Evacuations in the rainy and flood season
Cracks on the ground, hillsides and house walls make people in the highlands of Son La anxious every time it rains heavily. Many residential areas are at risk of landslides, forcing authorities to urgently evacuate people.
In Muoi Noi commune, heavy rain in July and early August 2026 heavily affected Bon, Phang and Lay villages. By August 7, 210 households with 1,105 people had to be temporarily evacuated, initial estimated damage of 7.28 billion VND.
The most worrying is Lay village, where 241 households are located within the sliding arc with complex geology, many large cracks, and a very high risk of landslides. The commune has brought 176 households with 910 people to 4 safe points; 27 households with 135 people have been identified as having to be relocated for a long time.
Mr. Hoang Quoc Viet - Chairman of Muoi Noi Commune People's Committee - said that the locality proposed to survey the geology and zone off the landslide area of Lay village with a budget of 500 million VND and an urgent population arrangement project of about 23.23 billion VND.
Not only Muoi Noi, but also in Ngoc Chien, Chieng Lao, Muong Bu, Muong Lan, Chieng Sung and Muong Chien communes, 396 houses were damaged by landslides and subsidence.
From temporary residence to new life
In Nam Lau commune, the relocation of people from dangerous areas has been implemented since 2025. To date, 13 households have moved to new residences, of which 10 households have been allocated land to build solid houses.
After heavy rains in July and early August 2026, the commune continues to urgently relocate 28 households; 23 other households are located in high-risk areas and need to be arranged safe accommodation.
Mr. Cam Bun Loc - Chairman of Nam Lau Commune People's Committee - said that the locality is reviewing risk points, proactively planning evacuation and proposing long-term population arrangement, associated with residential land, infrastructure and livelihoods.
In Tang village, new houses are gradually taking shape. Mr. Quang Van Thiet - Head of the Front Work Committee of Tang village - said that people are excited to be allocated safe residential land.
Mr. Ca Van Thuong said that his family was moved to a new land plot conveniently, so he invested about 700 million VND to build a solid house.
The new land is beautiful, my family tries to build a solid house to settle down, no longer worrying every time it rains heavily," Mr. Thuong shared.
The long-term population stabilization problem
The reality of natural disasters shows that the demand for relocating residents from dangerous areas in Son La is still very large. In the period 2016-2025, natural disasters caused more than 200 casualties, 30,782 houses damaged, 5,817 households had to be urgently relocated; total damage was over 8,365 billion VND.
From 2015-2025, the province completed 39 projects to arrange residents for 1,804 households, with a budget of over 602 billion VND; 22 other projects are being implemented for 996 households. However, about 4,605 households still live in high-risk areas.
From the beginning of 2026 to now, natural disasters have damaged and affected about 1,290 houses. The province is reviewing households that need to be relocated; 5 population stabilization projects in disaster-prone areas are expected to arrange for 633 households, with a total budget of more than 346 billion VND.
Mr. Le Sy Tuyen - Deputy Head of the Sub-Department of Irrigation and Water Resources, Son La Department of Agriculture and Environment - said that the province is reviewing and classifying risk levels according to Resolution No. 14-NQ/TU, period 2025-2030, to choose a suitable population arrangement plan.
Not only taking people out of dangerous places, but also ensuring long-term life, linking population arrangement with infrastructure, production land, jobs and livelihoods," Mr. Tuyen said.
In the immediate future, Son La has identified 80 high-risk points in 30 communes and wards, and is expected to relocate 1,802 households with a cost of over 1,161 billion VND. The province strives to complete the review of high and very high-risk areas in the third quarter of 2026 and stabilize population in areas identified by 2030.
