New life in the old base area

*The infrastructure of Cau Rat hamlet, Dong Tam commune has been invested in, creating convenience for people in traveling and economic development. Photo: Doan Phu*

Remember a hard time

Previously, although it was 6-7km from the old Binh Phuoc Provincial Administrative Center, all trade with the outside of Cau Rat hamlet depended on the red dirt road DT741 (now DT753) which was dusty in the dry season, muddy in the rainy season and because of the two old Rat bridges (large and small Rat bridges), it was very difficult and had many obstacles. People moved outside mainly on foot or by bicycle or ox cart.

Mr. Tran Van Lam (78 years old, living in Cau Rat hamlet, Dong Tam commune) said: In 1978, when his family and a group of people from the Central region freely migrated here to make a living, Cau Rat land was very sparsely populated. Apart from the small hamlet where people lived concentratedly, there were only a few dozen households scattered in the gardens.

Mr. Lam shared: “At that time, there were still many forests around, the deeper you go towards Ma Da bridge, the denser the forest becomes. In addition to exploiting wasteland for farming, there was a part of the population that relied on the forest for their living such as: hunting, trapping, logging for wood, rattan, bamboo, burning charcoal...

“Eating from the forest brings tears to the eyes” is a common saying of people who used to work in the forest, clearing the forest for farming in Cau Rat hamlet. Malaria and dangers from the forest have caused many people to lose their lives, become disabled or become exhausted during long trips to the forest, when the forest had not been “closed” or banned from exploitation.

In 1994, when the new Tan Phuoc commune was established, the population of Cau Rat hamlet was about 178 households and the red dirt road DT741 (old) was regularly maintained and repaired by authorities at all levels but still could not escape the situation of "dusty sun, muddy rain". Every time they went out to trade, lacking means of transportation such as: ox carts, bicycles, motorbikes, there were still a few Kinh people and ethnic minorities such as: Tay, Nung, Khmer walking in small groups with shoulder poles, carrying on their backs many agricultural products, chickens, ducks raised to exchange essential goods such as: fish sauce, salt, MSG, sugar, medicine... Especially in remote gardens, where there were no means of transportation or it was difficult to move, people who were seriously ill or in labor were often carried by relatives and neighbors on bicycles, carrying hammocks outside for emergency care and delivery.

Come to life

All has receded into the past and the land of Cau Rat hamlet now has a new vitality and energy when the old Dong Nai province and the old Binh Phuoc province merge into one house with the name Dong Nai province; at the same time, the land of Cau Rat hamlet now belongs to the new Dong Tam commune when 3 communes: Dong Tam, Dong Tien, Tan Phuoc, Dong Phu district (old) are merged.

*Good farmer Pham Minh Tan (middle, group 2, Cau Rat hamlet, Dong Tam commune) earns more than 800 million VND/year from 1 hectare of rubber land and fish pond. Photo: Doan Phu*

Mr. Tran Manh Cuong, Head of Cau Rat Hamlet, Dong Tam Commune, expressed: Before implementing the 2-level local government and establishing the new Dong Tam Commune, Cau Rat was the central hamlet of Tan Phuoc Commune (old). Therefore, the local authorities chose the land of Cau Rat Hamlet to invest in infrastructure works that create the development face, such as: roads, electricity, medical stations, schools, and the memorial stele to commemorate the heroic martyrs of the commune. At the same time, Cau Rat Hamlet also benefits from 4 national and provincial-level projects and works that are under construction and investment, including: Project to Enhance the Flood Drainage Capacity of Rat Stream; Dong Tien - Tan Phu Bypass Road; Expansion and Upgrade of DT753 Route; Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh Expressway.

“In 2024, Tan Phuoc commune was recognized as meeting advanced new rural standards and Cau Rat is the central hamlet of the commune, so we mobilized nearly 2 billion VND from the people to work with the commune to match the budget capital to invest in 100% of asphalt or cement concrete roads; electricity for daily life and production and business; cultural houses, landscapes according to the criteria of bright, green, clean, and beautiful" - Mr. Cuong emphasized.

In the 1990s, when I first came here to start a business, I always tried to overcome difficulties to create a new and better life. What makes me happiest is that the authorities at all levels in each period always care about the people, prioritize investment, and build the land of Cau Rat hamlet to develop continuously over time.
Mr. PHAM MINH TAN (Group 2, Cau Rat Hamlet, Dong Tam Commune)

Cau Rat Hamlet currently has 396 households/nearly 1,500 people, with an agricultural production area of 165 hectares. Currently, the hamlet has no poor households, 100% of the hamlet's residents have decent housing, over 30% of households have a good or higher income. The main income of the hamlet's residents comes from agriculture, services, a part of the youth participate in labor at companies... Average income per capita (statistics at the end of 2024) is 85 million VND.

Settling here since 1996, Mr. Vu Xuan Roanh, Secretary of Cau Rat Hamlet Party Cell, feels the changes of this land over time. What makes him feel most deeply is that from the poorest land of Dong Xoai Commune in the past, Cau Rat has become a central hamlet and always takes the lead in the movements to build new rural areas and advanced new rural areas of Tan Phuoc Commune and Dong Phu District (old). Therefore, he is even more confident that Cau Rat Hamlet will grow strongly when the commune, province and key national and provincial projects are completed.

Saying goodbye to Cau Rat hamlet in the last days of August 2025 with many projects being urgently constructed to meet the schedule, put into use, serve the economic development of the region, Dong Nai province and the people here, we, like many people of Cau Rat hamlet (the former war zone of the 7th Military Region), are happy and expect that Cau Rat hamlet will develop further when all over the country in general, Dong Nai province in particular, are making efforts to implement a 2-level local government to be closer to the people, serving the people better.

Source: https://dongnai.gov.vn/vi/news/tin-dia-phuong/suc-song-moi-noi-vung-can-cu-xua-55398.html