Located 320km northwest of Hanoi, Son La makes a good stop for travelers doing the run between Hanoi and Dien Bien Phu. Eighty percent of the province's natural area is covered with mountains. In this mountainous and forested region, the main population is minority groups such as the Black Thai, White Thai, Muong, Ma, H'mong, Dao, etc...
What to do?
There is not much to remark the town except the Old French Prison and Museum. In the prison grounds is a peach tree that was planted by To Hieu, a former inmate, some time in the 1940's. However, there are many minority villages on the way to explore.
The Son La Provincial Museum: was originally a penitentiary built by the French in 1908. At first, it was only a small provincial prison. But between 1930 and 1945, thousands of Vietnamese patriots were imprisoned here. Key individuals who later became main leaders of the Revolution for National Liberation were incarcerated in the Son La Prison. In 1962, it was classified by the Ministry of Culture as one of the numerous revolutionary heritage sites in the country.
When to go?
Son La has a temperate climate throughout the year with the annual average temperature of about 21 Degree Celcious. It is possible to do trips to Son La all year round but the best time is from September to April of next year.
Travel Tips
Most of hotels in the town are basic. There are daily flights from Hanoi to Son La but the schedule is highly changeable.