The people's hearts are in agreement.

Residents of Bat Mot border commune are actively seeking information about candidates for the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term. Photo: Do Duc

In March, rain blankets the border region. The winding road to Bat Mot border commune, through deep valleys and steep slopes, is made even more beautiful by the red flags with yellow stars, signs, and banners pointing towards the upcoming national election. In the Kheo village cultural center, members of the election committee are busier than ever with tasks such as posting lists of candidates and voters, decorating the polling area, etc. Vi Van Sang, Party Secretary and Head of Kheo village, smiles kindly: “Preparing for the election is busier, requiring more travel, but it’s very enjoyable. It’s joyful because of the vibrant atmosphere and scenery, and joyful because the people can place more trust and hope in their votes, choosing people with sufficient virtue and talent to build a more developed, peaceful , and friendly border region.”

The village of Kheo, located near a secondary border crossing with Laos, is not yet authorized for cross-border trade, so commerce is limited to the exchange of goods between border residents, without customs duties. While livelihoods depend on acacia trees and rice paddies, and transportation is difficult, the poverty rate remains high. To this day, Kheo remains a particularly disadvantaged village.

Due to the difficulties, poverty, scattered population, low level of education, incomplete public address system, rugged terrain with high hills and deep ravines, and unreliable telecommunication signals, there were no Zalo or Facebook groups established to disseminate messages... Therefore, besides hanging banners and slogans, the Kheo village Party branch led the Front Committee and political and social organizations to go door-to-door to spread the message so that people understood the special significance of the election, as well as the rights and obligations of voters. In this work, Ms. Lang Thi Thai (born in 1998) was recognized as one of the most active female members.

The people's hearts are in agreement.

The Golden Dragon dance troupe performed to boost the election atmosphere along the streets of Tho Ngoc commune.

Since the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Horse, every day after dinner, Ms. Thai leaves her two children with her husband to teach, while she accompanies the village women's association to each household to spread awareness and encourage members to actively participate in the election. Without resorting to academic jargon, she speaks simply and straightforwardly: Voting is about entrusting your faith through your ballot, choosing someone who can help your village have clean drinking water, a decent place for children to study, fertile fields and gardens, more meat and fish in your meals, and more joy in life...

Most importantly, according to Ms. Thai, she hopes that the Party and the State will soon pay attention to investing in a clean water system for the village to serve daily life. She also hopes for the early resettlement of the 8 households living in areas at high risk of flash floods, landslides, and mudslides. Further ahead, she hopes the State will soon allow cross-border transport through the Kheo Sub-border Gate so that the villagers can transport goods by truck, trade with neighboring Laos, and develop the economy ...

Those simple words, spoken by a woman who is a role model in economic development, helped the villagers of Kheo hamlet better understand their rights and obligations regarding the election and voluntarily participate through practical actions. Before voting day, they organized cleaning of their yards and village roads, and hung the national flag in front of their houses. As Secretary Sang said: “Now the villagers understand and are familiar with the election. On March 15th, they will take time off from working in the hills to go vote.”

The election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and representatives to the People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term is a momentous political event for our homeland and country. It is a time when the people exercise their right to direct self-governance, choosing individuals with sufficient virtue and talent to serve in the highest state power organs at all levels, representing their will and aspirations. Therefore, the active participation of a large number of voters plays a crucial role in determining the success of the election. Before election day, people in many places voluntarily contributed their efforts and resources to create a vibrant and joyful atmosphere, inspiring their hometowns and villages. The 45 members of the Golden Dragon dance team in Tho Ngoc commune are examples of such people.

According to team leader Nguyen Van Tien (born in 1956), the Golden Dragon dance troupe has been present in Tho Ngoc commune since 1959, having performed at festivals and cultural events throughout the province, establishing its own "brand." Before the election, recognizing the team's responsibility, Mr. Tien rallied the members to prepare their costumes, redecorate the golden dragons, and voluntarily perform from village lanes to community centers. Among the team members are retirees, farmers, the elderly, and the young, but all share a common passion for preserving traditional cultural values and are willing to volunteer to support the national celebration in their homeland.

Along the roads of Tho Ngoc, the appearance of the Golden Dragon dance troupe, accompanied by the lively sound of drums, attracted the attention and cheers of many people. On the accompanying truck, Mr. Tien had added loudspeakers and hung banners with slogans promoting the election day. Looking at the excitement of the people and the Golden Dragon dance troupe under the fluttering red flags beside the clean and beautiful houses, I realized that the atmosphere of a grand festival had arrived in the peaceful countryside of Tho Ngoc.

Team leader Nguyen Van Tien confided: “The two-tiered local government model is a very correct direction, but it is still in its infancy. Therefore, selecting people with sufficient dedication and competence to shoulder the responsibilities of our homeland and country is extremely important. As a dance troupe with a long tradition, we recognize our responsibility and have voluntarily participated in supporting this particularly important election.”

The people's hearts are in agreement.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Chieng, from Thi Tu village, Trieu Son commune, voluntarily conducts mobile campaigning to promote the election.

On the way home, I met the veteran Pham Ngoc Chieng (born in 1951) in Thi Tu village, Trieu Son commune, sitting on his old motorbike, adorned with flags and equipped with loudspeakers, traveling through remote and narrow streets to promote the election. Before the implementation of the two-tiered local government system, he was known as the "Mobile Radio Station," still using his own money to travel throughout the communes of the former Trieu Son district to broadcast messages through his loudspeakers. Now that the district level no longer exists, he continues on the same routes, finding official slogans, reading them aloud, recording them, and broadcasting them through his two loudspeakers to promote the election.

Mr. Chieng expressed: "This is the first election and it is of particular importance after the implementation of the two-tiered local government system. Although it's a small contribution, I hope to help make this election a success."

Not only actively participating in propaganda work and boosting public morale, many people in Thanh Hoa province also actively participated in the election process through practical actions. These included the women's movement in Quang Trung ward with competitions such as "Quang Trung Women - Sending Trust in the Ballot"; "Picture Puzzles," and "Ringing the Golden Bell" to raise awareness about election procedures. There was also the movement of general cleaning, decorating with flags and flowers, and hanging signs and banners along roads and in residential areas by women's association members in Nga Son commune. Or the all-night folk dance practice sessions of women in Tho Ngoc commune to perform in a competition celebrating the election...

Each of them, in their own way, whether big or small, is contributing to creating and spreading a vibrant atmosphere and strong belief among the people, from bustling cities to peaceful rural areas. These actions are not only a continuation of the dynamism and creativity in leadership, organization, and propaganda efforts of Party committees, government agencies, and the Fatherland Front at all levels, but also represent the consensus and unity of all segments of the population towards the upcoming national celebration.

Do Duc

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/long-dan-da-thuan-281041.htm