Bản Lùng on a new journey

The name Bản Lùng, for me, previously only existed through news reports and newspaper articles documenting the painful memories of the historic flash flood of 2018. More than seven years after the devastating flood, upon my first visit to Bản Lùng, I no longer saw the remnants of devastation, the scene of ruin that had haunted public opinion nationwide. Bản Lùng is now a peaceful, clean village with neat houses. The people are friendly and hospitable. Life here is strongly reviving.

In the early morning of July 20, 2018, a sudden, devastating flood swept away a small, highland village in Phong Du Thuong commune. In a short time, the sturdy traditional stilt houses of the Tay and Dao ethnic minorities were reduced to rubble. More than 50 households were affected; 16 houses were completely swept away, and 7 were severely damaged. Over ten hectares of rice paddies, crops, livestock, and poultry were also destroyed by the flood. The damage amounted to tens of billions of dong.

More than seven years have passed, but the horrific memory still lingers in the minds of the people of Bản Lùng. Mr. La Tiến Sâm, one of the witnesses who saw the flood from beginning to end, still cannot forget the terrifying feeling.

On the night of the flash flood, Mr. Sam's family had just finished building a perimeter wall and had invited relatives and friends over for a celebratory meal. It had been raining continuously for several days, and that day was also heavy, causing the stream to rise, but no one thought anything serious would happen. Seeing the rain intensifying, he anxiously took his wife, daughter-in-law, and six-month-old grandson to seek shelter in a higher house. When they returned, the road in front of their house had turned into a stream, leaving no escape route. Mr. Sam and his two sons had no choice but to climb onto the roof. After a while, the roof began to shake violently. Knowing they couldn't hold on any longer, the three of them risked their lives climbing onto a utility pole, clinging there all night, hoping for dawn.

Mr. Sam recalled: “It wasn’t until dawn that the three of us dared to make our way along the water’s edge to the cinnamon hill to take shelter. Once there, we saw a large crowd of villagers fleeing the flood, all looking distraught. Our sturdy house, rice mill, goods… everything we had built up over the years was gone in a single night. We stood there, unable to believe it was true.”

After the flood, the entire village was left homeless, with many families losing all their possessions and having no shelter left. More than 50 households were severely affected, and over 70 others were at high risk if rain and floods continued. Just three months later, guided by the principle of "as long as there are people, there is hope," the former Yen Bai province built a new resettlement area about 1 km from the old location. The villagers were allocated new land and provided with assistance in building houses. Unable to recover the rice paddies, they were converted to growing corn and peanuts; the remaining land was leveled and improved by the villagers themselves in time for planting the new crop. Despite the hardships, no one accepted defeat or gave up.

More than 7 years after the devastating flood, Ban Lung has now risen strongly, becoming one of the exemplary new rural areas of Phong Du Thuong commune, home to 148 households and 702 people, of which over 60% are Tay ethnic people, the rest being Mong, Dao and Kinh.

Mr. Sam's life – his family suffered heavy losses in that year's flood – has now stabilized. Although their economic situation is not as good as it was before they lost their home and land, the resettlement house has brought them peace after so much hardship.

Recognizing the potential for tourism development in Bản Lùng, in 2023, Mr. Ngô Quang Hà, the village head, boldly opened a homestay right in the village. The newly built house was intended to provide a stopover for tourists: a place to eat, sleep, and fully experience the fresh air of the mountains and forests.

Currently, Mr. Ha's homestay can accommodate about 20 guests, mainly those who come to enjoy local cuisine. All ingredients are sourced by his family, ensuring cleanliness and authentic traditional flavors. Not only Mr. Ha, but six households in Ban Lung now offer homestays. Some residents have even boldly ventured into cultivating buckwheat flowers, hoping to generate additional income and create a new and exciting destination for locals and tourists. The flowerbeds are gradually covering the hillsides, becoming a testament to the local people's efforts in finding new directions for their livelihoods.

Besides the self-reliance efforts of the people, the local government also played a crucial role in the revival of Ban Lung. After the historic flood, many support programs and policies were implemented, especially resources from national target programs and previous cooperation projects of the former Yen Bai province. As a result, the people received support to develop their livelihoods and restore production.

Many economic models have emerged and proven effective, such as livestock farming and stream snail farming. These models have helped people gradually stabilize their income, creating a foundation for sustainable development. In particular, Ban Lung has long been famous for its rice flake making, considered a unique advantage of the village. In the future, the locality plans to develop Ban Lung rice flakes as an OCOP product, aiming to improve quality, promote it more widely, and create more opportunities for increased income right in their hometown.

Mr. Le Van Quyen, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phong Du Thuong commune, proudly stated: "Thanks to the concerted efforts of the government and the people, after only 3 years of construction, Ban Lung has strongly revived. In 2021, the village achieved the standards of a new rural village, a milestone affirming the resilience of the people in this land that once suffered heavy damage from floods."

Before leaving Bản Lùng, my last stop was the village cultural center. On the walls, a series of photographs were neatly displayed, documenting the entire journey this place has taken: from days of sorrow and loss to each step towards powerful revival. Looking at these photos, one can clearly see the mark of the joint efforts from the government, philanthropists, and the dedication of each villager. And perhaps, the most beautiful "picture" isn't in any of the frames on the wall, but the image of Bản Lùng today. A Bản Lùng with houses built close together, clean and tidy roads, and gardens bursting with colorful flowers. A Bản Lùng brimming with life, peaceful and safe, steadily progressing on its new journey.

* This article uses some archival photos published on VOV Online Newspaper.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/ban-lung-tren-hanh-trinh-moi-post889034.html