Da Bac - Touching on awareness to reduce poverty

We arrived in Da Bac on a late-year morning when the mist still softly covered the slopes. Amidst this scenery, the locals spoke of their newly built houses, the newly opened roads, and their emerging livelihood models... their eyes shining with hope. It was easy to see that behind these changes were not only supportive resources, but also a very people-oriented approach to communication: patiently explaining things so that the people understood correctly, and accompanying them so they felt confident in following the advice. When information reaches the people in the highlands that they truly need, when worries are alleviated through concrete support, the journey out of poverty is no longer a distant concept, but becomes a goal that each family can envision, believe in, and dare to pursue.

Featured article: Multidimensional Poverty Reduction

Change is evident in daily life.

Walking through the Dao ethnic minority villages in the final days of the year, it's easy to notice the changes emerging from the simplest things. In Phu village, Mr. Ban Tien Su's new house has just been completed, replacing his makeshift dwelling built close to the hillside, where his family lived in constant fear of landslides during the rainy season. Not far away, Mr. Trieu Van Hung's new home has also just been built after many years living in a dilapidated house with leaks from all sides. These sturdy walls offer not only peace of mind but also the belief that life can be different when given the opportunity to change.

Dang Van Hung, head of Phu hamlet in Da Bac commune, is chatting with Ban Tien Su and his wife at their newly built house.

Phu Hamlet has 103 households, 98% of whom are Dao ethnic people. Their lives previously depended almost entirely on forestry, resulting in unstable incomes. Hamlet head Dang Van Hung recounted: “Before, transportation was very difficult; some sections didn’t even have 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, their lives are much better.”

The Truc Son – Phu Hamlet – Ranh Hamlet road has truly transformed the opportunities for the entire community: children can go to school more safely, agricultural products sell for higher prices, and visitors can easily reach the commune. The road has also brought with it a new future.

Alongside infrastructure development, household economies are also thriving. People are boldly borrowing capital to plant forests, raise cattle, and open small shops; some households are trying their hand at medicinal herbs or community tourism. From these initial models, incomes have improved, spreading the belief that escaping poverty is possible.

Upgraded transportation infrastructure opens up many new possibilities.

Changes in living standards are also reflected in socio-economic indicators. According to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Dao Tien Quyet commune, the average per capita income is estimated to reach 55 million VND in 2025, a significant increase compared to the previous period. The poverty rate has decreased to 5.16%, and the near-poverty rate to 10.74%, demonstrating that livelihood support has been on the right track. In addition, the rate of people participating in health insurance has reached over 95%, most households have access to clean water; and all children of eligible age have received full vaccinations, contributing to reducing the risk of falling back into poverty due to unexpected medical expenses or illnesses.

These figures show that the quality of life is improving from the ground up – not just economically, but also in terms of social security, healthcare, and the basic conditions that create a sustainable life.

Unleash your inner potential.

The remarkable changes in Da Bac are the result of a combination of sound policies, effective implementation, and, most importantly, communication that reaches every citizen.

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

But what makes Da Bac "different" lies in the way communication is implemented: Commune officials, mass organizations, and respected individuals go directly to each house, speaking in familiar language about multidimensional poverty, the rights and responsibilities of each household; providing hands-on support with loan procedures, house renovation, and livelihood model registration; and conducting training right in the fields, so that people can "see - understand - and do it".

People in Da Bac have developed a model of cage fish farming on the lake, opening up a sustainable livelihood option thanks to technical support and preferential loans from the poverty reduction program.

When people see their neighbors escape poverty, and when officials support them every step of the way, they begin to believe. Belief leads to action: some households voluntarily apply to be removed from the poverty list when they feel they meet the criteria; some households boldly borrow capital to start businesses; and some families utilize their traditional stilt houses to open tourism services.

The media thus becomes a "soft bridge" that helps policies reach their intended recipients. More importantly, it awakens internal strengths – a key factor in sustainable poverty reduction.

Today, looking at the small villages in Da Bac, one thing is clear: when policies are right and communication is effective, the people themselves are the agents of change. Da Bac has not only shed its image as a remote area but is confidently moving forward thanks to government investment and the determination of its people to improve.

The transformation in Da Bac has conveyed a message: To achieve sustainable poverty reduction, we must begin by "awakening" the inner strength of the people and communicating effectively so that this strength can be disseminated. Through these steady steps, the locality has not only instilled new hope in the Muong and Dao ethnic groups but has also contributed to shaping a humane, modern, and scalable model of poverty reduction.

Nguyen Yen

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