A display booth showcasing specialty agricultural products of Tien Nguyen Commune
A Changing Countryside, Prosperous Farmers
The transformation of Khuon, a village in Bang Lang Commune, is a testament to this progress. What was once a rough, narrow dirt road is now a wide, straight concrete path. The villagers—mostly ethnic La Chi, Dao, Tay, and Nung—voluntarily cleaned up, planted trees, and installed lights, making their home cleaner, greener, and brighter.
This was a community effort, based on the principle of "the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, and the people enjoy." 47 households donated hundreds of square meters of land to expand a two-kilometer road, connecting their village to the commune's center. In addition to government funding, the villagers contributed 500 million VND for sand and gravel, showcasing their commitment to improving local infrastructure for better trade and a more sustainable livelihood.
Mr. Tang Trung In, the Party Secretary and Chairman of the Bang Lang Commune People’s Council, noted that from 2020-2025, the commune mobilized 160 labor sessions and over 22,000 working days, with people donating over 8,000 square meters of land for infrastructure projects. "We have used these examples to replicate our success and effectively integrate three national programs to improve NTM criteria, especially the most challenging ones like transportation, poverty reduction, and income," he said.
In Thai Binh Commune, longan orchards are a common sight. Mr. Tong Van Binh, a longan farmer, expects to harvest 20 tons of fruit from his three-hectare orchard this year. With prices ranging from 7,000 to 10,000 VND per kg, he anticipates a profit of over 150 million VND. "Longan has not only made me rich but has also created seasonal jobs for 5-7 workers," he shared.
Alongside longan, Thai Binh Commune has developed 440 hectares of other specialty fruit trees, expanding its agricultural production. The industrial and service sectors have also flourished. Before the merger, Thai Binh was the first commune in the province to meet NTM model standards in 2021. Today, over 85% of its roads are paved, 100% of commune roads are solidified, seven out of eight schools meet national standards, the multidimensional poverty rate has dropped to 6.5%, and the commune has five OCOP products rated 3-4 stars.
Confidence for a New Journey
Of the total capital allocated for the 2021-2025 period (over 1.530 trillion VND), the province has disbursed more than 956 billion VND for investment and over 271 billion VND for operational expenses, achieving over 80% of its plan. To date, 35 communes have met NTM standards, with Son Thuy Commune achieving advanced NTM standards. The remaining communes meet an average of 12 out of 19 criteria. Additionally, the province has 457 OCOP products rated 3 stars or higher, opening up opportunities for the rural economy to integrate into the market.
Lessons learned from this process show that strong party leadership and government management are key, while the proactive role of the people is the decisive factor. Promoting good models and creative approaches has been a major focus. The consensus of the entire political system and the people has become the key to NTM's success. In the last term, thousands of families voluntarily donated land and contributed over 100,000 working days to upgrade roads, schools, and irrigation canals. The province also proactively provided cement to localities, helping them build over 1,100 km of new roads.
However, Tuyen Quang still faces challenges, including a large demand for investment with limited capital, a low starting point, difficult terrain, and small-scale production. The high poverty rate is also a major barrier.
"In the 2025-2030 period, the province aims to have an additional 25 communes meet NTM standards, reaching over 50% of the total communes. We will continue to improve essential infrastructure for transport, irrigation, electricity, and water, increase incomes, reduce poverty, and develop OCOP products" - Said Mr. Do Tan Son, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment.
With persistent effort, the province will implement comprehensive solutions to mobilize resources from the National Target Program for NTM and other projects. It will also focus on a breakthrough in rural transport development by providing government support for cement, while adapting to local characteristics. The province is linking NTM construction with digital transformation, community tourism, commercial agriculture, and the preservation of ethnic cultural identity, all for the prosperity and happiness of the people in this land of revolutionary roots.
Nguyen Thanh Hieu
Vietnamese data source: Tuyenquangonline
