Шонла

September to November is the best time. The air is clear, and fields turn golden in September and October. December to February is cold, with the white blossom of plum and peach in January and February. Summer from May to August is warm and wet, with landslides on mountain roads.

• Di tích Nhà tù Sơn La is a prison built by the French in 1908, now a museum.
• Go Lao waterfall is a waterfall in Vân Hồ, with a short walk.
• Moc Chau Glass Bridge is a glass bridge in Mộc Châu with views over the valley.
• Doi Cave is a cave in the Mộc Châu hills.
• Tea Plantation is a tea plantation on the Mộc Châu plateau.
• Suối nước nóng Bò Ấm is a hot spring in Vân Hồ.
• Rừng thông bản Áng is a pine forest near Mộc Châu.

• Walk in the tea hills: Best in the morning light.
• Visit the Sơn La prison museum: A short visit with some history.
• Cross the glass bridge: A new attraction with views.
• Taste dairy products: Mộc Châu is known for fresh milk and yoghurt.
• Visit the plum blossom in January: White blossom covers the hills.

• Mai Chau: Mai Châu is a valley in Hòa Bình province, on the road from Hanoi.
• Dien Bien Phu: Điện Biên Phủ is about 5 hours from Sơn La town.
• Hoa Binh: Hòa Bình is on the road to Hanoi.
• Hanoi: Hanoi is about 5 hours from Mộc Châu.

• East: Hoa Binh and Mai Chau lie on the road to Hanoi.
• North-west: Dien Bien Phu is the site of the 1954 battle.
• South-west: Thanh Hoa and Pu Luong are accessible by road.

• By bus: Buses run from Hanoi's Mỹ Đình station to Mộc Châu in about 4 to 5 hours, and to Sơn La town in about 7 hours.
• By car: The drive from Hanoi to Mộc Châu takes about 4 hours.
• By air: Điện Biên Phủ has the nearest airport. There is no airport in Sơn La.
• By train: There is no railway. Vietnam Railways

• Motorbike hire: Popular in Mộc Châu for the tea hills and waterfalls.
• Car with driver: Best for Sơn La province's long distances.
• Taxi: Available in Sơn La town and Mộc Châu.

• Is a car worth it? A car with a driver is the best way to see the province.
• Roads: Highway 6 is the main road. It is winding with long mountain passes.
• Landslides: Possible in summer. Check road conditions.

Sơn La food is from the Thai and Hmong peoples. Try thịt trâu gác bếp, smoked buffalo meat, cá nướng, grilled fish, and pa pỉnh tộp. Mộc Châu is known for dairy, plums and tea. Eat at small restaurants in Mộc Châu and Sơn La town.

Sơn La is safe for visitors.

• Mountain roads are steep and can be foggy. Landslides are possible in summer.
• Nights are cold in winter. Bring warm clothes.
• Wear a helmet if you hire a motorbike.
• Medical care is basic outside the provincial hospital.

Sơn La was home to Thai communities who ruled the area as chiefdoms. In 1908 the French built a prison to hold political prisoners, and many independence leaders were held there.

After 1954 the province became part of the Northwest Autonomous Region. In the 2010s the Sơn La hydropower dam was built on the Đà River, one of the largest in Southeast Asia.

Quick practical facts for Vietnam at a glance: