Sơn La Province

Sơn La Province (Vietnamese: Tỉnh Sơn La) is a province of Vietnam. It is located in the North Western Region and is bordered by the provinces of Điện Biên to the west, Lai Châu and Yên Bái to the north, Phú Thọ, Hòa Bình and Thanh Hóa to the east, and the country of Laos to the south.

Its capital and largest city is Sơn La, located in the central western area of the province. It is Vietnam's 3rd largest province by land area, and also one of the least densely populated.

Geography
The terrain of Sơn La Province is heavily mountainous and complex, with deep valleys and tall mountains sprawling through the province. Located in the north-east of the province is the southern end of the Hoàng Liên Mountains.

It is divided north-south by the Black River, which forms a large canyon through the centre of the province. The largest dam in Vietnam, the Sơn La Dam, creates a large reservoir and a surplus of electricity.

The provincial capital of Sơn La is located on a relatively flat plateau, which is home to a large percentage of the province's population.