A remarkable achievement: demolishing over 334,000 temporary homes.

On January 14th, the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions held a conference to summarize the work on ethnic minorities and religions in 2025 and to implement tasks for 2026.

Conference scene. Photo: Bao Lam

The conference was chaired by: Comrade Le Thanh Long, Member of the Central Committee of the Party and Deputy Prime Minister; Comrade Dao Ngoc Dung, Member of the Central Committee of the Party and Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religion ; Comrade Y Vinh Tor, Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Party and Deputy Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religion; and Deputy Ministers of Ethnic Minorities and Religion: Nong Thi Ha, Nguyen Hai Trung...

The year 2025 marks a significant turning point with the official establishment of the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions on March 1, 2025. Following its establishment, the Ministry streamlined its internal structure, reducing the number of units from 17 to 12 (a 29.4% reduction). At the local level, by the end of 2025, 28 provinces and centrally-administered cities will have established specialized Departments of Ethnic Minorities and Religions; the remaining 6 localities will delegate this function to their Departments of Internal Affairs.

Notably, economic growth in ethnic minority areas has seen a strong breakthrough, with an estimated growth rate of 8%, the highest in the past 10 years. Production activities have improved positively thanks to the promotion of agricultural extension, the application of science and technology, and the development of effective cooperative models.

Delegates participating in the discussion at the conference. Photo: Bao Lam

The national poverty rate has decreased significantly from 58% (in 1993) to 1% by 2025, with the rate in ethnic minority areas reaching approximately 11%. Resources from the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas, Phase I (2021-2025), have helped support housing construction for 42,567 households, provided residential land for 10,549 households, supported production land for 13,387 households, and facilitated job retraining for nearly 55,000 households; 6,018 rural transport projects have been invested in, with over 8,673 km of roads paved with asphalt or concrete, creating favorable conditions for trade and livelihood development.

In particular, the nationwide movement to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses achieved a remarkable feat by completing the demolition of 334,234 temporary and dilapidated houses (255,310 new houses were built, and 78,924 houses were repaired). The results of the "Joining Hands to Eliminate Temporary and Dilapidated Houses" movement were achieved ahead of schedule.

In 2026, the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions has set a target of achieving economic growth of 10% or more in ethnic minority and mountainous regions. The central task will be to focus on developing an action program to implement the Resolution of the 14th National Congress of the Party and launching Phase II of the National Target Program.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long delivers a speech. Photo: Bao Lam

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long acknowledged, highly appreciated, and warmly commended the efforts and achievements of the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions after more than 9 months since its establishment.

Regarding future tasks, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the effective implementation of the Resolution of the 14th National Congress of the Party. In particular, focus on finalizing the draft Law on Beliefs and Religions (amended) for submission to the National Assembly; and urgently develop policies for ethnic minority students and a sustainable employment project for ethnic minority areas for the period 2026-2031, as directed by the General Secretary.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long presents the Third-Class Labor Order to Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religion Dao Ngoc Dung. Photo: Bao Lam

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the need to proactively grasp the situation, avoid being caught off guard, and enhance the capacity for timely policy responses. Units must maintain discipline, order, and unity, proactively proposing unique and superior policy mechanisms to shift strongly from "support" to "investment in development," and awaken the spirit of self-reliance and self-improvement among the people. The implementation of national target programs for the 2026-2035 period must ensure that they are carried out effectively and achieve their intended goals, avoiding losses.

At the same time, special attention should be paid to training and developing practical skills for officials, promoting decentralization and delegation of power coupled with the responsibility of the head of agency to overcome the situation of shirking and avoiding responsibility. Finally, the Deputy Prime Minister requested that information dissemination, public communication, and transparent explanation of policies be done well to create consensus among the people, continuously strengthening national unity, religious unity, and the people's trust in the Party and the State…

Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religion Dao Ngoc Dung delivers a speech. Photo: Bao Lam

In his concluding remarks at the conference, Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religion Dao Ngoc Dung emphasized that 2025 is the starting point for 2026, therefore a strong "acceleration" is necessary. The Minister requested that, starting in January, the Action Program for implementing the Party's Resolution XIV be urgently finalized, focusing on new policies regarding ethnic minorities and religions, and attracting influential figures to implement them immediately after the Congress. At the same time, the Strategy for Ethnic Minority Affairs until 2030, with a vision to 2045, needs to be completed immediately, and the review of Resolution 24 should be coordinated to advise on the issuance of a new Resolution by the end of 2026.

The Minister also requested that the five conclusions of the Party Central Committee be concretized into practical plans, definitively resolving emerging issues such as land for religious purposes or training of religious officials…

Simultaneously, the task of consolidating the organizational structure and training grassroots officials must be prioritized, striving to provide 100% of officials with thorough and in-depth training. With the motto "turning nothing into something, turning difficulties into ease, and turning dangers into opportunities," the Minister requested that the entire sector be a unified and cohesive force, innovating thinking, and transforming pressure into motivation for action, all for the benefit of ethnic minorities and people in border and island regions.

At the conference, Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religion Dao Ngoc Dung was honored with the Third-Class Labor Medal for his outstanding achievements in the nationwide emulation movement to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses in 2025.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/ghi-dau-an-ky-tich-xoa-hon-334-000-can-nha-tam-730080.html