Situated about 320km to the northwest of Hanoi, Son La town is often used as a half-way overnight stop on the route to Dien Bien Phu. The province encompasses a total area of over 14.120 km2, which makes it the third largest province of Vietnam. Son La shares the common border with Yen Bai, Dien Bien, Lai Chau provinces in the north, with Phu Tho, Hoa Binh in the east, with Dien Bien in the west, and with Thanh Hoa province, Laos in the south. The province lies at the height of 600-700 meters above sea level with mild and temperate climate condition. The province is not so well-known for tourism destinations except for the Moc Chau Plateau and Son La prison.