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Son la
Son La, the fifth largest province in the
country, is located to the northwestern region
of Vietnam. Eighty percent of the province’s
natural area is covered with mountains. The
province is populated by various ethnic groups,
including the Ma, H’mong, Dao, Muong, Kinh,
Khmer, Tay, Thai, and so on.
 Son
La has a temperate climate throughout the year.
Tham Tet Tong is a complex of marvelous grottoes
located only 1.5 km from Son La. Excursions to
Tay Bac Mountains and bathing at Ban Mong Hot
Springs are available. Visits to ethnic
minorities hamlets are also popular.
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. The penitentiary was partially
rebuilt after 1952 bombings and visitors can
visit the subterraneous tiny cells with
food-serving hatches and leg irons. The museum
also exhibits precious objects introducing the
historical and cultural traditions of 12 ethnic
groups living in Son La province. Son La
Provincial Museum welcomes tens of thousands of
visitors every year.
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