"A cornerstone" in the journey towards sustainable poverty reduction in Huong Son.

Despite having only 0.28% of households classified as near-poor, Huong Son commune (Hanoi) still considers poverty reduction a never-ending task. Through mobilizing billions of dong to build solidarity houses, effectively managing policy credit funds, and developing flexible livelihood models, the local political system is creating a real "lever" to help people feel secure in their work and completely eliminate the risk of falling back into poverty due to natural disasters, fires, etc.

Preventing a return to poverty.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Huong Son commune promptly visited and presented gifts to encourage the family of Mr. Vuong Dinh Soan in Duc Khe village, whose house was destroyed by fire. Photo: Nguyen Huong

Huong Son commune currently has no poor households, only 7 near-poor households, accounting for approximately 0.28% of the total number of households. However, according to local assessments, the boundary between near-poverty and the risk of falling back into poverty remains very fragile, especially when people face unexpected risks such as natural disasters, fires, accidents, or prolonged illnesses. Just one incident can wipe out the accumulated savings of an entire family over many years.

Early in the morning of December 14th, a fire broke out at the home of Mr. Vuong Dinh Soan in Duc Khe village, a clear example of this. The fire caused no casualties, but much of the property in the small house was destroyed. For Mr. Soan – a second-class war invalid with many lingering effects of war – it was a huge shock, both materially and emotionally.

In a house still reeking of smoke, the worries extend beyond simply repairing the dwelling; they are about how to sustain life when health is limited and income is already precarious. Without timely support, the risk of falling back into poverty is very real.

Immediately after receiving the information, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Huong Son commune visited Mr. Soan's family. In addition to offering condolences and sharing in their immediate losses, the commune's Fatherland Front also provided emergency assistance and instructed the Fatherland Front Working Committee of Duc Khe village to mobilize villagers, relatives, and neighbors to contribute their efforts to overcome the consequences of the fire.

According to Le Duc Anh, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Huong Son commune, the Front's overarching principle is to ensure that people are not left alone in the face of difficulties. "Material support may not be substantial, but what's important is its timeliness, to let those in distress know that the community and organizations are always there to support them. This is also a way to prevent the risk of falling back into poverty from unforeseen circumstances," Mr. Le Duc Anh shared.

Not only in the case of Mr. Vuong Dinh Soan's family, but throughout 2025, the Front Committee of the villages in Huong Son commune proactively visited and supported many policy beneficiary families and households in difficult circumstances; connecting with philanthropists to deliver many warm and meaningful gifts. These actions, though not large in material terms, are of significant importance in helping people overcome immediate difficulties and maintain a "safety line" to avoid falling back into poverty.

This specific story illustrates that sustainable poverty reduction is not only about helping people rise up when conditions are favorable, but also about creating a sufficiently strong "safety net" so that they do not collapse when unexpected events occur.

It's not just anyone's problem.

Poverty reduction and social security in Huong Son commune are not the sole responsibility of any one organization or level, but rather the result of the concerted efforts of the entire political system at the grassroots level. In the context of Huong Son commune having recently merged and officially operating under a two-tiered local government model, facing numerous challenges and an increased workload, maintaining the effectiveness of social security policies further demonstrates the determination and responsibility of the Party committee, government, and mass organizations.

Under the leadership of the commune Party Committee and with close coordination between the commune People's Committee, the Fatherland Front Committee, and political and social organizations, sustainable poverty reduction work has been implemented systematically, with a focus on key areas. In 2025, through the "For the Poor" Fund campaign, Huong Son commune mobilized contributions from agencies, units, businesses, and people inside and outside the locality.

This fund was managed and used appropriately, focusing on supporting the construction and repair of 22 solidarity houses, with a total cost of over 1.05 billion VND. These new and repaired houses not only help disadvantaged families stabilize their housing but also create an important foundation for them to work and produce with peace of mind, gradually improving their quality of life.

Simultaneously, in response to the call of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Huong Son commune mobilized its people to support those affected by floods with a total amount of over 313 million VND in two phases, demonstrating the spirit of " Hanoi for the whole country, together with the whole country".

Tourism development creates sustainable livelihoods for the people of Huong Son commune. Photo: Kim Nhue.

According to Le Van Trang, Chairman of the People's Committee of Huong Son commune, the commune government always considers sustainable poverty reduction as a continuous task closely linked to the socio-economic development of the locality. "We clearly understand that sustainable poverty reduction cannot be achieved in isolation. Every policy and program requires the coordination of the Fatherland Front, mass organizations, and the consensus of the people. When the entire system is involved, the results will be clearer and more sustainable," Mr. Le Van Trang emphasized.

At the grassroots level, the role of associations and organizations is increasingly being promoted. The Farmers' Association of the commune actively supports its members in accessing loans, applying science and technology, transforming the structure of crops and livestock, and building effective economic models. The Women's Union of the commune works alongside its members to develop livelihoods, care for vulnerable women, women with disabilities, and orphaned children.

According to Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Huong Son commune, Dinh Phuc Ben, the outstanding feature of Huong Son is the close connection between "the Party's will and the people's hearts." "Poverty reduction and social welfare work are only truly effective when the people trust and cooperate with the government and mass organizations. Mobilizing the people's strength and promoting community solidarity is the key to Huong Son maintaining its poverty reduction achievements in recent years," Mr. Dinh Phuc Ben emphasized.

Many good models

Huong Son prioritizes providing medical examination and treatment services to its people right from the grassroots level. Photo: Kim Nhue

Sustainable poverty reduction in Huong Son is built on the foundation of long-term livelihood development, through various economic and community models suitable to the local conditions. In 2025, the Farmers' Association of the commune managed the Farmers' Support Fund with a total outstanding loan balance of over 5.3 billion VND for 136 borrowing households; at the same time, it coordinated with the Social Policy Bank to manage nearly 65 billion VND for 954 borrowing households, creating conditions for people to invest in production development.

Many economic models have initially shown clear effectiveness, such as mushroom production, integrated livestock farming, cash crop cultivation, and tourism services. These models have been supported and replicated by associations, contributing to increased income for members and reducing the risk of new poverty.

For women, economic empowerment is identified as a key to sustainable poverty reduction. According to Le Thi Thuy Lien, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Huong Son commune, the Union manages 37 savings and loan groups with outstanding loans totaling nearly 96 billion VND for 1,477 members, with no overdue loans. In the last six months of 2025 alone, over 7.5 billion VND was disbursed to 53 households, supporting 10 women in starting their own businesses.

In addition, community-based initiatives such as the "Green House" are maintained at 12 locations throughout the commune, raising nearly 18 million VND to support disadvantaged women and children. Numerous early disease screening and examination activities for women, with hundreds of participants, have contributed to reducing the burden of healthcare costs – one of the main causes of re-poverty.

The experience in Huong Son shows that sustainable poverty reduction is not just about dry statistics, but a persistent process of cultivating livelihoods, improving the quality of life, and enhancing the self-reliance of the people through appropriate models that are closely aligned with local realities.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/diem-tua-trong-hanh-trinh-giam-ngheo-ben-vung-o-huong-son-727410.html