Sơn La is a province in Northern Midland and Mountainous region of Vietnam. The province shares a 274km border with Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The province's topography is mainly characterized by high hills, plateaus, and interspersed valleys. It holds a strategically important position in terms of transportation and national defense in northwestern Vietnam. Sơn La is divided into 75 administrative units, including 8 wards and 67 communes. The administrative center is Chiềng Cơi ward.In 2018, Sơn La ranked 31st among Vietnam's administrative units in terms of population, 40th in Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), 49th in GRDP per capita, and 63rd in GRDP growth rate. With a population of 1,242,700 people, its GRDP reached 47.223 trillion VND (approximately 2.0509 billion USD), GRDP per capita was 38 million VND (around 1,650 USD), and the GRDP growth rate was 5.59%. Sơn La is the largest province by area in Northern Vietnam. Sơn La Dam was the largest hydroelectric power station in Southeast Asia.
History During the Lý dynasty (in the 11th–12th centuries), the central area of present-day Sơn La province was the settlement territory of a kingdom recorded in the Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư under the name Ngưu Hống.
On August 23, 1904, Sơn La province was established, capital of province is Sơn La town. In 1907, Resident Monpeyrat ordered the construction of Sơn La Prison. In 1917, the French Resident Laumet opened schools teaching Quốc Ngữ and French.
After 1946, Sơn La province, together with Lai Châu and Phong Thổ provinces (established by the French), formed the “Tai Autonomous Territory” under French direction. Bạc Cầm Quý served as Provincial chief of Sơn La from 1948 to 1953, and the province was part of the Việt Bắc Interzone. At that time, Sơn La province had six districts: Mường La, Thuận Châu, Phù Yên, Mai Sơn, Yên Châu and Mộc Châu.
From 1953 to 1955, Sơn La belonged to the Northwest zone. From 1955 to 1962, all provinces belonging to the Thái Mèo Autonomous region were abolished. From 1962 to 1975, Sơn La province was re-established and belonged to the Tây Bắc Autonomous region (renamed from the Thái Mèo Autonomous region).
At that time, the province had seven districts, with Quỳnh Nhai and Sông Mã added, while Phù Yên district was transferred to the newly established Nghĩa Lộ province.
On 20 September 1975, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 245-NQ/TW on:
The merger of Sơn La province with Bắc Yên and Phù Yên districts of Nghĩa Lộ province into a single province, with the name of the new province and the location of its provincial capital to be proposed by the local authorities.
The merger of Lào Cai province, Nghĩa Lộ province (except Bắc Yên and Phù Yên districts), and Yên Bái province.
On 27 December 1975, the National Assembly issued a resolution on:
The establishment of Hoàng Liên Sơn province through the merger of Lào Cai province, Nghĩa Lộ province (except Bắc Yên and Phù Yên districts), and Yên Bái province.
The incorporation of Bắc Yên and Phù Yên districts of Nghĩa Lộ Province into Sơn La Province.
By the end of 1975, Sơn La province consisted of Sơn La district-level town (capital) and seven districts: Mai Sơn, Mộc Châu, Mường La, Quỳnh Nhai, Sông Mã, Thuận Châu, and Yên Châu.
After the dissolution of the Tây Bắc Autonomous region, Sơn La province incorporated two additional districts from the recently dissolved Nghĩa Lộ province: Phù Yên and Bắc Yên. Sơn La province then consisted of Sơn La district-level town (capital) and nine districts: Bắc Yên, Mai Sơn, Mộc Châu, Mường La, Phù Yên, Quỳnh Nhai, Sông Mã, Thuận Châu and Yên Châu.
On 2 December 2003, Sông Mã district was divided into two districts: Sông Mã and Sốp Cộp.
On 3 September 2008, Sơn La district-level town was converted into Sơn La provincial city.
On 10 June 2013, Mộc Châu district was divided into two districts: Mộc Châu and Vân Hồ.
On 1 February 2025, Mộc Châu district-level town was established on the basis of the entire area and population of the former Mộc Châu district.
Sơn La province then consisted of Sơn La provincial city (capital), Mộc Châu town, and 10 districts: Bắc Yên, Mai Sơn, Mường La, Phù Yên, Quỳnh Nhai, Sông Mã, Sốp Cộp, Thuận Châu, Vân Hồ, and Yên Châu.
On 12 June 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam promulgated Resolution No. 202/2025/QH15. Accordingly, Sơn La province was not merged with any other province.
On 16 June 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam promulgated Resolution No. 203/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing several articles of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Accordingly, district-level administrative units nationwide ceased to operate from 1 July 2025.
On 16 June 2025, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly of Vietnam promulgated Resolution No. 1681/NQ-UBTVQH15 on the arrangement of commune-level administrative units in Sơn La province in 2025 (effective from 16 June 2025). Sơn La province has 75 administrative units, comprising 8 wards and 67 communes.
Administrative divisions Sơn La province is divided into 75 commune-level subdivisions, including 8 wards and 67 communes:
Administrative divisions of Sơn LaBased on Proposal 346/ĐA-CP (9 May 2025) on merging commune-level subdivisions of Sơn La in 2025NameArea(km²)Population(people)Wards (8)Chiềng An149.0820,322Chiềng Cơi93.5622,694Chiềng Sinh68.4027,099Mộc Châu167.6221,087Mộc Sơn37.8815,025Thảo Nguyên53.0922,479Tô Hiệu11.9251,293Vân Sơn39.6115,917Communes (67)Bắc Yên195.2321,825Bình Thuận121.7817,128Bó Sinh153.8316,461Chiềng Hặc239.9118,721Chiềng Hoa296.4817,644Chiềng Khoong253.8723,222Chiềng Khương149.8218,712Chiềng La126.1320,373Chiềng Lao358.5521,010Chiềng Mai151.8523,786NameArea(km²)Population(people)Chiềng Mung142.1427,797Chiềng Sại124.556,720Chiềng Sơ140.3117,145Chiềng Sơn204.9014,155Chiềng Sung109.2814,171Co Mạ214.2814,560Đoàn Kết240.6617,938Gia Phù111.3221,929Huổi Một240.6612,349Kim Bon104.519,873Long Hẹ158.408,473Lóng Phiêng147.8111,152Lóng Sập211.309,629Mai Sơn164.4052,361Muổi Nọi128.7015,633Mường Bám76.1610,731Mường Bang270.1512,831Mường Bú213.6525,284Mường Chanh101.4711,275Mường Chiên382.2014,028NameArea(km²)Population(people)Mường Cơi194.9819,557Mường É139.9114,858Mường Giôn290.5416,145Mường Hung226.0924,613Mường Khiêng204.2024,570Mường La341.8632,712Mường Lạn264.8910,901Mường Lầm167.1015,647Mường Lèo375.764,277Mường Sại122.949,557Nậm Lầu247.6318,095Nậm Ty201.8916,679Ngọc Chiến212.1912,021Pắc Ngà122.5913,274Phiêng Cằm280.3314,459Phiêng Khoài103.7712,424Phiêng Pằn320.6524,685Phù Yên117.9847,299Púng Bánh364.6417,264Quỳnh Nhai244.3130,554NameArea(km²)Population(people)Song Khủa192.4515,845Sông Mã105.9926,179Sốp Cộp466.9524,086Suối Tọ177.496,343Tà Hộc149.5613,692Tạ Khoa191.8815,522Tà Xùa233.6711,199Tân Phong135.456,787Tân Yên192.7918,380Thuận Châu132.8346,958Tô Múa181.9814,701Tường Hạ120.8514,076Vân Hồ268.4024,998Xím Vàng232.357,596Xuân Nha263.3710,127Yên Châu246.5533,061Yên Sơn116.6212,614
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