Following the administrative boundary reorganization, Lai Chau province now has 38 communes and wards, including 11 border communes. These areas have complex terrain, scattered populations, uneven levels of education, and many difficult living conditions. Given these characteristics, environmental protection faces numerous challenges related to natural and socio -economic conditions. However, these border communes are showing positive changes through various specific models and approaches.
One example is the "Ecological Brick" model implemented by women's associations and educational institutions. Using used plastic bottles and bags, women's association members, teachers, and students collect, sort, and recycle them into materials for construction and community life. Many structures, such as cultural center walls, public seating areas, and school supplies, are constructed from these "green bricks," contributing to reducing plastic waste and improving the rural landscape in a green, clean, and beautiful way.
Teachers and students at Khong Lao Kindergarten recycled plastic bottles into school supplies and made flowerbed fences.
At Khong Lao Kindergarten (Khong Lao commune), teachers have combined recycled materials such as plastic bottles and jars with wood, bamboo, and rattan to create teaching aids and toys for children. Environmental protection content is also integrated through visual aids, helping children easily understand and form habits of sorting waste, washing hands properly, and caring for plants. 100% of children aged 2-5 years old are equipped with basic knowledge of personal hygiene, environmental hygiene, and skills in using sanitary facilities. Teacher To Bich Phuong (Khong Lao Kindergarten) affirmed: Integrating environmental protection into learning activities helps children approach it naturally and easily. Teachers choose simple lessons and find plastic and bamboo materials to make teaching aids, thereby forming environmental protection habits in children from a young age.
In 11 border communes, women's unions at all levels have effectively implemented the "Building a family with 5 no's and 3 clean's" campaign, linked with waste collection, tree planting, building "clean houses - beautiful gardens," and "flower-lined roads." The Youth Union has promoted "Green Sunday," "Volunteer Saturday," and the Summer Youth Volunteer Campaign, actively disseminating information and directly participating in waste sorting, reducing plastic waste, and recycling household waste. Thousands of models, groups, and teams for regular waste collection are being implemented by mass organizations in border communes, contributing to improving the landscape and raising community awareness. From 2021 to the present, 7,850 families of women's union members throughout the province have met the "5 no's and 3 clean's" criteria, with members in border communes accounting for more than 50%.
Notably, environmental protection efforts in border communes are linked to the task of eliminating outdated customs and building a civilized way of life. People are adopting a new cultural lifestyle in organizing funerals and burials according to regulations, contributing to environmental protection and public health. A shining example in promoting a civilized lifestyle in funerals and burials is Pa Tan commune. This area has over 9,000 inhabitants, mainly ethnic minorities, including the Mang people – one of the minority groups still clinging to some backward customs in funerals. Previously, when a family member died, they did not use a coffin but instead used a mat or blanket, keeping it in the house for many days before burial. This custom prolonged the funeral process, causing expense for the family and seriously affecting the surrounding environment, posing a potential risk to public health.
Residents of Ban Lang 2 village (Khong Lao commune) collect and clean drainage ditches, protecting the environment.
Comrade Lau A Tinh, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Pa Tan commune, said: In the past period, the commune's Party Committee and government have intensified the dissemination and implementation of Resolution No. 15-NQ/TU, dated December 22, 2023, of the Provincial Party Committee on eliminating outdated customs and practices and building a civilized lifestyle among ethnic minorities in Lai Chau province in the period 2024-2030. Immediately after Resolution No. 53/2025/NQ-HĐND, dated July 23, 2025, of the Provincial People's Council on supporting funeral expenses for ethnic minorities in the period 2025-2030 was issued, the commune quickly implemented it in 26 villages. From July 1, 2025, to the present, the commune has supported funeral expenses for 7 cases belonging to poor and near-poor households and the elderly.
Thanks to persistent propaganda, mobilization, and the impact of Resolution No. 15-NQ/TU, outdated funeral customs in Pa Tan commune are gradually being pushed back. People have changed their perceptions, using coffins for the deceased and not keeping them in the house for long periods. Ms. Lung Me So from Nam Sao village shared: "Previously, due to limited awareness, families kept the deceased in the house for many days without using coffins. Now, with propaganda, mobilization, and support, people have changed and organize funerals according to the new way of life."
Thanks to the involvement of the entire political system and specific models and approaches at the grassroots level, environmental protection work in the border communes of Lai Chau is showing positive changes. Environmental protection is gradually becoming a habit for people in their daily lives. However, alongside the achievements, reality also shows that there are still many difficulties, especially the problem of waste management.
(to be continued)
Source: https://baolaichau.vn/xa-hoi/ky-1-nhieu-mo-hinh-moi-cach-lam-hay-1173046
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