The village of Lòm, with 104 households and over 480 inhabitants, has been home to the Mày people (Chứt ethnic group) for generations. Over the years, thanks to the attention of the Party and the State, the lives of the people here have improved day by day. The changes are not only in infrastructure and living standards, but also in mindset and practices, gradually narrowing the gap between the lowlands and the highlands.
Lom Village… is no longer a remote place.
Just a few years ago, the journey to Lom village was a nightmare for border guards, teachers, and local officials, especially during the rainy season. Every year, a moderate downpour, landslides from the mountains, and the flooded bridges would completely isolate Lom village from the outside world . There was no phone signal, no electricity. In years with major floods, the government and border guards had to carry sacks of rice and bags of water through the forest to supply the villagers. Nearly 30 kilometers was a very long distance for the people there.
And perhaps that's why it's no coincidence that the village of Lòm was personally visited and given New Year greetings by former Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Trần Phong, shortly after he took office. The visit of the head of the provincial government was warmly welcomed by the people of Lòm village and carried many expectations.
Simple Tet gifts and well wishes were exchanged without any promises, but after that visit, it seemed as if the whole system was put into action. Procedures and funding for the road construction to Lom were expedited, and all obstacles to bringing in streetlights were quickly resolved.
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| A corner of Lom village - Photo: XP |
Exactly one year after that visit, we returned to Lom village. The road connecting from National Highway 12A was basically completed, still smelling of fresh concrete. Welcoming us at the entrance to the village, the village head, Ho Bien, excitedly shared that now both large and small vehicles can drive right up to the village. Transportation for the villagers is much easier, and buying and selling is no longer as difficult as before. The people of Lom village are immensely grateful to the Party and the State…
According to Dinh Minh Thao, Chairman of the People's Committee of Dan Hoa commune, following Lom village, all 28 villages in the commune have now completed concrete roads leading to their centers. This not only facilitates travel and trade but also serves as a driving force for people to develop their economy and take control of their lives.
Electricity grid…no longer a dream.
According to their ancestors' customs, the Mày people often choose high mountain areas, upstream of water sources, to settle. Lòm village is no exception, situated beside a stream halfway up the mountain; therefore, when the sun sets behind the mountains, the entire village seems to be plunged into darkness. I remember during a trip to Lòm about ten years ago, due to a landslide, we arrived at the village late at night. Our simple meal with the teachers stationed there was under the flickering light of oil lamps, and we had to cover ourselves with mosquito nets to avoid insects.
In recent years, teachers stationed in remote villages and border guards have installed small motors under streams to generate electricity for lighting and occasionally charging mobile phones. For the Mày people, the opportunity to go outside and see electric lights at night is a cherished dream.
Following the visit of then-Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Tran Phong, the project to extend the power grid to Lom village, under the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, was accelerated. The province provided active support in overcoming procedural obstacles and unexpected costs, and the power grid to Lom was completed ahead of schedule.
In mid-June 2025, after the electricity was connected, the Mày people in Lòm village gathered together to sing for several nights in a row under the flickering electric lights. For them, electricity was no longer a dream.
As he led us around the village, village head Ho Bien's story revolved around electricity. "The villagers are very happy. It's been a long-awaited dream for the whole village. Many families who are better off have even bought televisions, rice cookers, and other appliances to improve their living conditions," Ho Bien said.
While busy fixing the electrical outlet for cooking rice, Ms. Ho Thi Doan happily shared that since the electricity grid was installed, everyone in the village has been delighted, and daily life has become much more convenient. Especially at night, with the lights on, the children in the village have better conditions for studying; poor households even receive monthly electricity subsidies...
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| The teacher prepares lunch for the May ethnic minority students at the Lom village kindergarten - Photo: XP |
Instilling hope, illuminating the future.
In recent years, despite many difficulties, with the support of Party committees and authorities at all levels, the May people in Lom village have learned how to implement livelihood models to develop their economy. From forest planting and livestock farming to upland rice cultivation, they have gradually eliminated the mindset of relying on state subsidies.
In particular, the Mày people in Lòm village are increasingly concerned about their children's education. According to Phạm Văn Bắc, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Dân Hóa commune, Lòm village now has schools at all levels. Children of school age attend school, especially preschoolers, who are now regularly dropped off and picked up by their parents, whereas this was very difficult a few years ago.
“Besides focusing on disseminating knowledge about livestock farming and crop cultivation to help people gradually stabilize their lives and rise out of poverty sustainably, the locality also prioritizes improving the quality of healthcare and education with the goal of not only ensuring ‘enough food and clothing’ but also aiming to change mindsets, improve the quality of life, and contribute to narrowing the gap between the lowlands and the highlands,” said Dinh Minh Thao, Chairman of the People's Committee of Dan Hoa commune.
When talking about his children's education, village head Ho Bien couldn't hide his excitement. These children are the future of the May people in Lom village. With the government providing them with the opportunity to learn to read and write, they will no longer suffer the hardships of the previous generation…
Improved transportation infrastructure and, most importantly, the widespread availability of electricity have fueled the May people's hope for a brighter future. As a new spring arrives, the presence of electricity, roads, schools, and health stations transforms Lom village, giving it a new look – a symbol of prosperity and happiness in this remote border region…
Xuan Phu
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202602/ban-lom-khoac-ao-moi-fb451a3/
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