From China, the river's course passes through the Vietnamese provinces of Lai Châu (where it forms part of the border with Điện Biên province), Sơn La and Hòa Bình.

The Black River is the most important tributary of the Red River, which it joins in Tam Nông district near Việt Trì in Phú Thọ province.

[3][4][5] The total installed power capacity of this series of dams is approximately 1,300 megawatts.

[6] In Vietnam, there are three large hydroelectric plants on the Black River.

The Sơn La Dam was completed in 2012 and became the largest hydroelectric producer in Southeast Asia.