Building specialized areas
Arabica coffee has been grown in Son La since the 1990s, currently covering about 24,300 hectares, with an estimated output of 37,724 tons of coffee beans in 2025. By June 30, 2025, the province exported 17,800 tons of coffee beans, worth 69.98 million USD, up 28.9% over the same period in 2024, accounting for nearly 70% of the province's total export value. Main markets include the EU, North America, the Middle East and ASEAN.
Mr. Vu Viet Thang, Director of Phuc Sinh Son La Joint Stock Company, said: To ensure raw materials for the factory, the Company has linked up with 1,600 households, with a total area of 2,000 hectares, to grow crops under the Rainforest Alliance certification program (Sustainable Agriculture Standards); 690 households have built 30 high-quality model gardens.
Building a sustainable coffee growing area, on March 1, 2021, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 331/QD-UBND on the Project to develop coffee raw material areas associated with processing and environmental protection; on May 11, 2023, the Provincial Party Standing Committee issued Conclusion No. 863-KL/TU on production, processing and consumption of high-tech coffee by 2030. The goal by 2025 is that the value of coffee accounts for 6-8% of the total export value of the crop growing industry, exporting over 25,000 tons of coffee beans to Germany, the US, Brazil, the Netherlands and South America, reaching a value of nearly 100 million USD; 30% of fresh coffee berries are industrially processed, 5% of output is deeply processed.
Ms. Cam Thi Phong, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said: with the goal of attracting investment in deep processing, aiming to elevate the coffee brand, at the end of 2022, the province recognized 2 high-tech coffee growing areas in 18 villages, in Chieng Mai commune, Muong Chanh, with an area of 1,039 hectares with 1,560 participating households. The area of coffee certified by 4C, RA is 23,448 hectares, VietGAP 141 hectares, organic 543.7 hectares, 1 planting area code is granted for 36.8 hectares, maintaining 5 coffee chains of 2,160 hectares.
Son La coffee products are granted geographical indication protection by the Department of Intellectual Property. Currently, 8 organizations are granted the right to use the geographical indication “Son La Coffee”. The province has 5 OCOP coffee products, including: pure ground coffee products of Bich Thao Coffee Cooperative meeting 5-star standards and 4 products meeting 4-star standards, including: Aratay Coffee, Coffee Arabica Minh Tri, coffee husk tea of Bich Thao Coffee Cooperative, roasted and ground coffee of Son La Coffee Company Limited.
Ms. Cam Thi Mon, Director of Aratay Coffee Cooperative, Muong Chanh Commune, said: The Cooperative has 14 members, 70 hectares of coffee, and is associated with hundreds of households. Aratay Coffee products, which achieve 4-star OCOP, are produced in a closed process, meeting 4C standards. Currently, the Cooperative produces 4 products, including: Natural green coffee beans, ground coffee, honey coffee, and cascara tea.
The province has 28 enterprises and cooperatives participating in coffee production and processing, with 5 industrial processing facilities, meeting 50% of the demand for processing fresh coffee beans. The facilities focus on waste treatment, producing organic fertilizer from by-products, contributing to environmental protection.
Challenges and goals
Son La is the province with the largest Arabica coffee growing area in the country, but coffee trees are facing challenges of harsh weather, frost, old coffee, production that has not adapted to climate change, and a disconnected value chain.
In response to the requirements, the province has organized seminars to improve coffee quality and trade connection conferences, with the participation of businesses, cooperatives, growers and experts, offering many solutions to replant old coffee trees.
In addition, localities have stepped up propaganda and mobilized farmers to participate in replanting, grafting and developing sustainable coffee. Many projects and programs to support coffee replanting have been implemented. Typically, the project "Building a model for replanting Arabica coffee, training farmers and providing other support for Arabica coffee production to enhance resilience to climate change" is funded by GIZ.
To implement the Project, the Provincial Agricultural Technical Center coordinated with localities to survey and select 17 households to conduct a demonstration of replanting 10 hectares of coffee with THA1 variety; provided 350,000 THA1 coffee seedlings, 1,000 macadamia trees, nearly 55 tons of organic microbial fertilizer, 10 tons of lime powder and Trichoderma fungicide to support households to replant 25.7 hectares of coffee interspersed with macadamia trees in localities.
Ms. Ngan Thi Minh Thanh, Deputy Director of the Provincial Agricultural Technology Center, said: Demonstration models with THA1 coffee variety show clear efficiency, good growth ability, high survival rate and outstanding resistance to pests and diseases. In addition, training courses on cultivation techniques, production management and coffee business help farmers change their awareness, apply science and technology to production, towards sustainable and effective coffee production.
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Tung, Director of Bich Thao Coffee Cooperative, shared: Since 2019, we have been testing the THA1 variety. Currently, the Cooperative has 600 hectares of THA1 coffee, linked with hundreds of local households, with an area of nearly 1,000 hectares, providing raw materials for specialty coffee production for domestic consumption, and export to the EU, Japan, and South Korea markets.
According to statistics, the whole province has replanted, rejuvenated and grafted an estimated 2,818 hectares with TN1, TN2, THA1 coffee varieties, of which the replanted area is over 1,200 hectares, the grafted and renovated area is over 1,600 hectares; there are 1,120 hectares of specialty coffee.
Ms. Ha Thi Hong, Chieng Mai commune, shared: Thanks to the support of the province and the cooperative, my family has replanted the old coffee area by pruning, planting the new THA1 variety, and taking care of the coffee according to VietGAP and organic processes. The productivity of the coffee garden after replanting has increased by 20%. With 3 hectares, we harvest more than 50 tons of fresh coffee/year, reaching 300 million VND.
Son La aims to have 25,000 hectares of coffee by 2030, with an output of 40,000 tons of coffee beans; replant 9,800 hectares; develop 5,950 hectares of specialty coffee; 18,000 hectares meet sustainable standards; maintain the geographical indication "Son La Coffee". Increase the area of organic and specialty coffee, meeting quality standards by 70-80%; the rate of ripe coffee picking reaches 80-90%; 80% of fresh coffee berries are industrially processed, 20% of output is deeply processed. Exports reach 80-85% of output, of which 20-25% is deeply processed coffee, 15-20% is consumed domestically.
Ms. Cam Thi Phong informed: To achieve the goal, our province promotes mechanization, attracts investment in deep processing, supports capital and certification for farmers and businesses. Continue to promote investment, issue policies to support production, processing, and consumption of high-tech coffee, develop value chains, and protect the environment.
Son La Arabica coffee not only eliminates hunger and reduces poverty, but has also become a key industrial crop, bringing high income to farmers, gradually affirming its position on the world coffee map.
Source: https://baosonla.vn/kinh-te/xay-dung-thuong-hieu-ca-phe-arabica-son-la-jNzENKyHg.html
![[Photo] Gia Lai provincial leaders offer flowers at Uncle Ho's Monument with the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/7/9/196438801da24b3cb6158d0501984818)
Comment (0)