Patriotic Aspiration

- Learning from and following Uncle Ho's teachings, the Party Committee, government, and people of the Dao ethnic group in Ai Quoc commune, Loc Binh district, have united, strived, and worked together to overcome difficulties, develop the economy , reduce poverty, and build a cultured and civilized life.

People in Ai Quoc commune, Loc Binh district, participate in the National Unity Day celebration.

Located about 45 km from the center of Loc Binh district, Ai Quoc commune has over 500 households with more than 2,000 inhabitants, of which the Dao ethnic minority accounts for over 98%. Previously, mentioning Ai Quoc brought to mind the most difficult area of the district with an almost absolute poverty rate. For the people here, the cycle of life – being born, growing up, getting married at the age of 10, and having children – is deeply ingrained in their mindset.

However, more than twenty years ago, some young people in the area, driven by a desire to learn and to lift their fellow villagers out of poverty, persevered in pursuing knowledge, gradually inspiring the next generation to confidently continue their education. This is exemplified by Trieu Tien Thanh, who traveled over 20 kilometers for many years to attend junior high school in Sa Ly ( Bac Giang province ), and then continued his high school education; or Trieu Van Thuan, who crossed mountains and streams to reach Na Duong town in Loc Binh district to complete both junior and senior high school. After working in the commune, Thanh and Thuan diligently studied and worked simultaneously, gradually gaining the trust of the Party committee and being assigned responsibilities. Thanh is currently the Secretary of the Commune Party Committee, and Thuan is the Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Council.

Mr. Thanh shared: "The root cause of poverty and hunger among the Dao ethnic people here is the lack of business knowledge, and to gain knowledge, one must begin with education. That's why we are both pioneering and setting an example, encouraging families to send their children to school, and motivating young people to persevere in their studies and expand their knowledge."

The story of the aspiration to bring knowledge to the villages in Ai Quoc, though arduous and challenging, has yielded sweet results. Currently, 100% of children in the area attend school at the appropriate age, and after completing lower secondary school, they all register to take the upper secondary school entrance exam or enroll in vocational training.

Literacy is the starting point and driving force for the Dao ethnic people in Ai Quoc to gradually eliminate outdated customs, learn from experience, and apply it to labor and production. From being accustomed only to a self-sufficient lifestyle, starting in 2009 and 2010, people in the area began planting pine trees and more recently started planting acacia trees to green the forests.

Mr. Dang Hong Son, from Doan Ket village, shared: "Following the example of households that had done it before, about 14 years ago my family planted 8 hectares of pine trees. In recent years, we have harvested nearly 10 tons of pine resin annually, which has increased our income. In 2023, I submitted an application to be removed from the poverty list. In the past two years, in addition to planting more pine trees, my family has also planted 4 hectares of acacia trees."

Not only Mr. Son's family, but the entire commune currently has over 7,000 hectares of pine and acacia forests, generating approximately 20 billion VND in income annually. It is known that many households have escaped poverty or voluntarily applied to be removed from the poverty list thanks to forest planting. From 2022 to the present, 29 households have applied to be removed from the poverty list. In 2024, the poverty rate in the commune was projected to be 12%, a decrease of 34% compared to 2020.

Beyond just reforestation, driven by a desire for economic development, in recent years, local residents have explored and developed several new economic models, such as cultivating golden flower tea and raising livestock. A prime example is the establishment of the Ai Quoc Golden Flower Tea Cooperative in 2022, comprising 8 members; in 2023, their golden flower tea product received OCOP 3-star certification. Currently, the product is promoted and sold through various channels to markets in Lang Son and Hanoi .

Mr. Hua Van Cuong, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Loc Binh District Party Committee, assessed: Ai Quoc is one of the communes that has achieved outstanding results in the emulation movement for the poor, ensuring that no one is left behind. In recent years, the Party Committee, the government, and the people in the area have united, strived, and been determined to successfully carry out political tasks, while simultaneously taking advantage of support resources and proactively developing internal strengths to promote economic development.

Visiting Ai Quoc today, along the road reflecting "the Party's will and the people's aspirations" leading to the commune center, one sees vast green pine and acacia forests interspersed with well-built houses. This is a picture of a new life, the result of the persistent efforts of the Party committee, government, and people in the area. In the future, cadres, Party members, and the people will continue to work together, striving to develop diverse economic models and move towards prosperity in their homeland.

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