Standing at the gate of her house, 60-year-old Mong Thi Vuong, a Nung ethnic woman, silently gazed at the brightly lit road and smiled. To many, it might just be an ordinary public works project. But for her and many households in Po Lan, it represents a change that can be felt immediately in their daily lives.
"It used to be very dark. When children came home from extra classes, adults had to go out to greet them. Elderly people were hesitant to visit their neighbors. It was even harder on rainy or windy days. Now that there are lights, seeing the road illuminated at night makes me happy," Mrs. Vuong said.
That joy comes from the recently completed "Lighting Up Rural Roads" solar power project in the locality. A 1.2km stretch of road has been equipped with a solar-powered lighting system costing over 100 million VND, implemented by Lang Son Power Company (under the Northern Power Corporation) through a collaboration with the Youth Union of Vietnam Television.
In border regions like Quoc Viet, the lighting of a road not only makes travel easier, but also brings a sense of security. Children returning home late from school feel less anxious. The elderly can visit each other after dinner. Roads that are usually quiet at night are now filled with laughter and conversation.
Mr. Vu Khanh Toan, Deputy Director of Lang Son Power Company, said that the unit hopes the project will bring the most practical benefits to the people. 
"What we aim for is not whether the project is big or small, but that the people truly benefit. When people's lives become more convenient and safer, that is also the joy of those involved in the project."
To achieve the light we see today, behind it all were days of hard work under the scorching sun by the engineers and power plant workers. Streetlights and solar panels were transported into the village via small roads. On some sweltering days, fieldwork lasted from morning until evening.
But what remains in the memory of Hoang Manh Cuong, a worker directly involved in the construction, is not the sweat shed under the sun.
"One day it was very hot. While we were working, the villagers brought us tea and herbal drinks. Some even brought freshly boiled corn. These were very simple things, but they touched us deeply. We could feel the anticipation and trust the villagers had in the project."
Mr. Cuong recounted that many residents came to check on the construction progress every day. They asked when the lights would be on and when the project would be completed. This anticipation motivated the electricians to speed up the process even more.
"The electrical job is tough, especially for those of us who often work in the field. But when we see the joy of the people on days when the lights are on, we feel that all the effort is worthwhile."
If the new lights warmed the roads in the border region, the gifts for the children during this trip ignited other kinds of joy.
Through the Vietnamese Heart Foundation, Vietnam Television (VTV) and the VTV Youth Union donated 30 bicycles to disadvantaged students in Quoc Viet and Khang Chien communes. In addition, reading spaces and playgrounds for children have been added and improved.
In the middle of the highland schoolyard, rows of new bicycles lined up. Many children stood admiring them for a long time before receiving their bikes. Some gently stroked the seats, while others carefully checked each bell and basket, as if afraid it was just a dream.
That image deeply moved Mr. Quách Hữu Văn, representative of the VTVcab Youth Union.
"What I remember most isn't the presentation ceremony, but the children's eyes. Some children just stared at the bikes after receiving them. Some ran straight to the new playground. Some hugged the books they had just received and sat down to flip through the pages. Those very natural moments made us understand that sometimes a gift doesn't need to be big to bring immense happiness."
According to Mr. Van, throughout the journey to the highlands, what touched the members of the delegation the most were those innocent smiles.
"Seeing the children happy with their new bicycles, new books, or new playgrounds, we truly feel the meaning of connection. The projects and gifts will have their own practical value, but more importantly, the children feel cared for and are given renewed confidence to strive in their studies and pursue their dreams."
Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of such trips doesn't lie in the numbers. Not just the 1.2km of road illuminated, not just the more than 100 million VND in funding, or the 30 bicycles donated.
What remains is the image of a grandmother overjoyed that her grandchild will no longer have to grope their way home from school in the dark. It's the electricians who will forever remember the hot corn that the villagers brought to the construction site in the midday sun. It's the innocent eyes of children receiving their first bicycle.
As night falls, the road in Pò Lạn lights up again, just like every night.
That light not only illuminates the path between the border villages, but it also kindles a warm feeling that even in the most remote places, there are always hearts silently reaching out, hands extending love so that no one is left behind on the journey of development.
Source: https://vtv.vn/khi-po-lan-sang-den-100450473165103240.htm
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