A wish of the poor village of Nam Thuom

BHG - Nam Thuom hamlet, located in Lung Chang village, Linh Ho commune (Vi Xuyen district), has over 50 households, mainly of the Dao ethnic group. Due to the fragmented terrain, the hamlet is quite isolated, surrounded by towering rocky mountains. For a long time, the lives of the people have remained difficult and arduous, and their fervent wish is to have electricity from the national grid reach their village to pave the way for them to escape poverty.

BHG - Nam Thuom hamlet, located in Lung Chang village, Linh Ho commune (Vi Xuyen district), has over 50 households, mainly of the Dao ethnic group. Due to the fragmented terrain, the hamlet is quite isolated, surrounded by towering rocky mountains. For a long time, the lives of the people have remained difficult and arduous, and their fervent wish is to have electricity from the national grid reach their village to pave the way for them to escape poverty.

From the central cultural center of Lung Chang village, after traversing a remote forest for about 5 km, we reached Nam Thuom hamlet. Walking around the hamlet, we noticed that most of the houses were wooden, some still makeshift, barely providing shelter from the sun and rain. This was the season for tending to spring crops, so the villagers were often out in the fields or on the slopes. Waiting until lunchtime, we met with families to inquire, share, and listen to their thoughts, aspirations, and desires.

The people of Nam Thuom hamlet, Lung Chang village, Linh Ho commune (Vi Xuyen district) long for electricity.

Mr. Trieu Van Truong, a resident of Nam Thuom hamlet, shared: "A few years ago, the hamlet received investment from the government to build a concrete rural road, and benefactors supported the construction of a 9-meter-long, 3.5-meter-wide pedestrian bridge, making it easier for people to travel and for children to go to school. The hamlet also has some solar-powered streetlights, but they are not enough to provide adequate lighting. It's manageable in the summer, but in the winter, the fog is so thick that by 5 or 6 pm it's pitch black. Evening seems to arrive earlier here. Houses are sparse, the atmosphere is quiet, and darkness envelops the mountains and forests, with only occasional glimpses of light." Mr. Truong jokingly added, "My children bought me a smartphone, but I just keep it in my pocket for show. If I want to contact someone, I have to go all the way to the village center to get a signal."

During the rainy season, the people of Nam Thuom hamlet utilize water from streams to generate their own electricity, while in the dry season they rely on oil lamps. The lack of electricity is most detrimental to the children, making it difficult for them to play or study at night. Few households in the hamlet use televisions or other electrical appliances. Milling corn or rice requires considerable time and effort. The lack of electricity restricts access to information and hinders the application of science and technology in production, becoming a barrier to economic development. Because they only engage in slash-and-burn agriculture, growing corn and rice, and small-scale, fragmented livestock farming, the majority of households are classified as poor or near-poor.

Comrade Luu Van Chien, Vice Chairman of the Linh Ho Commune People's Council, said: Nam Thuom hamlet is known as the "three no's" hamlet: no electricity, no cell phone signal, and no community center. Only recently, with the construction of a concrete road and a bridge over the stream, have children been able to attend school regularly. Through support programs and policies of the Party and State, along with social resources, some households have had their temporary or dilapidated houses replaced. Given the urgent need for the people to have the national power grid extended to their homes and for the expansion of transportation routes, the commune has repeatedly petitioned higher authorities through numerous Council meetings, dialogues, and voter consultations, but these requests have yet to be resolved. The main reason is the sparse population, which cannot yet accommodate investment in power grid infrastructure. The local Party committee and government are deeply concerned and hope that all levels and sectors will pay attention and create favorable conditions for investing in the electricity system so that the lives and production activities of the people will be more convenient, contributing positively to the poverty reduction efforts of the commune.

Life goes on day by day, with its worries, burdens, and also faith and hope. Hopefully, one day soon, electricity will shine brightly in Nam Thuom, illuminating a bright and promising future for the people here on their path forward.

Text and photos: MOC LAN

Source: https://baohagiang.vn/xa-hoi/202504/mong-uoc-xom-ngheo-nam-thuom-09f0a39/