Policy-based capital flows help Tan Son rise from its 'poverty-stricken area'.

(PLVN) - From a region once considered the "epicenter of poverty" in Phu Tho province, Tan Son has made significant strides in economic development, social welfare, and sustainable poverty reduction. Behind this achievement is the consistent and timely flow of policy-based credit to poor households, near-poor households, and ethnic minority communities.

With strong consensus in action and a spirit of overcoming difficulties and challenges, all six newly reorganized communes: Tan Son, Minh Dai, Lai Dong, Xuan Dai, Long Coc, and Thu Cuc of the former Tan Son district, Phu Tho province, have shown significant progress in their economy and culture nearly a year after the reorganization of commune-level administrative units.

In particular, in the field of social welfare, the poverty rate has continued to decrease significantly, improving the lives of ethnic minorities. This impressive achievement is partly due to the important and practical contributions from preferential credit capital provided by the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP).

Rising from the "heart of poverty"

Recalling the early days of the district's establishment (April 2007), Tan Son was once known as a "poverty hotspot," with 14 out of 17 communes located in particularly difficult areas, and the percentage of poor households belonging to ethnic minorities accounting for approximately 70%. Yet, in less than two decades, it has moved out of the list of the country's poorest districts, two years ahead of schedule.

Specifically, the poverty rate decreased by an average of 1.7% annually; by the end of 2024, the poverty rate across the entire area had decreased to 13.6%; by the end of the first quarter of 2026, this figure was brought down to 13.2%; people's living standards improved significantly, and per capita income increased eightfold compared to 2016.

Party branch secretary and Director of Tan Son branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies - Mr. Tang Tien Sy (wearing a pink shirt) speaks at the conference announcing the establishment of the representative board of the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies at the commune level in Tan Son district.

Mr. Tran Khac Thang, former Vice Chairman of the Tan Son District People's Committee and Head of the Board of Directors of the Social Policy Bank (NHCSXH) of Tan Son District, currently the Party Secretary of Thu Cuc Commune after the merger, said: "The achievements are due to the active participation of the Social Policy Bank. The Social Policy Bank has been a driving force helping the locality complete economic development programs and plans, achieve sustainable poverty reduction, build new rural areas, and help people realize their aspiration to escape poverty."

Continuing the discussion, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Viet, Chairman of the Long Coc Commune People's Committee, said: Preferential credit capital from the Tan Son branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies has supported the Kinh, Mong, and Dao people in intensively cultivating 1,100 hectares of tea and switching to planting specialty tea varieties such as Bat Tien, PH1, and LDP1.

Tea cultivation model in Tan Son.

Specialty tea products from Long Coc have achieved OCOP 4-star certification and are now available in provinces and cities, bringing the rich flavor of the Hung Vuong Ancestral Land to distant lands. This has also increased the income of tea farmers to 75 million VND per year, and thanks to preferential investment capital, the number of poor households in villages has decreased significantly and rapidly.

A prime example is Mr. Tran Xuan Huu from Nhoi area, Long Coc commune, who has used policy capital to develop a comprehensive economic model, focusing on changing farming methods and applying science and technology to intensive farming, resulting in high economic efficiency. With 5 hectares of his family's hilly land, he has invested in planting bodhi and acacia trees in combination with cassava cultivation.

Thanks to timely investment from government policies, the people of Tan Son mountainous region have developed agricultural and forestry production and improved their living standards.

After some time, he continued to expand his investment in tea cultivation to 4 hectares. By 2020, his family further developed a beekeeping model with 100 bee colonies. To date, his family's integrated economic model has yielded significant results. Total annual income, after deducting expenses, is nearly 400 million VND.

Since then, he has built a spacious house, furnished it with modern amenities, provided his two children with a good education, and his family has been recognized as an exemplary cultural family for many years in a row. He himself has received numerous certificates of merit and commendations from the district and the province.

Similarly, in Hong Phong residential area, Minh Dai commune, Mr. Le Van Lien's family received preferential loans from the local government, organizations, and the Tan Son branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies to support farming and livestock raising. On nearly 2 hectares of hilly land previously used only for cassava and upland rice cultivation, Mr. Lien planned it as a specialized tea-growing area; the land along the hillside was improved for rice cultivation, fish farming, and pig breeding.

After five years of hard work, Mr. Lien's family escaped poverty, built a spacious house, ensured their children received a full education, earned an annual income of 120-150 million VND, and provided regular employment for three workers in the commune.

Not only is Mr. Lien actively involved in his family's economic activities, but he also guides and shares his production experience with many households in the village. Currently, he is the head of the Savings and Loan Group in Hong Phong area.

To date, Mr. Lien's group has 52 households borrowing capital from the Social Policy Bank, focusing on 5 loan categories, mainly for tea cultivation, livestock farming, and student loans. Most households have used the borrowed capital for its intended purpose and achieved effective results, thus reducing the number of poor households in the area to only 9.

Focusing capital resources and ensuring timely disbursement of funds will help people develop production.

According to Mr. Tang Tien Sy, Party Secretary and Director of the Tan Son branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP), the Tan Son branch, formerly the Tan Son district branch of VBSP, is currently responsible for six newly established communes. A notable feature of its operations, both before and after the implementation of the two-tiered local government model, has been the consensus and positive response from the entire political system.

Policy credit has proven effective, becoming an important support and pillar of poverty reduction, accompanying hardworking and ambitious farmers with capital for production and business, helping them gradually escape poverty and become wealthy through humane capital.

Tan Son branch of the Vietnam Social Policy Bank is stepping up lending for policy credit programs to the right addresses and target groups.

According to Mr. Sy, as of mid-May 2026, the total outstanding loan balance of Tan Son branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies reached VND 739,777 million, an increase of VND 45,699 million compared to December 31, 2025, with 10,709 households and families still having outstanding loans.

Through a significant increase in total outstanding loans and loan disbursements, while the total overdue and non-performing loans decreased sharply to only 0.13% of the total outstanding loans, policy credit funds have helped 3,176 customers access loans totaling over 161 billion VND. Of these, 1,392 customers were poor households, near-poor households, and newly-escaped-poverty households who received loans to develop production and livestock farming; supported the renovation, repair, and construction of 886 rural water supply and sanitation projects; and supported job creation, maintenance, and expansion for over 250 workers…

These impressive figures are like the "sweet fruits" that the Tan Son branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies has reaped after many years of persistent and dedicated adherence to the Party and State's policies and resolutions, with the attention and guidance of the higher-level bank and local leaders, along with the spirit of overcoming difficulties and challenges of the policy credit officers. This has enabled the effective implementation of appropriate solutions, mobilizing large amounts of capital from various channels, target groups, and forms, and facilitating the flow of preferential capital, making a practical contribution to helping people reduce poverty and improve their lives.

Maintain a smooth and timely flow of policy capital after the merger.

A notable achievement over the past year is the implementation of a two-tiered local government model, expanding to the commune level. In the mountainous region of Tan Son, only 6 communes remain, while the network of transaction points and transaction schedules of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) have been maintained and continue to operate.

Mr. Tang Tien Sy, Director of the Tan Son branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, delivered a speech at the conference to establish the Board of Representatives of the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies at the commune level in the mountainous Tan Son area.

The director of the Tan Son branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies affirmed: “After the merger, we continue to maintain the transaction points in the communes as before; the transaction schedule is carried out on a fixed day each month as before the merger, and the transaction sessions are smooth, safe, and efficient. Thanks to this, disbursement, lending, and debt collection activities proceed normally. People find it convenient to travel and do not have to go far.”

Transaction activities are implemented rigorously, ensuring a stable and smooth flow of preferential credit capital, bringing peace of mind and satisfaction to customers. Consequently, the local authorities in the communes also provide close guidance, create favorable conditions in terms of infrastructure, and assign police officers to be present at the commune transaction points to ensure that the bank's transactions with customers are conducted safely and effectively.

The Director's assertion became even more accurate when we witnessed at the new branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies in Lai Dong commune, located at the former Kiet Son People's Committee headquarters, the bank's mobile transaction team busily guiding people through the procedures for preferential loans and meticulously handling debt and interest collection, as well as receiving savings deposits from members and loan recipients.

Mr. Ho Sy Manh, Chairman of the Lai Dong Commune People's Committee, said: After the merger, the commune expanded its boundaries, increasing the percentage of households eligible for policy loans. Therefore, the locality continues to create favorable conditions for policy credit activities at the old transaction points, ensuring adequate working conditions and safety for people and property.

“Although the local government apparatus has undergone many changes and administrative names have differed, the people's need for loans to develop the economy, reduce poverty, and create jobs has not diminished. Therefore, our main task remains proactively overcoming difficulties, staying close to the grassroots, to ‘understand the people’s hearts and serve wholeheartedly,’ and striving tirelessly to mobilize capital and promptly deliver funds to each poor household and each policy beneficiary through a network of 333 savings and loan groups and 17 transaction points spread throughout the area,” said the Director of the Tan Son branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies.

Party branch secretary and Director of the Tan Son branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies - Mr. Tang Tien Sy (wearing a pink shirt) at the conference announcing the establishment of the representative board of the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies at the commune level in Tan Son district.

It can be affirmed that the flow of policy credit capital in Tan Son has been consistently maintained for 23 consecutive years since the establishment of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (in 2003) until the past six months of implementing the "reorganization of the country," and has been recognized as a "pillar" and a "bright spot" in ensuring social security.

Building on its achievements, the Tan Son branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) actively and proactively advises and implements Directive 39-CT/TW dated October 30, 2024, of the Party Central Committee on improving the effectiveness of social policy credit in the new period, comprehensively fulfilling its assigned tasks, focusing on mobilizing resources, and quickly transferring capital to the grassroots level to best serve the people. Over time, the poverty rate in the locality has decreased significantly, allowing the branch to proudly and confidently acknowledge the successful achievement of sustainable poverty reduction, and ensuring that the lives of poor households and ethnic minority families become increasingly prosperous and peaceful.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/dong-von-chinh-sach-giup-tan-son-vuon-len-tu-ron-ngheo.html