People from Thai Binh in their new homeland, Nam Bung

In 1961, more than 20 families from Dong Hung district, Thai Binh province, packed their bags and, answering the call of the Party and the State, joined the program to build a new economic zone in Nam Bung commune, Van Chan district, with the eager and courageous spirit of those who went to the mountains to build a village. After 64 years, they have now truly become the people of Nam Bung, contributing to the transformation of this land.

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Mr. Dang Minh Toan, the 64-year-old Party Secretary of Nam Puoi village, recalled: "Back then, I was only 3 years old. I was so excited to know that my family was going to build a new economic zone. After many days, we finally arrived in Nam Bung commune and settled in Nam Puoi village. The children helped move our belongings, while the adults built huts in the forest, clearing land for cultivation, cutting down clumps of weeds to plant cassava and rice. Life was incredibly hard, but everyone united and persevered."

Initially, life in the new land was extremely difficult, but with a spirit of overcoming hardship, the community of Thai Binh people continuously reclaimed land and cultivated fields, building economic models suitable to the climate and soil conditions of the highlands. By 1978, under the twinning program to build new economic zones between Thai Binh and Nghia Lo provinces, nearly 100 households from Tien Hai and Hung Ha districts, Thai Binh province, continued their journey to settle in Trung Tam and Chan Hung villages, Nam Bung commune, to build a new life.

Mr. Tran Van Muoi from Chan Hung village shared: "In 1978, I came here with my family when I was only 16 years old. After several long days, all we saw were endless hills and mountains, no electricity, no roads, no clean water, and only forest trees all around. The days that followed in our makeshift thatched hut were filled with meals of cassava mixed with rice, and bouts of malaria… All of these were challenges that we overcame to continue to stay here."

With their diligent and hardworking nature, the people of Thai Binh who migrated to Nam Bung at that time brought with them farming techniques from the plains, despite the harsh climate of this region. After many years of experimentation, they gradually changed their production methods, learning to select suitable rice varieties, reclaiming land for cultivation, farming on sloping land, intercropping with cash crops, and planting additional fruit trees and industrial crops.

After more than half a century of settling in their new homeland, people from Thai Binh now number over 300 households, accounting for about 30% of the population in Nam Bung commune. These households now have spacious homes, lush green fields, and fruit-laden orchards. They have not only risen out of poverty and become wealthy but have also become exemplary models of successful economic development in the locality.

The family of Mr. Pham Xuan Canh in Chan Hung village is a prime example of successful economic development in the village. With 2.5 hectares of Shan Tuyet tea, over 3 hectares of cinnamon trees more than 10 years old, combined with livestock and poultry farming, the family's average annual income reaches approximately 350 million VND.

Mr. Canh shared: "As someone born and raised in Nam Bung, I am always aware that developing the family economy not only affirms the hardworking and resilient nature of the people of Thai Binh but also contributes to building a more modernized Nam Bung homeland, making the Thai Binh community here increasingly prosperous and developed."

For example, Mr. Bui Van Hung from Chan Hung village established Hung Bich Co., Ltd., which processes and produces black tea. Currently, the company employs 20 permanent workers with an income of 6-8 million VND per person per month, and average revenue of over 2 billion VND per year. Another example is Mr. Nguyen Van Muoi from Trung Tam village, who owns nearly 2 hectares of terraced rice fields, 1 hectare of Shan Tuyet tea, and citrus fruit trees.

Besides that, he also invested in breeding cattle and beekeeping for honey production. Each year, his family earns over 300 million VND... Not only have they enriched themselves, but the Thai Binh community has also helped local people change their production practices. From only growing corn and upland rice, many households have learned how to cultivate terraced fields, grow wet rice, and care for crops using techniques shared by the people of Thai Binh.

Besides economic development, the people of Thai Binh have also set an example by contributing money, labor, and land to build new rural areas. As a result, Nam Bung commune has seen many positive changes in recent years, with average per capita income reaching over 43 million VND/year in 2024, and the poverty rate reduced to 10%.

Mr. Dang Ngoc Toan, Secretary of the Party Committee of Nam Bung commune, said: "The Thai Binh community is an important force in the socio-economic development of the commune. They are hardworking, disciplined, and have a spirit of learning and mutual support. In the effort to build the commune to meet the standards of a new rural area in 2023, the Thai Binh community has made a significant contribution. They are a bridge between the lowlands and the highlands, bringing new thinking and methods to the highlands, while also learning and integrating into the lifestyle and customs of the local community."

The story of the people of Thai Binh who came to build a new economic zone in Nam Bung is not just a historical memory, but a vivid testament to their unwavering will. From the early days of hardship to today's prosperity, the people of Thai Binh have affirmed their position in their second homeland, where they are contributing daily to building a new homeland that is increasingly prosperous, happy, and beautiful.

Thanh Tan

Source: https://baoyenbai.com.vn/12/352121/Nguoi-Thai-Binh-บน-que-moi-Nam-Bung.aspx