The people's hearts opened up the way.

In Muong Bo commune, the concrete roads connecting the villages were built not only with cement, sand, and gravel, but also with the unanimous donation of land and labor from the people. Every meter of garden land, every day of collective labor is proof of the spirit of "the Party's will aligning with the people's will," writing a story of transformation in this revolutionary countryside.

One early autumn morning, we had the opportunity to return to Muong Bo commune. The road leading into the commune was still shrouded in mist, the terraced rice fields shimmered with the golden light of the harvest season, and wisps of smoke drifted from the stilt houses nestled on the mountain slopes. The deeper we went into the commune, the more we felt the changes. The dirt paths of yesteryear had been replaced by smooth, clean concrete roads; the laughter of children on their way to school, the bustling sounds of motorbikes and trucks... all created a new rhythm of life in this revolutionary rural area.

According to Comrade Nguyen Trung Kien, Secretary of the Party Committee of Muong Bo commune, the straight and smooth roads we see today are not only due to state funding, but also stem from the consensus of the people. Every inch of garden land, every hedge, even every corner of the yard or house of the people has been given up to transform the appearance of the commune.

"However, gaining the people's consensus is a long and arduous process," Comrade Nguyen Trung Kien shared.

Previously, persuading households to donate land was not easy, because for them, "every inch of land is worth its weight in gold." Faced with this situation, Party members and respected individuals like Mr. Vang Da Xa, the head of Nam Keng village, actively intervened. Accordingly, Mr. Xa and other Party members in the branch patiently went "door to door" to spread the message and persuade; at the same time, they took the lead in donating land to set an example for the people to follow. Seeing and hearing for themselves, even those who initially disagreed eventually relented. With the whole community working together, even difficult tasks became easy.

“Initially, many households were hesitant because land is a significant asset. We had to go to each house and explain the long-term benefits clearly. When a household took the lead in donating land, others saw the positive results and gradually agreed. With the road opened, everyone benefited; there was no longer any issue of one household suffering a loss alone,” recounted Mr. Vang Da Xa.

For the common good and shared goals, households voluntarily donated land to expand and build roads, making travel easier. Families who were previously hesitant about the potential loss of personal space eventually agreed and readily donated land to open roads for the entire community. From the pioneering efforts of a few households, the movement quickly spread into a collective force, and every meter of land and every day of labor contributed together to create roads bearing the mark of the people's dedication.

Ms. Lo Gi Kha from Nam Keng village recalled the moment her family decided to dismantle their fence and donate nearly 500 square meters of garden land: "Initially, we felt regretful because it was land inherited from our ancestors. But thinking about how it would make it easier for our children to go to school, and how it would make selling goods more convenient, we couldn't keep the benefit for ourselves. Donating the land was for the development of our own family."

Sharing the same sentiment, Mrs. Lu Thi Phung from Muong Bo 1 village couldn't hide her joy as she led us along the newly paved road. Mrs. Phung said: "This road used to be a dirt road, making travel very difficult. Therefore, when the village decided to widen and pave the road with concrete, my family immediately supported it. Now, traveling is much more convenient."

Thanks to consensus, by mid-2025, the people of Muong Bo had donated nearly 4 hectares of land and contributed hundreds of man-days of labor to renovate nearly 5 km of rural and inter-household roads. In addition, 100% of the main village and inter-village roads have been concreted; nearly 90% of the alleyways have been completed. The entire commune has 15 main village roads totaling over 30 km and nearly 12 km of alleyways, along with a 7-meter-long iron bridge, all built with the contributions of the local people.

These figures are living proof of the faith and aspirations of the people here. When the people's hearts are united, Muong Bo is changing day by day. Now, there are no longer the bumpy, dusty dirt roads in the sun or muddy roads in the rain, but instead smooth, wide roads winding around the mountain slopes, connecting the terraced fields and snaking into every small alley.

Comrade Nguyen Trung Kien, Secretary of the Party Committee of Muong Bo commune, commented: "If we relied solely on state funding, the progress would certainly be very slow. Thanks to the people's unity, the project was completed in a shorter time, saving costs and achieving higher efficiency. The greatest achievement is not just the concrete roads, but the people's trust in the Party's policies and guidelines. When the people trust and are united, even the most difficult tasks can be accomplished."

However, despite the concrete paving of rural roads thanks to the efforts of the local people, the Party Secretary of the commune still expressed concerns in our conversation. Currently, many key routes leading into the commune, such as Provincial Roads 152 and 152B, or inter-commune roads to Gia Phu, Ban Ho, and Nam Chay, are severely degraded due to the effects of Typhoon No. 3 in 2024. In particular, Provincial Roads 152 and 152B alone have four "black spots" posing a high risk of accidents, especially during the rainy season or when there is dense fog.

According to the Party Secretary of Muong Bo commune, Nguyen Trung Kien, this situation has somewhat affected the overall appearance of the commune. However, with the consensus and spirit of "the people work together, the people benefit together," the commune will continue to leverage the support and cooperation of the people, combined with state resources, to repair and upgrade dilapidated roads, ensuring traffic safety, while maintaining the image of Muong Bo as an increasingly prosperous and developed area.

Concrete roads built with the support of the people are a vivid testament to the strength of the community, to the harmonious blend of the Party's will and the people's aspirations. Donating land to build roads – this simple yet profound story is further strengthening the belief and motivation for Muong Bo to continue its journey of building a new rural area and steadily developing.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/long-dan-rong-mo-nhung-tuyen-duong-post882702.html