a good destination for family tours. The plateau has beautiful moderate climate with pleasant temperatures for most of the year. Sometimes it may get cold in the winter and spring but this is also the time of beautiful blossoms on the plateau! Traveling to Moc Chau during this time your family will be lost in forest of flowers!

In Moc Chau, families can have leisurely walking tours amid captivating tea hills, or plum or peach forest. You can also go on easy bike tours on the quiet and scenic routes amid villages, flower forest or tea hills. You and your kids may also take part in local farm work, learn to make dry green tea, or learn about the different agricultural products in the plateau.

Black Thai ladies at a street market at Muong Khoa, Bac Yen, Son La
Black Thai ladies at a street market at Muong Khoa, Bac Yen, Son La

 

Buffalo riders in Son La Vietnam
Buffalo riders in Son La Vietnam

Accommodation

There are good hotels in Son La nowadays. Luxury hotels of 3-4 stars are available in Moc Chau and Son La City. There are guest houses in towns. Some ethnic villages offer homestay service.

A house on stilts at Ban Ang Village, Moc Chau Plateau, Son La Province
A house on stilts at Ban Ang Village, Moc Chau Plateau, Son La Province

How to get there

Son La is over 280km from Hanoi via Route 6 which is generally in good conditions. Besides, you can access Son La from Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Dien Bien, Lai Chau Provinces.

National Route 6 at Yen Chau District in Son La Province which connects Hanoi, Son La and Dien Bien
National Route 6 at Yen Chau District in Son La Province which connects Hanoi, Son La and Dien Bien

 

The Pha Din Pass, a magnificent mountain pass between Son La Province and Dien Bien Province
The Pha Din Pass, a magnificent mountain pass between Son La Province and Dien Bien Province

 

Deo Khe Pass between Phu Tho Province (Tan Son District) and Son La Province (Phu Yen District)
Deo Khe Pass between Phu Tho Province (Tan Son District) and Son La Province (Phu Yen District)

Son La Average Monthly Rainfall and Temperatures


Vietnam Travel Guide