Right policy, right investment
According to Decision No. 1227/QD-TTg dated July 14, 2021 of the Prime Minister, the Lo Lo ethnic group in Cao Bang is one of 14 ethnic groups in the particularly difficult period of 2021 - 2025. In addition, the province also has many other ethnic minorities such as Tay, Nung, Mong, Dao... also in the group with many difficulties and limitations in development conditions.
Thanks to resources from programs and projects, especially the National Target Program on Socio -Economic Development for Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2025 Period (Decision 1719/QD-TTg), many disadvantaged areas have received infrastructure investment and livelihood support, contributing to improving people's lives. However, the poverty reduction journey of ethnic minority groups still faces many challenges.
Before the merger, Thuong Thon commune (formerly Quang Ha district), now Lung Nam commune) had a population of more than 4,200 people, mainly Nung and Mong people - two ethnic groups that are still facing many difficulties according to Decision 1227/QD-TTg. The fragmented terrain, steep limestone mountains, lack of infrastructure and scarcity of water for daily life and production made people's lives extremely difficult. In 2022, some households were also lured into participating in the illegal religious organization Duong Van Minh; in Sy Dien hamlet alone, half of the households were affected.
To help people escape these negative impacts, local authorities combine propaganda and mobilization with infrastructure investment and livelihood support. Since 2022, capital from the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas has brought a "new breath of life" to this difficult land.
As of August 2025, Cao Bang has supported nearly 13,000 households with water tanks, completing 53 clean water projects and putting them into use. Thanks to that, the poverty rate among ethnic minorities has decreased by 4.66%, many families have risen out of poverty and stabilized their lives. One of the practical projects is the Lung Cuoi centralized domestic water tank (Lung Giang hamlet), approved in March 2024 with a budget of nearly 870 million VND. In parallel, households are also supported with water tanks to proactively store domestic water at home.
The housing support policy under the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas has also been vigorously implemented, helping people "settle down and make a living". Many new, spacious houses have replaced makeshift roofs in the middle of rocky mountains. Mr. Ly Van No (Sy Dien hamlet) shared: before, I listened to bad people and abandoned my fields. Now that I have received help from the State, I feel secure in growing corn and peanuts. With a new, sturdy house, my life has gradually stabilized.
Key drivers for poverty reduction
Capital from the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas has helped Cao Bang complete many essential infrastructure projects; at the same time, solving urgent problems in people's lives. In particular, the policy of supporting production development has brought "fishing rods" to people, creating a foundation for sustainable livelihoods. To date, the whole province has implemented nearly 1,000 projects to develop key crops and livestock such as cinnamon, star anise, buffalo, cows... Thanks to that, in 2024, Cao Bang reduced more than 6,000 poor households compared to 2023 - a remarkable result. However, the poverty rate among the Mong, Nung, and Dao ethnic groups remains high.
According to the results of the third socio-economic survey of 53 ethnic minorities ( Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions , July 2025), Cao Bang has 125,823 ethnic minority households, of which 32,154 are poor. Right in the old Thuong Thon area, the rate of poor households still accounts for more than 69%, near-poor households about 10%. These figures reflect the urgent need for a stronger policy "push" to create a breakthrough in poverty reduction among particularly disadvantaged ethnic groups.
According to the representative of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions of Cao Bang province, the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas continues to be the main resource to help the province develop and improve people's lives. The province aims to disburse at least 85% of the capital plan in 2025; at the same time, it proposed to extend the capital implementation period to 2026, in order to create conditions for newly merged units to stabilize their organizations and ensure investment efficiency.
In fact, after the merger, the workload in the localities increased sharply, leading to many difficulties in the implementation progress. Therefore, extending the capital usage period is completely reasonable and necessary. Chairman of the People's Committee of Tong Cot Commune, Duong Van Thinh, said: after merging from 3 old communes, we received more than 52 billion VND in investment for infrastructure and nearly 18 billion VND for career projects. Currently, the whole commune is focusing on supporting seedlings, fertilizers and developing agriculture in a sustainable and practical direction to avoid waste.
Value chain production projects are opening up new opportunities for people in the highlands, helping them not only escape poverty but also gradually become rich on their homeland. This is the sustainable direction for Cao Bang to realize the goal of rapid and comprehensive poverty reduction, leaving no one behind.
Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/suc-bat-moi-cho-vung-dac-biet-kho-khan-cao-bang-10397133.html
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