Life-changing benefits of "white gold"

Dien Bien Province - In the journey of socio-economic development in Dien Bien, rubber trees are considered "white gold" in the fight against poverty and in creating sustainable livelihoods for the people. After more than 12 years of planting and caring for them, the entire rubber plantation area of ​​Muong Nha Rubber Joint Stock Company has begun to be harvested, providing stable jobs for hundreds of local workers. These "white gold" trees contribute to economic development, igniting hope and aspirations for change in this difficult border region.

Previously, the lives of people in the communes of Nam Ke, Muong Toong, and Muong Nha were tied to corn and rice fields, with work dependent on the weather and unstable income. However, over the past ten years, since rubber trees took root in the far west of the country, the lives of the people have improved significantly.

Amidst the vigorous implementation of the rubber tree development program in the Northwest region, Muong Nha Rubber Joint Stock Company was established in August 2013. After more than 12 years of construction and development, the company has now entered a stable exploitation phase, with a total rubber plantation area of ​​over 1,170 hectares in operation.

From the beginning of the year to September, the company's latex production reached 499.6 tons. Since the rubber trees began yielding latex, the households that contributed land have received a share of the profits, and hundreds of local workers, especially ethnic minorities, have found employment and stable income. The company currently has nearly 250 employees, including 236 direct laborers, mostly from the Mong, Thai, Ha Nhi, and Kho Mu ethnic groups living in the communes of Muong Nha, Muong Toong, and Nam Ke.

Previously, the life of Chang A Chánh's family, residents of Muong Toong 1 village (Muong Toong commune), was very precarious. Chánh often worked as a seasonal laborer, but after each season, he would be unemployed, inevitably facing periods of hunger and plenty. Since being hired by Muong Nha Rubber Joint Stock Company, his family's life has gradually stabilized with an average income of 10 million VND per month.

“Before, my family only hoped to have enough to eat all year round. When I got a job as a rubber tapper, I had a new job. Now I have a steady salary every month, averaging around 10 million VND, and I can even renovate my house and provide for my children's education,” Mr. Chánh happily shared.

Since becoming a worker at Muong Nha Rubber Joint Stock Company, Mr. Vang A Tang (from Muong Nha commune) has had a stable income of over 8 million VND per month. Mr. Tang shared: “Since joining the company, I have received systematic training and dedicated guidance. The work isn't too strenuous, so I still have time to help my wife with farming and raising our young children.”

To achieve its current success, Muong Nha Rubber Joint Stock Company has always prioritized the quality of its human resources. With a focus on hands-on training and practical application, vocational training has been a key priority. To date, the company has provided training and employment for nearly 240 local workers, the majority of whom are ethnic minorities.

In addition to vocational training, Muong Nha Rubber Joint Stock Company creates conditions for workers to stay with the company long-term, enjoying full benefits, policies, social insurance, and performance bonuses. In recent years, along with improving the lives of workers, the company has focused on ensuring the rights of households that contributed land for rubber cultivation.

Hundreds of workers are employed at Muong Nha Rubber Joint Stock Company with stable incomes.

According to statistics, the area of ​​land contributed for product distribution in 2025 is 1,420.55 hectares, with a payment value of 4.014 billion VND, averaging 2.825 million VND/hectare. The payment was made transparently and in cash in the villages of Muong Nha, Muong Toong, and Nam Ke communes, providing a significant source of income that helped many households develop their economy and improve their living standards.

The family of Mr. Dao Van Cuong in Nam Ke commune was one of the first households to contribute land for rubber cultivation. In the early years, Mr. Cuong and many other households were worried because rubber trees require a lot of time to plant and care for before they can be harvested. However, recently, after receiving 56 million VND in product sharing, Mr. Cuong happily said: "When we first planted rubber trees, many people were skeptical, but now that we see the income, everyone is excited. I believe that rubber trees will bring stable income to our people."

Besides contributing to improved income, rubber trees have brought about significant changes in the spiritual lives of people in the highlands. In many villages, sturdy houses are increasingly being built, children are attending school more regularly, and many young people no longer have to leave their hometowns to work far away. However, the development path of "white gold" in the border region of Muong Nha has not always been smooth.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Toan, General Director of Muong Nha Rubber Joint Stock Company, said: "At the beginning of 2025, the weather was very complicated, with heavy rains and thunderstorms lasting from April to August, causing landslides on many roads connecting the plantations, making it difficult to harvest and transport latex. In response to this situation, the company proactively addressed the landslides, organized awareness campaigns and recruited workers directly in the villages; promptly understood the concerns and aspirations of the workers, and provided material and spiritual support to ensure their peace of mind and commitment. The company's trade union regularly coordinated with local authorities to organize activities to care for the workers' spiritual well-being, such as 'union meals to thank workers,' and programs for emulation, rewards, and encouragement to help workers overcome difficulties and work diligently."

"We have always considered workers to be at the heart of sustainable development. Every drop of latex harvested is not only the result of nature, but also the hard work and sweat of the workers here," Mr. Toan affirmed.

The company's entire rubber plantation area has been put into production, creating stable jobs for local workers.

Looking back over the past 12 years, it's clear that the presence of rubber trees has opened up new avenues for the socio-economic development of the communes of Muong Nha, Muong Toong, and Nam Ke. From a situation where people relied solely on slash-and-burn agriculture, they now have stable jobs and guaranteed incomes, contributing to sustainable poverty reduction in the area. Rubber trees have brought "white gold" and transformed the lives of hundreds of ethnic minority households in the far west of Vietnam.

Quang Hung

Source: https://dienbientv.vn/tin-tuc-su-kien/kinh-te/202511/doi-thay-cuoc-song-nho-vang-trang-5821696/