Rhythm of Forest in Downtown

I have heard quite a lot of sincerity and hospitality of Son La Trade Union Hotel and its efforts to overcome difficulties to build up its brand in the romantic northwest upland. I am lucky enough to visit Son La Trade Union Hotel - one of the most special and oldest accommodations in the region - the land of white mountain-ebony (Bauhinia variegata).

 

Mr Vu Tien Quan, President and Director of Son La Trade Union Tourism Joint Stock Company, told us about the 20-year development history of the company. In 1990, the Son La Trade Union Tourism and Service Unit was established with the main function of cooperating with Tan Phong Co-operative (in Hai Duong province) to manufacture soaps. The formation of this unit created many jobs for trade unionists and local people. In its first days, the unit mainly produced and sod soap, developed animal husbandry, and served tourists introduced by Trade Union units. When travelling was a hard job due to the shortage of transport means, the unit’s employees themselves had to go to Ben Tre province to purchase coconut oil, move to Cao Bang and Lang Son provinces to seek partners and buy and sell breeding pigs and chickens. At that time, room service was too poor to serve international tourists owing to the shortage of pipe water and electricity (candles were in use then). During that hard time, the staff volunteered to work hard without pay in about 8,000 days to build infrastructures to lay the foundation for later development. After nearly 20 years of operation, the State-owned company has been presented many titles and awards like the Third-grade Labour Order, the National Quality Award, and the Vietnam Trademark Gold Cup. To create momentums for new development, on May 4, 2010, the unit was renamed to Son La Trade Union Tourism Joint Stock Company.

 

Director Quan said: One of crucial elements for our current success is our selection of sound development strategies that focus on fostering management, training employees and building infrastructures. Specially, the management bases on local characteristics to map out development plans. Knowing that human resources decide the success or failure of a company, Son La Trade Union Tourism Joint Stock Company always pays high attention to training and developing its personnel and applying attractive employment policies. All employees are trained of professional tourism standards and appraised on performances. The company also sets great store by building the [ruling Communist] Party cell which now consists of 21 cadres. The firm also actively takes part in social development activities and takes care of Vietnamese heroic mothers, orphans and Agent Orange victims.

 

Currently, the hotel is divided into two sections with 100 well-decorated comfortable bedrooms and three 2-star conference rooms. Lodging at Son La Trade Union Hotel, you will have the opportunity to enjoy famous food specialties from many nations the world, including Vietnam. Foods from local forests and rivers are also on the menu list. With professional and considerate service, you will feel the sense of ecstasy when you sip locally famous banana wine, Yen Chau.

 

Strangely, in the heart of Son La City, we still hear the sound of pan-pipe (local musical instrument) and flute played by local mountainous people. You will feel stunned at unique music and dance performed by young boys and girls of Thai ethnic group at the hotel. Arts-exchange eves are the food for thought for tourists when you stay at the hotel.

 

Director Quan said the success of a company comes from its differentiations. And, the most vivid impression that Son La Trade Union Hotel leaves on tourists is its sincerity and hospitality.