The journey out of poverty in the highlands
Before dawn, amidst the crisp chill of early spring, the passenger bus from Tam Ky to Nam Tra My set off. On board were mostly officials, teachers, soldiers… people accustomed to the rhythm of life "traveling from the mountains to the lowlands," staying close to the villages and people in the highlands. Nearly 100 kilometers of winding mountain roads, the further we went, the more rugged the road became, with many sections requiring the bus to crawl slowly to avoid piles of earth and rocks, remnants of landslides after the prolonged rainy season.
After nearly three hours of shaking, the Ngoc Linh mountain range loomed majestically before us. At an altitude of 2,605 meters, the "roof" of Central Vietnam and the Central Highlands is both awe-inspiring and harsh. Covered in clouds year-round, with cold rain and dense, ancient forests, it is the long-standing habitat of the Co Tu, Xe Dang, and Ca Dong ethnic groups, and also the land where Ngoc Linh ginseng – Vietnam's "national treasure" – thrives.
However, behind that pristine beauty lies a harsh reality that has persisted for many years: a high poverty rate, livelihoods dependent on slash-and-burn agriculture, isolated transportation, and very limited access to financial services… It is in this context that bank capital becomes a vital “lifeline,” silently sustaining this mountainous region and preventing it from falling behind.
In the simple office of the Nam Tra My Branch of the Social Policy Bank, Mr. Nguyen Van Hien, Director of the branch, greeted us with a cup of hot tea. He shared that after the administrative reorganization and the expansion of the management area, the branch still maintains 10 transaction points in 5 newly established communes, organizing fixed transactions according to a schedule in each commune. Each transaction session is not only a place for disbursing loans and collecting debts, but also an opportunity for bank staff to disseminate policies, understand actual needs, and advise on suitable capital utilization plans for each household.
From those transactions, policy capital has permeated every village and every household. We visited Tak Po village, Nam Tra My commune, to see the family of Ms. Dinh Thi Thanh, a Ca Dong woman. Previously, her family's livelihood depended entirely on slash-and-burn agriculture, growing corn and cassava, with uncertain yields and complete dependence on the weather. Lacking capital and technical skills, their lives were a constant struggle, and for many years they were classified as a poor household...
In 2015, through the Women's Union of the commune, Ms. Thanh accessed policy-based credit. Instead of following the old ways, she boldly switched to growing cinnamon combined with raising breeding pigs, a model suitable for the natural conditions of the highlands. Initially, she faced many challenges, but with diligence and technical support from the local authorities, the model gradually proved effective… To date, her family has developed over 6 hectares of cinnamon, combined with livestock farming, creating a stable annual income. Her children receive a full education, and the family has officially escaped poverty sustainably. According to Ms. Ho Thi Tang, President of the Women's Union of Nam Tra My commune, based on models like Ms. Thanh's, the union continues to promote and encourage members to boldly borrow capital, diversify their livelihoods, and gradually increase their income.
In reality, just like in the lowlands, in these highlands, policy-based credit is only effective when linked with local organizations, associations, and the local government. This "three-pronged" coordination ensures that capital reaches the right recipients, is used for the right purposes, minimizes risks, and creates a ripple effect in the community.
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| At an altitude of 2,605m, Mount Ngoc Linh, the "roof" of Central and Western Vietnam, is both majestic and harsh. |
Life-changing transformation thanks to a "National Treasure" in the heart of the forest.
Beyond simply aiming to alleviate poverty, bank capital flowing into Ngoc Linh mountain also opens up opportunities for wealth creation by leveraging the local advantage – Ngoc Linh ginseng. Mr. Le Quang Trinh, Director of Agribank Nam Tra My, stated that from a "hidden medicinal plant" of the Xe Dang ethnic group, Ngoc Linh ginseng has now become a key crop, creating sustainable livelihoods for thousands of households in this highland region.
A unique characteristic of Ngoc Linh ginseng is that it only thrives at altitudes above 1,700m, under the canopy of old-growth forests. Ginseng growers are contracted to protect the pristine forest; ginseng development is closely linked to forest conservation and ecological preservation, a sustainable approach for the highlands.
Considered a "national treasure," ginseng, however, requires specific soil conditions, and not everyone can cultivate this precious plant. To learn about ginseng cultivation, we followed credit officers from Agribank Nam Tra My to visit the ginseng garden of Mr. Tran Van Hanh in Tak Ngo village, Tra Linh commune. From the old district center, after traveling over 50 km along mountain passes and then climbing for nearly an hour on slippery, steep slopes, the ginseng garden appeared under the canopy of ancient forests at an altitude of about 1,800m. Small, beautiful ginseng beds lay quietly on a thick layer of decaying organic matter, protected by fences and meticulously cared for.
Mr. Hanh said that his family started growing ginseng in 2019. Initially, the investment was large, the payback period was long, and the risks were high; without the support of the bank, it would have been very difficult to pursue. Currently, he is borrowing 2 billion VND from Agribank to invest in caring for his ginseng garden. "Growing ginseng is a story of patience. The bank's long-term loans allow me to commit to the forest for the long term," Mr. Tran Van Hanh confided. With peak selling prices reaching 220 million VND/kg, from struggling to make ends meet, thanks to Ngoc Linh ginseng and the bank's support, Mr. Hanh is now one of many millionaires in this mountainous region.
According to Mr. Tran Ngoc Anh, Director of Agribank Quang Nam, the branch has identified capital support for the development of medicinal plants, especially Ngoc Linh ginseng, as one of the strategic directions for the mountainous areas of the locality. The bank proactively allocates capital and applies interest rates suitable to the long growth cycle of ginseng plants… In reality, bank capital not only helps people invest in production but also contributes to forest conservation, reduces labor migration, and preserves indigenous culture...
…We bid farewell to Ngoc Linh as the land and sky were transforming into spring, with mist and clouds enveloping the path back. On that high mountain peak, bank capital flows steadily like an underground stream, contributing to preserving livelihoods, protecting the forest, and keeping people in the vast wilderness. And amidst the boundless mountain mist, the familiar melodies of the song "Ngoc Linh Dream" by composer Phan Van Minh suddenly resonated in my mind. "Oh, Ngoc Linh ginseng, like a sleeping fairy in the green forest. One day you will stretch, awaken, and sing, calling forth the light to dispel the long night, inviting treasures from all directions. He, gongs and drums, let our villages together protect the sacred forest. He, he, he, he, let the ginseng grow, let the stream sing at its source, let the leaves of the vast forest be cool and green, so that spring returns with the Ngoc Linh dream…"
Those simple, heartfelt lyrics seem to express the aspirations of the highland people – the aspiration to legitimately prosper on their own land, linking their livelihoods to the forest, and their future to the vast wilderness. With bank capital sown in the right places and for the right people, the "Ngoc Linh dreams" are no longer just songs, but are gradually becoming a reality in every village, every home, ushering in a prosperous and sustainable spring amidst the majestic Truong Son mountain range.
Source: https://thoibaonganhang.vn/gieo-von-บน-dinh-ngoc-linh-177853.html
