Prosperity and well-being in Lang Dao village today.

The Dao people in Dam Rong 1 earn a high income from coffee cultivation.

According to Mr. Au Van Nghi, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Dam Rong 1 commune, the villages of Pang Dung, Pang Pa, and Da Bin (formerly Da K'Nang commune) are areas where the Dao people and other ethnic minorities from the northern mountainous region live. There are approximately 600 households with about 3,300 inhabitants in this area.

Thanks to their hard work, the Dao people have gradually stabilized their lives and developed their economy , with many households achieving high incomes. In addition, they have preserved and promoted their traditional culture.

Locals commonly refer to this area as Dao Village. We had the opportunity to visit Dao Village on the 14th day of the 7th lunar month, and the atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival was vibrant in every household. Mr. Dang Phuoc Toan, from Pang Dung hamlet, Dam Rong 1 commune, said that the Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the biggest festivals of the year for the Dao ethnic group.

This year, Mr. Toan's family also prepared several feasts to invite relatives, friends, and neighbors to share in the joy. In the conversations between Mr. Toan and the locals, a sense of happiness and excitement was evident in the questions and stories about the changes in each person's life here.

More than 20 years ago, Mr. Toan and his small family of four traveled thousands of kilometers from Lang Son to begin a new life. “Life is different, but it’s much more convenient than back home. The land is flatter and more fertile. The climate isn’t harsh either. The important thing is that wherever you are, you have to work hard,” Mr. Toan said.

According to Mr. Toan, the first Dao people to settle in Dam Rong 1 were around the early 1990s. At that time, not only were there cultural differences, but the way of life and agricultural practices of the people here were also unfamiliar to him. “We were only used to growing rice and corn on high hillsides. When we first came here, we saw fertile, flat land and a mild climate. Everyone liked it and began to dream of a new life,” Mr. Toan recalled.

Then, with hard work and a willingness to learn, the villagers quickly became familiar with the crops of the highlands such as coffee, macadamia nuts, and mulberry. Last year's coffee harvest, on an area of more than 3 hectares, brought Mr. Toan's family over 1 billion VND, a figure that he and his family had never dared to dream of before.

Not only Mr. Toan, but many households here have also boldly switched to different crop structures following the government's guidance, thanks to which their lives have improved. From just a few scattered houses, Lang Dao hamlet is now densely populated, with many families building spacious stilt houses and owning cars.

Mr. Ban Nguyen Vien, from Pang Dung village, shared: “Initially, I only intended to come here to do business, but realizing the potential, I brought my whole family to settle here. My children are raised in a safe environment and receive a full education. I owe my success today to the guidance and help of those who came before me.”

According to the leaders of Dam Rong 1 commune, the lives of the Dao people and other northern ethnic groups in the area are becoming increasingly stable. Many families are quick to develop their economy and rise to prosperity; the ethnic communities are united and supportive of each other, creating a rich and distinctive culture and making positive contributions to socio-economic development.

After 30 years of living in the highlands, a prosperous life is evident in the characteristic stilt houses. Many rituals, beliefs, and traditional dishes are still preserved; the people still speak the Dao language in their daily lives and wear traditional clothing on important occasions.

Walking through Lang Dao village, you'll easily spot bunches of golden corn tied together and hanging from the eaves of houses. These bunches of corn not only preserve food but also symbolize hopes for a bountiful harvest and a prosperous, happy life.

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