Hoa Binh New Rural Area: Accelerating on a solid foundation

From a mountainous province with many difficulties, after more than a decade of implementing the National Target Program on New Rural Development (NTM), Hoa Binh has risen to become a bright spot in the Northern midland and mountainous region. In the first quarter of 2025, positive results continued to be maintained, creating a foundation for Hoa Binh to enter the "acceleration" stage with a proactive and confident mindset.

Cordyceps products of QP Gold Facility, Dong Tien Ward ( Hoa Binh City) are recognized as 3-star OCOP products.

Foundation from talking numbers

"Up to this point, we can affirm that Hoa Binh is possessing a fairly solid new rural foundation," said Mr. Nguyen Hong Tuan, Head of the Rural Development Department. The whole province currently has 83/129 communes meeting the new rural standards, reaching nearly 65% ​​of the total number of communes, exceeding the Central level and approaching the province's plan. Particularly, the number of advanced new rural communes has reached 32 communes, exceeding nearly 40% of the assigned target. Notably, Hoa Binh has 3 communes meeting the new rural model standards, 75 model residential areas and 258 model gardens - not small numbers, if placed in the context of a mountainous province with many difficulties in terms of terrain, resources and connectivity.

At the district level, Luong Son, Lac Thuy and Hoa Binh City have all completed the task of building new rural areas, showing uniformity in implementation. The average of the whole province has reached 16.3 criteria/commune and the good news is that no commune has reached less than 10 criteria - something that was a "bottleneck" a few years ago.

From a solid foundation, the province has begun to move to the stage of raising standards and improving quality. In the first quarter of 2025, the Department of Rural Development has coordinated to complete documents, organize appraisals, and advise on documents requesting recognition of standards for localities. Typically, Tong Dau commune (Mai Chau) has been officially recognized as meeting advanced NTM standards; Kim Lap commune (Kim Boi) is completing preparations for the ceremony to announce the achievement of NTM standards.

Not only stopping at recognition, the province also deployed a pilot model of domestic waste treatment in My Hoa commune (Kim Boi) - the first step to make environmental issues a living criterion, not just a technical criterion.

In the coming months, Hoa Binh aims to have 9 more communes meeting NTM standards, 3 communes meeting exemplary NTM standards, raising the average criteria of the whole province to 17 criteria/commune. Along with that, strive for 2 more district-level units to reach the finish line, of which 1 district meets advanced NTM standards.

"These are not just numbers on paper. Each commune reaching the finish line is a process of companionship, support, and resolution from the grassroots level. Each additional criterion is a small but lasting change in people's lives," emphasized comrade Nguyen Hong Tuan.

Towards sustainable quality of life

In Tong Dau commune (Mai Chau), officials and people are eagerly preparing for the day of announcing the commune meeting advanced NTM standards - an important milestone in the locality's development journey.

Comrade Ha Van Tich, Chairman of Tong Dau Commune People's Committee shared: "Reaching the advanced NTM standard is the result of a process of tireless efforts. However, this is not the destination, but a stepping stone for us to continue improving the quality of life, developing indigenous OCOP products and building a model community tourism village in the near future."

Not just a title, the advanced NTM has truly become a driving force to promote the spirit of self-reliance, consensus and aspiration to rise up, towards a sustainable quality of life of the people. Currently, in localities in the province, along with the criteria system is an effort to create a real quality of life for rural people. Traffic works, irrigation, schools, medical stations, electricity, clean water are deployed more synchronously, on target, meeting production and life requirements. In particular, the OCOP Program plays the role of a "soft spearhead" when creating typical products for each rural area. It is expected that in 2025, the province will standardize 16 more OCOP products with 3 stars or more. Up to now, the whole province has 158 OCOP products, of which 118 are still valid, including 2 5-star products, 15 4-star products and 101 3-star products - reflecting the clear maturity of the rural economic sector.

Along with that is the increasingly active participation of cooperatives, business households, and local enterprises in the production and consumption chain. This direction not only helps increase product value but also creates jobs, increases income, and retains workers in their hometowns.

The journey of building new rural areas in Hoa Binh is shifting from "finishing" to "raising the level". The numbers in the report are not only achievements but also affirmations of a methodical approach, a long-term journey with a vision towards people. "We always consider new rural areas not a short-term movement, but a foundation for more sustainable, humane and modern development for each rural area", shared the Director of the Department of Rural Development Nguyen Hong Tuan.

Thu Hang

Source: https://baohoabinh.com.vn/12/201423/Nong-thon-moi-Hoa-Binh-Tang-toc-tren-nen-vung-chac.htm