Thanh Nua's new look

The village roads and alleys in Doc Lap hamlet, Thanh Nua commune, have been concreted down to every single alley.

Seventy years ago, Independence Hill was a stronghold located in the northeastern part of the Dien Bien Phu basin, about 4km from the center of Muong Thanh, measuring approximately 700m in length and 200m in width. Here, the French army deployed significant firepower and a battalion of elite soldiers who had fought undefeated in many battles around the world . While the enemy was still reeling from the fall of the Him Lam stronghold, on the night of March 14th and the morning of March 15th, 1954, our troops attacked the enemy's stronghold on Independence Hill, considered the "best defensive position" in the Dien Bien Phu complex.

The battle lasted until 6:30 AM on March 15, 1954, when it ended. Our troops completely controlled the Doc Lap stronghold; approximately 200 enemy soldiers were killed, 370 were captured, and many weapons of various types were seized. To achieve this victory, our troops suffered 137 casualties and 193 wounded. Along with the Him Lam victory, the Doc Lap victory pushed the enemy into a passive position, forcing the enemy at Ban Keo to surrender, destroying the strongest resistance pockets of the northern sector, and opening up a new situation and battle strategy favorable to us. At the same time, the victory created momentum and determination for units throughout the front to continue attacking the Dien Bien Phu stronghold.

When the historic Dien Bien Phu campaign ended, the Doc Lap stronghold was a desolate battlefield, its ground ravaged by bombs and bullets, crisscrossed with trenches and tunnels, and littered with barbed wire, shell casings, artillery shells, bombs, and mines. In later years, this site was managed by the State as part of the Dien Bien Phu battlefield complex.

Independence Hill historical site, Thanh Nua commune (Dien Bien district).

After the liberation of Dien Bien Phu, the people of the villages and hamlets around the Independence stronghold united, healed the wounds of war, and competed in developing production. With the support of the State, schools, health stations, etc., were gradually built to serve the people's lives. The people's new lives revived and gradually improved on the very land that had been ravaged by bombs and bullets years ago.

Having lived in Doc Lap since childhood, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Ba, from Doc Lap village, Thanh Nua commune, has witnessed many changes in this area. Mr. Ba shared: "Previously, people's lives were difficult, the landscape was desolate, roads were mostly dirt or gravel, and houses were makeshift. Now, thanks to many government policies, the lives of the people of various ethnic groups have changed significantly. Roads have been concreted to every alley, cultural centers have been built, and houses are now spacious and close together. Families who once lived in hardship have risen to develop economically, actively participating in the new rural development movement, and their material and spiritual lives are constantly improving."

Mr. Dinh The Da, Head of the Front Committee of Doc Lap village, said: Doc Lap village has 146 households and 562 households. Previously, the number of poor households in the village was high, but through the campaigns to build new rural areas, people have actively developed economic models, risen out of poverty, and unitedly participated in village movements. Currently, Doc Lap village only has 1 near-poor household, and 80% of households are well-off. People in the village not only farm but many households have developed garden-pond-livestock economic models and engaged in trading. In the construction of new rural areas, when building roads and cultural houses, many households voluntarily donated land, labor, and resources. Among them is the family of Mr. Vu Van Thuan, who in 2017, when the village Party branch came to mobilize support, donated 238 square ^meters of land to build the village cultural house so that people would have a place to gather.

The school in Thanh Nua commune is well-built and modern. In the photo: A lesson between a teacher and students at Thanh Nua Commune Secondary School.

Today, Thanh Nua commune is no longer plagued by poverty and backwardness; the people in its villages and hamlets are actively striving to become wealthy. The commune is building models of production linkage groups, ensuring food safety and hygiene; transforming the production structure, applying scientific and technological advancements to production towards a commodity-based approach, creating a direction for economic development for the people.

Mr. Luong Van Hia, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Thanh Nua commune, said: Currently, the commune has 457 households and 4,500 inhabitants. In 2017, the commune was recognized as achieving the new rural standard and has two model new rural villages: Men and Thanh Binh - Co Rom; the poverty rate has decreased to 2.1%, and the average income has reached over 42 million VND/person/year. Economic indicators are higher each year than the previous year. Currently, the area of grain crops in the commune is 522.8 hectares, with a production of 3,289 tons; transportation, health care, and education are all convenient. The people in the commune actively participate in the movement "All people unite to build a cultured life in residential areas" and build an advanced new rural area.

After 70 years, Thanh Nua has undergone a dramatic transformation with a new appearance. This change is thanks to the unity and cooperation of the entire Party committee, government, and people in developing the economy, eradicating poverty, and maintaining security and order in the area.

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