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Food scarcity no longer an issue

We came to Sy Dieng hamlet on the last day of June. The hamlet's population is mostly Mong people, living scattered around the valleys. Ly Van No's house is located in the middle of green corn fields, led by a road that is only big enough for one person to walk through. On the side of the about-120-sqm wooden house covered by a green corrugated iron roof, No was cutting grass to feed the cattle. He happily said that among his six cows, the cow gifted by the government was about to give birth.

"The children will go to school soon, my wife and I will take care of these cattle and the corn fields. We already have 20kg of corn seeds, so we don't have to worry about lacking food," said No.

Inside Ly Van No's old house (above) and his new house seen from above (below). (Photo: Thanh Luan)

He said, his family of nearly 10 people used to live in a dilapidated house with a Fibro cement roof. During storms and strong winds, the cement Fibro panels were blown away. The columns and rafters were weak and could collapse at any time, causing the family to always live in fear. Due to incomplete awareness and a difficult life, in 2019 he followed Duong Van Minh's illegal organization and had to pay money to this organization. Receiving information from the police force, 6 months later he voluntarily went to the Commune People's Committee to sign a commitment to abandon the illegal organization. After that, his family received VND 40 million from the government and philanthropists to build a house. They were also given a breeding cow and a water tank. They were instructed to develop production to improve income and living conditions.

"Now my family doesn't have to suffer from leaks or winds anymore, so we feel secure to do farming and raise cattle. Our family has bought a motorbike and two electric fans," said No.

In 2022, No was trusted and elected to be the head of Sy Dieng village. With the mindset "A village leader must be exemplary to maintain people's trust,” No takes initiative in propagandizing and mobilizing many households in Sy Dieng hamlet to voluntarily leave Duong Van Minh's illegal organization.

About 500m from No's house, Sung Van Dinh's family of six people have been living in a new house for nearly two years. Dinh (27 years old, Mong ethnic group, in Sy Dieng hamlet) expressed his gratitude for the Government’s help.

"In 2023, my family was gifted VND 50 million under a project to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses for poor households. I am very excited to have a new, sturdy house. My old house was built about 30 years ago. Everything is dilapidated, now it's only used for firewood."

No longer having to worry about housing, Dinh and his wife can focus on growing corn, raising cattle, and developing production. Occasionally he works as a construction worker to increase his family's income. His children who go to kindergarten and elementary school also receive rice and money every month.

Ly Van No cuts grass for cattle and buffalo to eat. (Photo: Thanh Luan)

Multiplying joy

The joy of No and Dinh is multiplied by many households in Ha Quang district when they are supported to build and renovate houses and are given production land, and clean water. As new houses are being built, the Luc Khu area, Ha Quang district changes day after day to be more beautiful.

Talking to reporters, Pham Xuan Tung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Quang district, said that Ha Quang is a difficult border district of Cao Bang province, covering a large area of 21 communes, towns, and 195 hamlets. The majority of the population are ethnic minorities living mainly in remote, disadvantaged areas of the district.

To improve people's lives, Cao Bang province has invested in technical infrastructure and deployed many solutions to support people in developing production, including a support program to remove temporary houses and dilapidated houses. In 2020, with VND 35 billion in support from the Ministry of Public Security and the People's Committee of Hanoi, Cao Bang supported 826 poor households in Ha Quang district to have stronger, safer houses. From that positive project, Cao Bang developed a project to support the removal of temporary and dilapidated houses for poor households throughout the province.

Having a new house, Sung Van Dinh and his wife can now feel secure and focus on working in the fields. (Photo: Thanh Luan)

"Ha Quang district, which takes the lead in this campaign, has so far eliminated 1,526 temporary and dilapidated houses and disbursed nearly VND 68 billion. Until the end of 2024, the district plans to support 1,003 households and disburse over VND 45 billion; by the end of 2025, families with temporary or unsafe houses will receive support," Pham Xuan Tung said.

Tung further informed that through programs and projects, 100% of communes in Ha Quang district currently have car roads leading to the village center; 97% of hamlet clusters have been connected to the national electricity system, and nearly 100% of hamlet centers have access to mass communication systems. The geotextile pond system containing rainwater and the canal systems have helped highland people have enough water for daily life and part of their production. The district also focuses on supporting people with production capital and models according to the value chain linked to businesses, cooperatives, and production associated with the community.

"These activities have created income for people. Ha Quang strives to become a poverty-free district by the end of 2025," Pham Xuan Tung said.

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