Son La, 308 km west of Ha Noi, is the capital city of a province with the same name.The area is populated mainly by hill-tribes, including the Black and White Thai, Muong and H’Mong (Meo) tribes.

Son La was in the past, a prison town constructed by French colonialists to hold anti-colonialist revolutionaries.
  
Son La is 121km from Moc Chau, 170km from Mai Chau, 310km Northwest of Hanoi. Moc Chau is 199km from Hanoi.

- Road: Bus connections with Hanoi’s Kim Ma station. Car rentals can be arranged in Son La for about US$ 120 for a Son La-Hanoi round trip.

- Air: Na San Airport is 20km from Son La. Flights only run once a week. A ticket can be booked at Son La Hotel (Booking Office, Tel: 843 101).