Ninh Binh Veterans: Soldier's mettle in new opportunities

The war has long gone, but the "Uncle Ho's soldiers" qualities of the veterans of Ninh Binh province still shine brightly in everyday life. The brave soldiers who fought to protect the Fatherland in the past have now become pioneers, talented and brave on the economic development front, not only enriching their families but also contributing to building an increasingly prosperous homeland.

Veterans of Vi Khe ward next to the kumquat garden preparing for the Binh Ngo Tet market

Shock on the economic front

The last days of the year in Vi Khe, a land with a 7-8 hundred year old tradition of making flowers and ornamental plants, the working atmosphere is as urgent as a "campaign". From early morning to late at night, farmers, including many war veterans, diligently take care of, water, light, prune, and shape each tree.

Mr. Do Dinh Vang, Chairman of the Vi Khe Ward Veterans Association, could not hide his pride when talking about his nearly 2,000 comrades. Most of them, after leaving the army, chose to stick with their traditional profession, turning brown soil into billion-dollar works of art.

A typical example is veteran Hoang Van Nguyen (Thanh Cong residential group). Returning from the battlefield in Cambodia and the northern border, his luggage was an iron will to not succumb to poverty. Choosing a challenging path with the ancient camellia tree, Mr. Nguyen spent 20 years to conquer this "difficult" flower.

Veteran Hoang Van Nguyen (Thanh Cong residential group, Vi Khe ward) takes care of his bonsai tea work in preparation for the Binh Ngo Tet market. Photo: Nguyen Luu

“Conquering the ancient tea tree is also my way of proving that: There is no fortress, even poverty, that Uncle Ho's soldiers cannot overcome.” - Mr. Nguyen shared next to the ancient bonsai tea trees worth hundreds of millions of dong.

Not only Mr. Nguyen, examples such as war veterans Nguyen Huu Ca, Nguyen Van Doan (Thanh Cong residential group) or the Association's Chairman Do Dinh Vang who built a business with acres of flowers, bonsai, and kumquat trees, earning hundreds of millions of dong each year have proven the truth: Disability can cause physical pain, but cannot erode the will to get rich.

From 5 acres of ineffective rice land, veteran Nguyen Van Doan switched to growing flowers, earning hundreds of millions of dong per year. Photo: Nguyen Luu

Leaving Vi Khe, coming to Thien Truong ward, the economic picture of the war veterans has a modern color of industry and services. War veteran Tran Manh Hung (Lien Ha 2 residential group) is a typical representative of innovative thinking. His labor protection clothing factory not only creates profit but also creates jobs for 60 local workers.

Here, the story of the soldier's economic development is no longer a solitary battle of "each doing it alone", but has transformed into the strength of the collective, organized systematically through the model of "Good Production and Business Club". This is where veterans not only share the opportunity to get rich but also create a closed circle of security.

The garment factory of veteran Tran Manh Hung (Lien Ha 2 residential group, Thien Truong ward) is creating jobs for more than 60 local workers. Photo: Nguyen Luu

Mr. Pham Huu Hanh, Chairman of the Association of War Veterans in Thien Truong Ward, said: “With nearly 1,500 members and a capital trust from the Social Policy Bank of VND 20 billion, we are determined not to let anyone be “alone” on the economic front. The Association not only supports capital and technology, but more importantly, inspires and creates close connections. A typical example is the garment model of Mr. Tran Manh Hung. The benefit here is not only Mr. Hung's own profit, but his garment factory has become a place to solve employment, creating stable income for the children of other comrades in the ward. "

"The tall tree with great shade", a model leader in movements

If the economic front is where personal qualities are affirmed, then social security work is where comradeship shines. The war veterans of Ninh Binh believe: Getting rich is not only for themselves, but also to have the strength to help their comrades in difficult times. The year 2025 recorded "telling" numbers about the hearts of Uncle Ho's soldiers for each other. The most prominent is the movement of "eradicating dilapidated houses". Without waiting to rely on the budget, the Association at all levels has proactively mobilized socialized resources and contributions from the members themselves.

As a result, 87 new houses were built and 191 houses were repaired with a total value of more than 10 billion VND. By August 31, 2025, the Provincial Veterans Association had completed its goal early: Eliminating 100% of dilapidated and unsafe houses for members in difficult circumstances. These houses not only provide shelter from the sun and rain, but also serve as a support for poor families of veterans to "settle down and make a living".

The Provincial Veterans Association plants trees in Gia Phong commune. Photo: Truong Giang

Along with that, the movement to build an internal fund to help each other develop the economy has mobilized more than 80.2 billion VND. This amount is used for members to borrow with low or no interest rates, becoming an effective "fishing rod" to help thousands of households escape poverty. Thanks to that, the poverty rate among War Veterans Association members in the whole province has decreased to only 0.2%.

Not only taking care of the lives of its members, the Provincial Veterans Association also affirms its role as a "tall tree with great shade", a leading role model in the province's general movements, especially in the context of the locality having just merged large-scale administrative boundaries.

Amidst the changes in the restructuring of the apparatus from the province to the grassroots, the war veteran force remains a unified, united and stable bloc. More than 5,400 cadres and members directly participating in Party committees at all levels are the core factors, contributing to maintaining the ideological "battlefield" and creating consensus among the people. They are the ones who directly "go to every alley, knock on every door", both propagating new policies and resolving concerns from the grassroots.

Veteran flag street model in Dong village, Tay Hoa Lu ward. Photo: Truong Giang

The role of war veterans is still clearly present in the construction of new rural areas and civilized urban areas. The green uniform of the old soldiers is still enthusiastically on the roads: More than 90,000 new trees were planted last year, greening the countryside. The models of "Security Cameras" and "Safe School Gates" managed by war veterans operate effectively, contributing to keeping the peace in the villages. In major festivals of the province such as Hoa Lu Festival, Tran Temple Festival... the image of war veterans participating in maintaining order and guiding tourists has become familiar and trustworthy.

Closing 2025 with many milestones, the Ninh Binh Provincial Veterans Association has affirmed its solid position. Mr. Le Van Chuong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Veterans Association, said: “The strength of the Association lies not only in the number of more than 220,000 members, but also in its pioneering and exemplary nature. No matter the circumstances, Uncle Ho's soldiers in Ninh Binh province always uphold the motto: Be loyal to the country, loyal to the people and devoted to comrades.”

Nguyen Luu

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/hoi-cuu-chien-binh-tinh-ninh-binh-khi-phach-nguoi-linh-trong-van-hoi-moi-251204233821179.html