Serving flattened rice flakes during the Ok Om Bok festival. Photo: DANH THÀNH
Policies are being implemented.
In Khmer-inhabited areas like Tinh Bien ward and the communes of Tri Ton and Dinh Hoa, or in hamlets with large Cham populations along the Hau River, the changes are clearly noticeable, from infrastructure to people's livelihoods. The muddy dirt roads of the past have now been paved with concrete; electricity, roads, schools, and health stations have been built and upgraded. From early morning, Mr. and Mrs. Tien Soi, residents of Tra Pho hamlet, Giang Thanh commune, ride their motorbike to check on their fields along the straight concrete road, a distance of over 3km. “Before, it was difficult to get anywhere when it rained. Now, with the road, motorbikes can reach the fields, making farming much easier. Since the comprehensive investment in transportation, the lives of the people in the hamlet have gradually stabilized, and family economies have improved,” Mr. Tien Soi expressed.
According to the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religion, to date, 100% of communes in ethnic minority areas have roads leading to their centers; 90% of particularly disadvantaged hamlets have hardened roads; and 100% of communes in ethnic minority areas have met the standards of the new rural development program. The synchronized investment in infrastructure has opened up opportunities for production and trade development, gradually increasing people's incomes. Along with infrastructure investment, poverty reduction and social welfare programs have been implemented decisively and flexibly. The poverty rate among ethnic minority households has decreased, reaching only 1.86% by the end of 2025.
At the end of 2025, we visited the family of Ms. Danh Thi Tuoi, residing in Xeo Ke hamlet, Vinh Hoa commune, a household that had recently escaped poverty. Ms. Tuoi's family received 46 million VND in financial assistance to purchase land and 60 million VND to build a house. In their newly built house, still smelling of fresh paint, Ms. Tuoi and her husband couldn't hide their joy: “After getting married, my husband and I worked as construction laborers, with unstable incomes. Receiving government support for a new house is a long-held dream of ours, and we're even happier that our family has just been recognized by the commune as having escaped poverty.”
Strengthening trust from the grassroots level.
Alongside socio-economic development, the province has also identified the preservation and promotion of the cultural identity of ethnic groups as a long-term task. Traditional festivals of the Khmer, Hoa, and Cham people are organized solemnly and safely. Many cultural and sports activities, and solidarity festivals are maintained, contributing to fostering community spirit and strengthening the bonds between ethnic communities. A key highlight in ethnic policy is promoting the role of influential figures in the community. The province currently has 449 influential figures, including religious leaders and retired officials.
This team serves as an effective bridge between the Party committee, the government, and the people. Venerable Chau Dien, abbot of Po Thi Vong Pagoda in Co To commune, stated: “When ethnic policies are implemented correctly and effectively, they help the Khmer people trust the leadership of the Party and the State more. From attention to every aspect, from houses and roads to education and healthcare, the people are very united and harmonious.”
Following the administrative reorganization, the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions proactively streamlined its organizational structure, ensuring that ethnic and religious affairs were implemented smoothly and without interruption. Coordination between departments, agencies, and localities has become increasingly close, especially in implementing the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. According to Danh Phuc, Director of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions, the effectiveness of ethnic policies is not only measured by investment figures or poverty reduction rates, but more importantly by the transformation in the awareness and beliefs of the people. “We have determined that implementing ethnic policies must put the people at the center, respecting their identity, customs, and traditions, while ensuring the principles of equality, solidarity, and shared development. When people feel they are cared for and listened to, social consensus will be firmly consolidated,” Mr. Danh Phuc emphasized.
Thanks to the proactive efforts of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions and local authorities in the province, ethnic policies have been implemented synchronously, realistically, and with the involvement of the entire political system. The "sweet fruits" of implementing these policies have not only created a new face for ethnic minority areas but also fostered national unity. This is a crucial foundation for An Giang province to fulfill the resolution of the First Provincial Party Congress, term 2025-2030.
| The total capital for implementing the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021-2025 is over 1,000 billion VND. The province applied specific policies, organized 461 classes teaching Khmer and Chinese languages, with a support budget of over 3.1 billion VND; and supported the construction of 10 new traditional boats (ghe ngo), with a budget of 3 billion VND. |
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/hieu-qua-tu-chinh-sach-dan-toc-a472860.html
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