The heartfelt connection with the land of Gia Canh

Residential Area 4, Hamlet 1, Gia Canh Commune, Dinh Quan District (formerly) after merger belongs to Gia Canh 1 Hamlet, Dinh Quan Commune, Dong Nai Province. This area was previously a sparsely populated farmland, but now boasts well-built houses and a bright, green, clean, and beautiful landscape.

Officials and residents of Gia Canh 1 hamlet, Dinh Quan commune, clean up the residential area's roads. Photo: Doan Phu

A good place attracts good people.

Before 1975, Gia Canh 1 hamlet was still a regenerating scrub forest, with only a few houses belonging to households who made their living from forestry and clearing land for farming. After 1975, especially during the period of 1976-1980, free migrants gradually settled in this area, reclaiming wasteland for farming and gardening. From a few dozen initial households living and producing on an area of ​​30 hectares, the population of Gia Canh 1 hamlet has now increased to over 770 households and 3,550 people.

According to Nguyen Trong Dung, Party Secretary and Head of Gia Canh 1 Hamlet, Dinh Quan Commune, before the merger of the three communes of Gia Canh, Phu Ngoc, and Ngoc Dinh and Dinh Quan town into Dinh Quan commune, residential area 4 in hamlet 1, Gia Canh commune, Dinh Quan district (formerly) had already achieved the status of a model residential area in 2023. Residential area 4, hamlet 1, was the center of the former Gia Canh commune. Residents in the hamlet, regardless of whether they settled there earlier or later, or how much land they owned or produced, united and contributed labor and money with the hamlet committee and local government to pave muddy trails and roads (roads used for logging) with concrete and asphalt, creating a more modern appearance for the hamlet. Over time, the infrastructure of Gia Canh 1 hamlet has become quite complete in terms of electricity, roads, schools, health stations, and recreational areas, especially in 2021, when the former Gia Canh commune achieved the new rural standard.

Present in Gia Canh 1 in 1983 to teach, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tu (former Principal of Le Thanh Tong Secondary School) recounted: "The school buildings and classrooms in those years were very makeshift, with more corrugated iron roofs and wooden walls than old, dilapidated brick rooms. However, the students were very well-behaved and studious, and parents generously helped the teachers by allowing them to stay in their homes, before the school had a teachers' dormitory... Because we taught and lived with the local people, the teachers occasionally received gifts of fish, vegetables, and fruit from the parents' gardens, which was very heartwarming."

During those difficult times, the school here still echoed with the voices of students from Gia Canh 1 hamlet, their voices encompassing Northern, Central, and Southern accents, emanating from doors that barely provided shade, not protection from wind and dust. Despite this, the children of Gia Canh 1 hamlet persevered through hardship, progressing from primary school to high school and then university. Today, over 200 children from Gia Canh 1 hamlet have graduated from university. Notably, about 30 people in the hamlet hold master's degrees, many graduating from prestigious universities in Ho Chi Minh City.

Let's work together to beautify our countryside.

Every road leading into Gia Canh 1 hamlet is ablaze with colorful flowers. Flowers bloom in a multitude of hues, showcasing their beauty alongside the straight, paved roads.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Dung proudly stated: "To ensure that the roads in the hamlet, model residential area 4, meet the criteria of being bright, green, clean, and beautiful, the Gia Canh 1 hamlet management board mobilized the people to contribute to the government's investment in 20 branches of asphalt and cement roads. The government supported 60-80% of the cost depending on the branch, with the rest contributed by the people (the total amount contributed by the people was over 1 billion VND). In addition, the people also spent hundreds of millions of VND to build poles and power lines, install streetlights, and plant flowerbeds."

Mr. Tran Van Quyen (80 years old, from Ha Tinh province) said: In 2010, his daughter and her husband, who live in Gia Canh 1 hamlet, Dinh Quan commune, invited him to live with them so they could take care of him. Because he loved his children and grandchildren, he agreed, but at first he was worried and afraid of being lonely in the new place. However, after a short time, he felt the friendliness and cheerfulness of the people around him, so he felt very comfortable.

Upon arriving at Gia Canh 1 hamlet, if you're unfamiliar with the way to people's houses, ask the head of the Women's Association in the hamlet, Le Thi Hue, and she'll be well-informed. You don't need to go inside to find her; just be observant and look for someone who frequently sweeps up trash along the hamlet's streets – that's Ms. Hue.

Ms. Hue said: The Women's Association of Gia Canh 1 hamlet organizes clean-up activities at least once a week, or collaborates with other associations and organizations in the hamlet to clean up, weed, and care for flowers along the roads in the hamlet. As for herself, since the hamlet and commune gave permission, she has transformed the vacant plot of land next to Sao Mai Kindergarten into a "mini park." Whenever she has time, she goes out to take care of it, sweep, and weed.

Not only did she silently contribute to beautifying the residential area's roads, but Ms. Hue also actively participated in women's movements to help each other build happy families, educate their children, and set a good example in the community. Therefore, with over 20 years of work in women's affairs in the hamlet and other movements, Ms. Hue received a Certificate of Commendation from the Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Nai Province (formerly) four times.

Doan Phu

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202508/nghia-tinh-vung-dat-gia-canh-c8420f0/