Shining the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers
As instructed, I met veteran Dinh Xuan Hung when he and members of the Phuc Trach Environmental Service Cooperative were participating in waste collection and environmental sanitation at the intersection where Ho Chi Minh Road splits into two East-West branches to celebrate the 1st Congress of Phong Nha Commune Party Committee, term 2025-2030, towards the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution (August 19, 1945 - August 19, 2025) and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025).
Taking advantage of the break, Mr. Dinh Xuan Hung and I had a sincere conversation. He said: “I was born and raised in Phuc Trach commune (old), now Phong Nha commune. In February 1984, following the sacred call of the Fatherland, I joined the army, performing international duties on the Cambodian battlefield. In November 1987, I was demobilized, receiving the 4/4 class disabled soldier regime.
Returning home with empty hands, with many injuries, after getting married and having children, my parents were old and weak, and the economic difficulties became even more difficult. Imbued with Uncle Ho's teaching "Disabled but not useless" combined with the will and determination of a soldier who had trained in combat and the encouragement and help from neighbors, comrades, teammates, local authorities... I determined that I could not accept poverty, determined to rise up. Poor land does not fail those who work hard, gradually the family built a solid foundation, escaped poverty, and rose up to become rich".
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| Veterans of Phong Nha commune prepare to join workers of Phuc Trach Environmental Service Cooperative to collect waste - Photo: T.Long |
At the Congress of the Association of War Veterans of Phuc Trach Commune (old), term 2017-2022, Mr. Dinh Xuan Hung was elected to hold the position of Vice Chairman of the Association of War Veterans of the Commune. In this position, he has more conditions to better participate in patriotic emulation movements; build new rural areas; propagate and mobilize war veteran members and people to take care of economic development, build the homeland to be more and more beautiful and civilized, link emulation movements with environmental protection, and sustainably protect the World Natural Heritage Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
Building a clean-beautiful-civilized living environment
Mentioning the land of Phuc-Lam-Xuan (Phuc Trach, Lam Trach, Xuan Trach) reminds us of the 3 particularly difficult western communes of Bo Trach district (old). With a large area, large population, complex terrain, often isolated during the rainy season. People's lives are still poor, so it greatly affects environmental sanitation. Living habits and poor awareness of environmental protection are the reasons why garbage is thrown haphazardly along traffic routes, rivers, streams, ponds, lakes... causing environmental pollution.
Responding to the movement of war veterans participating in environmental protection, clearly defining the responsibility of war veterans to set an example through specific and practical actions. Faced with the problem of waste causing much frustration among the people, after a period of pondering, exploring and researching, Mr. Dinh Xuan Hung decided to establish a Waste Collection Team to help thoroughly solve the problem of environmental protection.
In June 2022, the Waste Collection Team was established with 8 members, including 3 veteran members as the core. During its operation, the Waste Collection Team transformed its model into the Phuc Trach Environmental Service Cooperative. Regarding assets, Mr. Dinh Xuan Hung invested in buying a specialized garbage truck worth 1.2 billion VND; maintaining a stable number of 6-9 workers.
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| Mr. Dinh Xuan Hung discusses work with workers of Phuc Trach Environmental Service Cooperative - Photo: T.Long |
After more than 2 years of operating effectively in Phuc Trach commune (old), Phuc Trach Environmental Service Cooperative collects and transports over 108 tons of waste per month on average. Good news spreads far and wide... the authorities and people of the two localities of Xuan Trach and Lam Trach requested Phuc Trach Environmental Service Cooperative to expand the collection area in their area.
After the merger, the three communes of Phuc-Lam-Xuan and Phong Nha town (old) became Phong Nha commune. The garbage collection work in Phuc-Lam-Xuan is still undertaken by Phuc Trach Environmental Service Cooperative with more than 6,100 households registered for garbage collection (service fee 27 thousand VND/month), accounting for over 98% of the population. After collection and classification, the garbage will be transported to the treatment plant in Nam Trach commune according to regulations.
Evaluating the effectiveness of the Phuc Trach Environmental Service Cooperative model, Mr. Nguyen Van Cao, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, Chairman of the Phong Nha Commune Veterans Association affirmed: During his lifetime, Uncle Ho always advised "If you are good at mass mobilization, everything will be successful" and "You must honestly get involved in the work". The practical and meaningful work of veteran Dinh Xuan Hung is to follow Uncle Ho's teachings, as long as he is healthy, he will continue to contribute to the construction of his homeland, build a strong and comprehensive Commune Veterans Association, meeting the requirements and tasks in the new development stage.
Mr. Hoang Trong Hoa, Secretary of the Party Cell of Village 6, Xuan Trach said: "Since the Phuc Trach Environmental Service Cooperative came into operation, the environmental pollution problem in Phuc-Lam-Xuan has been resolved according to the wishes of the people as well as the local Party Committee and government, aiming to build a civilized lifestyle, building a green-clean-beautiful livable village".
Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuy, in village 6, Xuan Trach shared: “In the past, when there was no Phuc Trach Environmental Service Cooperative model, we opened our eyes and saw garbage thrown everywhere on the roads, rivers, streams, and lakes. Now people are more aware of collecting garbage. Not only that, garbage is also classified and then transported to the collection point. Thanks to that, the rural area is cleaner and more beautiful.”
Mr. Dinh Xuan Hung sincerely told me: “Up to now, after 3 years of operation, Phuc Trach Environmental Service Cooperative has truly brought practical benefits to the people, community and society. The living environment and tourism environment are guaranteed. The most important thing is to create trust, raise awareness and responsibility of the people in protecting the environment, protecting heritage, creating stable jobs for rural workers, with monthly income from 6.5 million to 8 million VND/person”.
Ngo Thanh Long
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202509/ong-hung-rac-60e5b82/
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