The village chief of the people

Village chief at the age of 23

In Hang Pu Xi village, Xa Dung commune, Dien Bien province, the life of the Mong people is still full of hardships. Also on that land, there is a young village chief who is brave and full of love. Born in 1999, despite his difficult circumstances like many people here, Mr. Mua A Thi still tried to finish grade 12 in 2019. He decided to put aside his distant dreams to help his parents with farming work. Because he wanted to preserve the unique characteristics of the ethnic group, he was the only person in the village to study Ly - an indispensable ritual in Mong funerals, meaning to send the soul of the deceased back to the ancestors.

- Photo 1.

Mr. Mua A Thi was honored as a Young Person of Beautiful Living in 2025.

PHOTO: VU THO

While many traditional values are gradually fading away, the fact that a young person like Mua A Thi still has a strong attachment to the culture of his roots makes the villagers extremely fond of him. He is not only a hard-working young man, but also a person who connects the past with the present, a spiritual bond that binds the community. Therefore, in 2022, he was elected by the villagers as the village chief at the age of 23. At an age when many people are still struggling to find their own direction, Mua A Thi has shouldered the responsibility of an entire village.

As the village chief, Mua A Thi understands that his responsibility is to make the lives of 72 households with nearly 400 people in the village better day by day. And he has started his journey with small but meaningful actions.

Realizing that people's lives were precarious due to their over-dependence on corn and cassava, Mua A Thi actively encouraged villagers to change their production mindset. He took the lead in promoting state projects, convincing people to accept breeding cows to develop livestock farming, creating additional income. Most recently, he diligently knocked on doors to encourage people to participate in the coffee planting project in the 2024-2025 period, with the hope that new crops would bring long-term stability and sustainability.

Another deep impression that Mr. Mua A Thi left in the hearts of the people of Hang Pu Xi was his tireless efforts to persuade families to send their children to school. He understood better than anyone that only education could help future generations escape the vicious cycle of poverty. Previously, the situation of students, especially those who had just finished grade 9, dropping out of school to stay home and help their families was a burning issue. Mr. Mua A Thi did not hesitate to face difficulties, going to each house, persistently analyzing and convincing both parents and students.

With his sincerity and persuasive arguments, he successfully persuaded nearly a dozen students to return to school. Many of them are now in grade 12, while others are learning vocational skills in the provincial center, opening up a brighter future. His actions not only changed the lives of a few individuals, but also instilled in the community a strong belief in the value of knowledge.

Saving the village from disaster

The name of village chief Mua A Thi would probably only be known within the village, if it weren't for the fateful night of August 1, 2025. That night, torrential rain poured down on the Xa Dung mountains and forests. At around 3 a.m., when the whole village was asleep, seeing water flooding into houses, Mua A Thi realized that a disaster could happen, so he called families in dangerous areas to grasp the situation. Realizing the risk of landslides, he immediately reported to the authorities, and at the same time ran to the dangerous area to call on people to evacuate urgently. Together with the Party Secretary and a team of youth in the village, he rushed into each house, guiding the elderly, holding children in his arms, racing against death.

- Photo 2.

Mr. Mua A Thi (right cover) and functional forces search for victims buried by landslides.

PHOTO: XUAN TU

In that race for life, there were 3 old people who refused to leave. Mr. Mua A Thi calmly and patiently persuaded: "The rocks have fallen like this, it's dark without flashlights, and the children and grandchildren are crying. I hope you will follow us, so that tomorrow morning the sky will be calm, then we can come back to check the situation." The young village chief's sincere and responsible words moved the old people. Finally, all 3 of them agreed to leave and were taken to a safe place. After only a few minutes, rocks and soil collapsed and buried the entire village. More than 90 people narrowly escaped death.

However, it was also heartbreaking when the terrible landslide took the lives of two children. At that time, their parents were away, and rocks and soil fell on the house while the two children were sleeping soundly... Recounting the story, the voice of the village chief Mua A Thi dropped, full of anguish: "It was very painful... I could not save the two children". That pain is a scar that will never heal in the village chief's heart, a painful reminder of the devastation of natural disasters.

As one of the villagers who narrowly escaped, Mr. Mua Chu Po was extremely impressed with the bravery of the village chief Mua A Thi: "We were urged to run to the school on the other side of the stream to avoid the flood. Everyone was told to save people first, houses and property were considered later. My children moved to the other side safely but all of their property was lost in the flood. My family and many villagers are grateful to the village chief."

Difficulty still help compatriots

After the flood, the lives of the people of Hang Pu Xi became even more difficult. Mua A Thi's family also suffered heavy losses. One of the two large rice fields, the family's main source of income, was completely buried by rocks and soil. The estimated cost of restoration was more than 100 million VND - a huge sum for a poor farming family. However, even when facing his own loss, he still put the common concern of the community first.

In adversity, Mua A Thi's brave spirit and kind heart shined brightly. Last October, when he heard that his fellow countrymen in Nghe An were suffering severe consequences from storms and floods, the young village chief did not hesitate to mobilize his fellow villagers to donate. He shared simply: "When I was in trouble, people from other places also supported me. Now that people in Nghe An are in more trouble, I can help a little, and when I have a lot, I can help a lot."

His appeal touched the hearts of every citizen. From their savings and the few products left after the flood, people together raised more than 4 million VND. The amount of money, although not large, contained love, sharing and the spirit of "helping each other" of people who, although poor in material things, were extremely rich in humanity.

The actions of village chief Mua A Thi and the people of Hang Pu Xi have written a fairy tale in everyday life, spreading the love of compatriots in difficult times. He is a shining example for the young generation of ethnic minorities, who are dedicating day and night to building their homeland to be more prosperous and happier. With those contributions, Mr. Mua A Thi was awarded a certificate of merit by the Prime Minister ; was awarded the First Class Labor Medal; and was recognized by the Central Youth Union and the Central Vietnam Youth Union as a Youth with Beautiful Living in 2025.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguoi-truong-ban-cua-long-dan-185251109190312279.htm