Da Bac - Touching awareness to reduce poverty

We arrived in Da Bac on a late morning when the mist still covered the slopes. In that space, people talked about their newly built houses, newly opened roads, and livelihood models taking root... with eyes shining with hope. It is easy to see that behind these changes there are not only supporting resources, but also a very close-to-the-people way of communicating: patiently explaining so that people understand correctly, accompanying them so that they can confidently follow. When information reaches exactly what the highland people need, when worries are relieved by concrete companionship, the journey out of poverty is no longer a distant concept, but becomes a goal that every family can imagine, believe in and dare to move towards.

Multidimensional poverty reduction column

Change emerges from life

Walking along the Dao hamlets at the end of the year, it is easy to see changes appearing in the simplest things. In Phu hamlet, Ban Tien Su’s new house has just been completed, replacing the temporary house built close to the hillside, where every rainy season the family was worried about landslides. Not far away, Trieu Van Hung’s new home has just been built after many years of living in a dilapidated house with wind blowing from all sides. The solid walls are opening up not only peace of mind, but also the belief that life can be different when there are conditions for change.

Head of Phu hamlet, Da Bac commune Dang Van Hung talks with Mr. Ban Tien Su and his wife at their newly built house.

Phu Hamlet has 103 households, 98% of whom are Dao people. Their lives previously depended almost entirely on forestry, with unstable incomes. Hamlet chief Dang Van Hung said: “In the past, transportation was very difficult, and there were sections where there were no roads. Now the government has invested in building roads, making it easier for people to go to work, transport goods, and trade has developed. Thanks to that, life has become more prosperous.”

The Truc Son – Phu Hamlet – Ranh Hamlet route has truly changed the opportunities of the entire community: Children go to school more safely, agricultural products sell for higher prices, and visitors come to the commune more easily. The opened road has also brought with it a new future.

Along with infrastructure, household economies are also moving. People boldly borrow money to plant forests, raise cows, open small shops; some households try their hand at medicinal herbs or community tourism. From the first models, incomes improved, then spread to the belief that escaping poverty is possible.

Upgraded transport infrastructure opens up new hopes.

Changes in life are also reflected in socio-economic indicators. Chairman of the People's Committee of Dao Tien Quyet commune said that the average income per capita in 2025 is estimated to reach 55 million VND, a significant increase compared to the previous period. The rate of poor households has decreased to 5.16%, and near-poor households to 10.74%, showing that livelihood support is on the right track. Along with that, the rate of people participating in health insurance is over 95%, most households have access to clean water; children of all ages are fully vaccinated, contributing to reducing the risk of falling back into poverty due to medical expenses or unexpected illnesses.

These figures show that the quality of life is being improved from the root – not only economically, but also in terms of social security, health care and the basic conditions that make up a sustainable life.

Awakening inner strength

The remarkable changes in Da Bac are the result of a combination of right-oriented policies, effective implementation, and especially communication that reaches every citizen.

Poverty reduction policies have created a foundation: infrastructure investment, housing support, preferential credit, and livelihood development. Thanks to that, the local economy has clearly shifted: the growth rate of production value in 2025 is estimated at 8%, the economic structure is gradually shifting to industry - services; community tourism and homestays are starting to flourish.

But what makes "Da Bac different" lies in the way communication is deployed: Commune officials, organizations, and prestigious people go to each house, speak in familiar language about multidimensional poverty, the rights and responsibilities of each household; provide hands-on support for loan procedures, home renovation, and livelihood model registration; and provide training right on the fields so that people can "see - understand - do".

Da Bac people have developed a model of cage fish farming on the lake bed, opening up a new direction for sustainable livelihoods thanks to technical support and preferential loans from the poverty reduction program.

When people see their neighbors escape poverty, when officials accompany them step by step, they begin to believe. Belief leads to action: some households voluntarily apply to escape poverty when they see they are qualified; some households boldly borrow capital to do business; some families use their traditional stilt houses to open tourism services.

The media thus becomes a “soft bridge” that helps policies go in the right direction. More importantly, it awakens internal strength – the key factor for sustainable poverty reduction.

Today, looking at the small hamlets in Da Bac, one can clearly see one thing: when the policy is right, the media is right, the people are the ones who create change. Da Bac has not only escaped the image of a remote land, but is confidently stepping up with the State's investment and their own determination to rise up.

The changes in Da Bac have brought a message: To reduce poverty sustainably, let's start by "awakening" the inner strength of the people and communicating properly so that that inner strength can be spread. From these sure steps, the locality has not only sowed new hope for the Muong and Dao people, but also contributed to shaping a humane, modern and replicable poverty reduction model.

Nguyen Yen

Source: https://baophutho.vn/da-bac-cham-vao-nhan-thuc-de-giam-ngheo-243769.htm