The village chief who wins the hearts of the people.

Deep in the mountains of Northwest Vietnam, village chief Mua A Thi (26 years old, of the Mong ethnic group) is a steadfast pillar of support for his entire community. In the midst of a night of torrential rain and flooding, he braved the danger to save the entire Hang Pu Xi village from certain death.

He became the village chief at the age of 23.

In Hang Pu Xi village, Xa Dung commune, Dien Bien province, the lives of the Mong ethnic people are still full of hardships. It is in this very land that there is a young village chief who is courageous and full of love. Born in 1999, despite the difficult circumstances like many people here, Mua A Thi still managed to finish 12th grade in 2019. He decided to put aside his further dreams to help his parents with farming. Wanting to preserve the unique traditions of his ethnic group, he is the only one in the village to study Ly – an indispensable ritual in Mong funerals, signifying the sending off of the deceased's soul to their ancestors.

Mr. Mua A Thi was honored as a model young person in 2025.

PHOTO: VU THO

Amidst the fading of many traditional values, the fact that a young man like Mùa A Thi remains deeply committed to his cultural roots has earned him immense respect from the villagers. He is not only a hardworking young man but also a bridge connecting the past with the present, a spiritual thread binding the community together. Therefore, in 2022, at the young age of 23, he was trusted by the villagers and elected as village head. At an age when many are still struggling to find their way, Mùa A Thi has shouldered the responsibility of an entire village.

As village head, Mùa A Thi understood his responsibility was to improve the lives of the 72 households with nearly 400 inhabitants in his village. And he began his journey with small but meaningful actions.

Recognizing the precariousness of the villagers' lives due to their over-reliance on corn and cassava, Mua A Thi actively encouraged them to change their production mindset. He took the lead in promoting government projects, persuading villagers to accept breeding cattle to develop livestock farming and create additional income. Most recently, he tirelessly went door-to-door to encourage villagers to participate in the coffee planting project for the 2024-2025 period, hoping that this new crop would bring long-term stability and sustainability.

Another profound impact that Mr. Mua A Thi left on the people of Hang Pu Xi was his tireless efforts to encourage families to send their children to school. He understood better than anyone that only education could help the future generation escape the vicious cycle of poverty. Previously, the situation of students, especially those who had just finished 9th grade, dropping out of school to stay home and help their families was a serious problem. Mr. Mua A Thi, undeterred by difficulties, went to each house, patiently analyzing the situation and persuading both parents and students.

With sincerity and persuasive arguments, he successfully persuaded nearly a dozen students to return to school. Many of them are now in 12th grade, while others are pursuing vocational training at the provincial center, opening up brighter futures for them. 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 at the last minute.

The name of village head Mua A Thi would probably only be known within his village if it weren't for that fateful night of August 1, 2025. That night, torrential rain poured down on the Xa Dung mountains. Around 3 a.m., while the whole village was asleep, Mua A Thi realized that a disaster was imminent when he saw water flooding into his house. He called families in dangerous areas to assess the situation. Seeing the risk of landslides, he immediately alerted the authorities and ran to the dangerous area to urge villagers to evacuate urgently. Along with the Party Secretary and a team of young people from the village, he rushed into each house, helping the elderly and carrying young children, racing against death.

Mr. Mua A Thi (far right) and the authorities search for victims buried by landslides.

PHOTO: XUAN TU

In that desperate race for survival, three elderly people stubbornly refused to leave. Mùa A Thi calmly and patiently persuaded them: "The rocks and earth have already fallen like this, it's dark and there are no flashlights, and our children and grandchildren are crying. I beg you to come with us, so that tomorrow morning when the weather is calm, we can return to assess the situation." The sincere and responsible words of the young village leader moved the elders. Finally, all three agreed to leave and were taken to safety. Just minutes later, the rocks and earth collapsed, burying an entire village. More than 90 villagers narrowly escaped death.

However, it is also heartbreaking that the horrific landslide claimed the lives of two young children. At the time, their parents were away, and rocks and earth collapsed onto their house while the two children were sound asleep… Recounting the story, village head Mua A Thi’s voice faltered, filled with anguish: “It’s so painful… I couldn’t save the two children.” That pain is a scar that will never heal in the village head’s heart, a painful reminder of the cruelty of natural disasters.

As one of the villagers who narrowly escaped the flood, Mr. Mua Chu Po deeply admired the courageous spirit of village head Mua A Thi: "We were urged to run to the school on the other side of the stream to escape the flood. Everyone was told that saving lives was the priority, and houses and property could be considered later. My children moved to the other side safely, but all our possessions were lost to the raging flood. My family and many other villagers are grateful to the village head."

Despite the difficulties, we still help our compatriots.

After the flood, the lives of the people in Hang Pu Xi became even more difficult. Mua A Thi's family suffered heavy losses. One of their two large rice paddies, the main source of livelihood, was completely buried under mud and rocks. The estimated cost to repair it is over 100 million dong – a huge sum for a poor farming family. However, even when facing personal losses, he still puts the common good of the community above all else.

In adversity, the courage and compassion of Mr. Mua A Thi shine brightly. Last October, upon hearing the news of the severe consequences of storms and floods in Nghe An province, the young village head did not hesitate to mobilize his fellow villagers to donate. He simply shared: "When I was in difficulty, people elsewhere also helped me. Now that people in Nghe An are facing even greater difficulties, I will help as much as I can, whether it's a little or a lot."

His appeal touched the hearts of every villager. From their meager savings and the few remaining resources after the flood, the villagers collectively donated over 4 million dong. The amount may not be large, but it embodies love, sharing, and the spirit of mutual support among people who, though poor in material possessions, are incredibly rich in compassion.

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 spirit of brotherhood during difficult times. He is a shining example for the younger generation of ethnic minorities, who are dedicating themselves day and night to building a more prosperous and happy homeland. For these contributions, Mua A Thi was awarded a commendation by the Prime Minister ; received the First Class Labor Medal; and was honored by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Youth Union and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Youth Federation as a model youth of 2025.

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