Under the shadow of Hoanh Son

Ky Anh boasts picturesque landscapes, but in the past, it was a place of war, desolation, and isolation. Remarkably, in this southernmost part of Ha Tinh province , its courageous and creative inhabitants have created a land rich in cultural heritage, steadily progressing in the process of national renewal.

"A few scattered market stalls line the riverbank."

Throughout history, Ky Anh has been a remote and strategic border region of Dai Viet. It is home to numerous archaeological sites bearing the traces of ancient Vietnamese people dating back thousands of years. Despite its harsh natural environment and constant warfare, Ky Anh boasts beautiful scenery, abundant forests, pristine seas, and many historical and cultural relics.

The people of Ky Anh are resilient, hardworking, industrious, and creative in production; they are strong and courageous in their struggle against natural disasters and foreign invaders; and they are loyal in life. Throughout their lives, in building their livelihoods and establishing their lives, the people have always had to contend with natural disasters and enemy threats to survive and create a beautiful homeland with a rich history and culture.

A view of Ky Nam commune from above.

Located on the Hoành Sơn mountain range (part of the Trường Sơn range) that juts out into the East Sea, the Ngang Pass became a strong border outpost during wars and conquests. To the north of the Ngang Pass lies the land formerly belonging to Kỳ Hoa district; after several administrative divisions and mergers, in 1841, King Thiệu Trị renamed Kỳ Hoa district to Kỳ Anh district.

From the midst of hardship and adversity, the people of Ky Anh have demonstrated their unwavering determination and perseverance. The cultural traditions of Ky Anh have been preserved and promoted for generations, with the heartfelt folk songs of O Nhan from Dan Du village, the melodious ca tru songs, and the lively sac bua dances performed during the spring festival. Ky Anh is also a land of learning; from the Le-Mac dynasties, there were those who passed the imperial examinations, such as Le Quang Chi, who earned the title of Bang Nhan (second highest rank), and two who earned the title of Tien Si (doctorate): Le Quang Y and Phung Tri Tri. During the Nguyen dynasty, Ky Anh continued to produce many highly accomplished individuals…

The well-maintained, green roads in the villages of Ky Nam commune.

Not so long ago, when people mentioned Ky Nam commune (formerly Ky Anh district), they immediately thought of poverty. Almost every year, the people here had to struggle against major storms and prolonged, severe droughts, resulting in crop failures that made life extremely difficult. Children had to go to the hills to pick wild berries to sell along the highway, and many children dropped out of school. Mr. Cao Xuan Chien, former Secretary of the Party Committee of Ky Nam commune, recalled: “Twenty years ago, nearly 80% of households in Ky Nam were poor; the economy was mainly agricultural, but it wasn't enough to provide food, so hunger and poverty were constant. Only a few people in the entire commune had completed high school, and the general level of education was very limited…”

A region of mountains and rivers

In 2015, Ky Anh was divided into Ky Anh Town and Ky Anh District. Ky Anh Town comprises 6 wards and 5 communes; Ky Anh District comprises 20 communes. Once again, this area has affirmed its position and development potential.

From the summit of Hoanh Son mountain, gazing northward, one can still find a picturesque landscape with winding roads, jagged rocks interspersed with smooth white sand beaches. In the past, Ky Anh was associated with poverty, a land covered in hot winds and white sand; now, bustling construction sites and factories, and prosperous residential areas have replaced the scattered villages and thatched-roof houses.

Students in Ky Loi commune held their opening ceremony for the 2023-2024 school year in the resettlement area.

Thanks to the right development direction, the Party committee and government have awakened the aspirations of the people and created miraculous changes along the Hoanh Son mountain range. After the separation, Ky Anh town was oriented to develop into a key economic zone in the southern part of the province, attracting large investment projects and forming high-tech industrial parks. The face of the countryside at the foot of the Hoanh Son mountain range has therefore changed miraculously.

Mr. Cao Xuan Chien - former Secretary of the Party Committee of Ky Nam commune (in the middle) shared with reporters about the changes in the locality today.

Leading us on a tour of the well-paved rural roads connecting to National Highway 1, Mr. Cao Xuan Chien said: “Ky Nam has changed a lot, not only in its outward landscape but also in the mindset of its people. The New Rural Development Revolution, along with the involvement of the entire political system, has comprehensively transformed Ky Nam's infrastructure. From relying on others, the people are now working together to make Ky Nam a ward by 2023. From leaving home to find work elsewhere, now, right on the barren land of the past, people are earning tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dong thanks to cultivating native yellow apricot trees…”

The native yellow apricot tree has become the main economic driver for the people of Ky Nam commune.

Breaking free from its memories of hardship, the picture of Ky Anh today that unfolds before our eyes is one of vibrant, bustling colors: factories, construction sites, and the well-developed infrastructure of a young city.

Traveling through the communes and wards of Ky Nam, Ky Phuong, Ky Loi, Ky Lien, Ky Long, Ky Thinh, Ky Trinh, Hung Tri, Ky Ha, Ky Hoa, and Ky Ninh, one can feel the new rhythm of life in the southernmost part of Ha Tinh province. With many large-scale projects and investments, Ky Anh town is undergoing significant shifts in its economic and labor structure towards industrialization, modernization, and accelerated urbanization.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Anh (Hong Hai residential group, Ky Phuong ward) said: “Not only in Ky Phuong but all wards and communes of Ky Anh town have seen significant changes. Infrastructure is modern and the urban lifestyle is orderly. These are things that didn't exist before.”

An aerial view of the Ky Phuong resettlement area.

The transportation system provides seamless connectivity with provinces and cities nationwide and internationally. Leveraging the advantages of the Vung Ang Economic Zone (EZ), a multi-sectoral and multi-field driving force including steel rolling, thermal power, and a regional and international-level deep-water port, Ky Anh town, through its dynamism, responsiveness, and the unity of its people, has focused on mobilizing resources for investment in construction and upgrading to meet the criteria of a type III urban area, striving to become a city directly under the provincial administration by 2025. As a result, the town's appearance, from rural to urban, has truly transformed. In the process of establishing and building the town into a driving force urban center of Ha Tinh province, the Party committee, government, and people of the town have worked together in unity.

Ky Anh town has the Vung Ang Economic Zone as its "core." The transportation system provides seamless connectivity with provinces and cities nationwide and internationally. (In the photo: The main arterial road project from National Highway 1 to the central urban area of ​​the Vung Ang Economic Zone.)

Mr. Nguyen The Anh, Vice Chairman of the Ky Anh Town People's Committee, shared: “To achieve the development we have today, in addition to the correct strategy, vision, and timely attention and assistance from the Central Government and the province, we must also acknowledge the sacrifices and sharing of the people. In 2022, major projects such as the 500 kV Vung Ang - Quang Trach power line; the comprehensive development project of dynamic urban areas - Ky Anh urban sub-project; the North-South expressway; and the roads within the Vung Ang Economic Zone... have focused on completing land clearance; resolving 81 out of 86 outstanding issues after the separation…”.

The town's economic structure is shifting in the right direction, with industry, construction, trade, and services accounting for a large proportion of the economy, creating momentum for development. In the photo: Engineers inspect machinery at the VinES Battery Factory.

From a poor locality with a low starting point, Ky Anh town has become a dynamic economic region and the leading engine of development in Ha Tinh province, with the Vung Ang Economic Zone as its core. In the period from 2015 to 2020 alone, budget revenue in the Vung Ang Economic Zone reached over 37,720 billion VND, accounting for nearly 56% of the province's total budget revenue, of which revenue from import and export accounted for 97% of the province's total.

The town's economic restructuring is moving in the right direction, with the industrial-construction and trade-service sectors accounting for a large proportion of the economy, creating momentum for development; total social investment capital in the 2020-2023 period is estimated at nearly 45,000 billion VND; industrial zones and clusters have basically completed infrastructure investment and are beginning to attract secondary investors. This result not only reflects the in-depth development of the economy but also serves as an important resource for the town to proactively allocate investment for socio-economic development and improve the lives of the people in the area.

An aerial view of the center of Ky Anh town.

Mr. Dang Van Thanh, Secretary of the Ky Anh Town Party Committee, shared: “In the coming time, the town will continue to focus on creating favorable conditions for completed projects to operate effectively; supporting investors who have signed memoranda at the province's investment promotion conference to complete investment procedures… In addition, we will promote and improve the effectiveness of administrative reform associated with the implementation of public service ethics; develop the economy in parallel with environmental protection, ensuring sustainable development…”.

Video: Ky Anh town today.

Thu Trang - Dinh Nhat

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/diem-den/duoi-bong-hoanh-son/254283.htm