50 years of 'barren land blossoming'

"To say it has developed 100 times faster is not an exaggeration."

Former Director of the Department of Finance and former Director of the Provincial Statistics Department, Huynh Minh Son, recounts the difficult years when Long An province faced many challenges.

During the fierce war, Long An, like the rest of the country, faced many hardships and difficulties. “My hometown is Can Giuoc. Back then, stepping outside meant mud and swamps. The Tan Tap area used to be just barren land, inhabited only by crabs and shellfish. Now, that area is a modern international port. Transportation, education, the economy , etc., have all developed. I think it's not an exaggeration to say Long An has developed 100 times more than before!” – shared Huynh Minh Son, former Director of the Department of Finance and former Director of the Provincial Statistics Department.

Mr. Son recounted that 50 years ago, the alley leading to his house was a small, muddy, and deserted dirt road. When his family moved there, there was no electricity or running water. His three-generation family had to rely on electricity from the nearby school to power a single light bulb. In those years, oil lamps were widely used, and the town of Tan An had very few industrial facilities.

Tan An in those years was not as developed as the author Thach Phuong described in the Long An Gazetteer: Throughout the period of French colonial and American imperialist rule, the town of Tan An did not change much. Almost the entire town only had National Highway 1 and a few other main roads that were paved.

Mr. Son said: "Back then, if I wanted to go back to Can Giuoc to visit my family, I had to travel from Tan An to Ho Chi Minh City and then loop back. But now, with many new roads opened, I can go any way I want, quickly and conveniently."

While still fighting, young soldier Huynh Minh Son and his comrades often talked about peace, but no one could imagine what peace would be like, or how life would change. In those days when even a bicycle was a luxury, he never dared to dream of a day when every family could own two or three motorbikes like they do now. He also never imagined that his children and grandchildren would have smartphones, internet access, and receive an education from a young age.

The border region in Dong Thap Muoi is no longer a barren wasteland but has become fertile after 50 years of national reunification (Photo taken in Thanh Tri commune, Kien Tuong town).

While during wartime, acquiring literacy was a difficult journey, after 50 years of national reunification, children can now attend school from the age of three. The province, with nearly 600 educational institutions from preschool to high school and over 17,000 teachers, is the clearest evidence of Long An's current commitment to educational development. Hundreds of billions of dong have been invested in upgrading facilities, teaching equipment, and attracting talented teachers to develop high-quality education in the province. In the 2024-2025 school year, Long An is expected to have 23 students win awards in the national-level excellent student competition. Among them, one student will be selected to participate in the 2025 Olympic team selection exam.

“After the protracted war of resistance, our homeland bore the weight of countless losses and suffering. Now, society has developed in all aspects. In particular, the younger generation has received thorough training and education, becoming useful citizens for society. The achievements of today are the result of the extraordinary efforts of the Party Committee, the government, and the people in the province as well as the whole country,” affirmed retired official Huynh Minh Son.

Historic decisions

Fifty years after the reunification of the country, Long An, once one of the least developed provinces in the Mekong Delta region, has risen to become one of the leading provinces in economic development.

“Fifty years ago, Long An province only had a few southern districts like Can Duoc, Tan Tru, and Chau Thanh that could produce two rice crops per year. The Dong Thap Muoi region was almost desolate, with virtually no roads, still very wild and undeveloped! People had to eat corn mixed with rice. In terms of industry, there was almost nothing except a few small factories in Tan An such as the Cau Voi Textile Factory and a rice milling plant,” recounted former Provincial Party Secretary Le Thanh Tam.

Former Provincial Party Secretary Le Thanh Tam recounts the historic decisions of Long An.

To achieve the success it enjoys today, the Long An Party Committee and government made bold and correct decisions regarding the development of the Dong Thap Muoi region, price subsidies for wages, etc. National Highway 62 was built, marking a significant milestone in Long An's "advance into the Dong Thap Muoi" journey. This road, connecting the town to the border region, significantly shortens travel time to border districts, not only contributing to economic development but also to border protection. Built by human effort on vast, marshy land, National Highway 62 remains a source of pride for Long An to this day.

The policy of subsidizing wages for price increases has contributed to "unlocking" the economic bottleneck, helping to improve people's lives and laying the foundation for future development. From those difficult years, with the courageous, decisive, and bold spirit of the Party Committee and the government, along with the unity of the people, Long An has developed and improved its position day by day.

In 2024, the province's rice production reached over 3.1 million tons. More than 2,000 new businesses were established; hundreds of kilometers of roads were completed; over 230 products achieved OCOP (One Commune One Product) standards;... Long An is among the top 10 provinces nationwide in attracting investment and was selected as one of the top 10 localities attractive to large businesses in 2024. Public investment disbursement reached 100%. Export turnover reached 7.5 billion USD,... As a result, the average GRDP per capita reached 107 million VND/year and the poverty rate decreased to 0.56%.

The province's economic structure is shifting towards industrialization and modernization, but the agricultural sector continues to receive attention. The application of high technology in agricultural production is being emphasized.

Combine harvesters harvesting rice in Tan Thanh district (part of the Dong Thap Muoi region of the province).

Today, the image of hired laborers from the Mekong Delta provinces harvesting rice in Dong Thap Muoi is no longer present. Instead, combine harvesters, seeders, and drones spraying pesticides and fertilizers are working in the fields. Farmers are no longer "muddy-footed" but are proficient in techniques and technology. The picture of Long An after 50 years of liberation unfolds with bright colors.

Through the accounts of historical witnesses, those who directly took up arms against the enemy and contributed to the construction and development of Long An, we clearly see the miraculous transformation of the province after 50 years of national reunification. From a barren land, Long An has risen to become a dynamic, prosperous, and beautiful province. This is the result of the tireless efforts of the Party Committee, the government, and the people of Long An over generations.

To achieve the success they enjoy today, the Long An Party Committee and government have made bold and correct decisions regarding the development of the Dong Thap Muoi region, price subsidies for wages, and more.

Guilin

Source: https://baolongan.vn/50-nam-dat-can-no-hoa-a194360.html