New vitality in Bu Dop homeland

BPO - On February 20, 2003, the Government issued Decree No. 17/2003/ND-CP on the establishment of Bu Dop district on the basis of separation from Loc Ninh district. At that time, Bu Dop was a remote border area with poor infrastructure and difficult life for the people. Almost starting from zero, after more than 2 decades of efforts to rise up, Bu Dop today has "put on" a new appearance, spacious, dynamic and full of life.

Rise from hardship

Recalling the early days of the district's establishment, Mr. Ho Cong Doan, former Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Thien Hung commune, still cannot forget the image of slippery red dirt roads in the rainy season and dusty roads in the dry season, making travel extremely difficult. Medical and educational infrastructure were only makeshift facilities. "At the time of separation, the district lacked everything, from electricity, roads, schools, stations to human resources, and people's lives were very difficult. In particular, Bu Dop is a border area, with a high proportion of ethnic minorities and limited educational level, so socio -economic development faced many difficulties and challenges," Mr. Doan shared.

The central area of ​​Thien Hung commune today has become bustling and modern.

Mr. Do Viet Khanh, a 57-year Party member in Thanh Binh town, said: “At that time, the majority of houses were made of thatched roofs and bamboo walls, and only low-rise houses were rare, and only well-off households had them. People mainly farmed, grew rice, and self-sufficient crops; engaged in small-scale trading, and life was very difficult.”

The establishment of Bu Dop district is a strategic decision to strengthen management, build a government apparatus closer to the people, and at the same time create momentum for the development of border areas. Along with the improvement of the administrative system, the district has embarked on a series of socio-economic development programs, infrastructure investment and consolidation of the grassroots political system.

A corner of Bu Dop district administrative center today

From a purely agricultural district, all communes were in the category of extremely difficult, after 22 years, Bu Dop has transformed strongly. Infrastructure is gradually being completed, the regional traffic network is being expanded. Currently, more than 97% of rural roads are asphalted and concreted; 16/22 schools meet national standards; 6/6 communes meet new rural standards... Of which, Thien Hung commune meets advanced new rural standards and is striving to meet the criteria of a type V urban area; Thanh Binh town is recognized as a civilized urban area.

In 2003, the district's budget revenue only reached 22.5 billion VND, but by 2024 it had exceeded 620 billion VND, an increase of more than 28 times. The average economic growth rate is over 8.6%/year; average income per capita increased from 3.3 million VND (when the district was first established) to nearly 72 million VND/year. The poverty rate decreased from 26.5% to less than 1% by the end of 2024.

Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee Nguyen Minh Phong said: "When it was first established, all the communes were in extremely difficult situations. Up to now, 6/6 border communes have completed the construction of new rural areas; the material and spiritual life of the people has been increasingly improved. This result is thanks to the consistent leadership of the Party Committee, the drastic management of the government and the high consensus among the people."

Building a solid "people's hearts" position

One of the decisive factors for the development of Bu Dop is Party building. From 7 grassroots party organizations with 459 party members in 2003, the district now has 50 grassroots party organizations with more than 2,000 party members. Secretary of the District Party Committee Dang Ha Giang affirmed: “We identify cadre work as the “key of the keys”. Through the congress terms, the district has issued many breakthrough programs on training, fostering and planning cadres. Each member of the District Party Executive Committee is assigned to be in charge of the grassroots to closely follow reality, thereby making appropriate and timely decisions”.

The previously muddy rural roads have been paved with asphalt and concrete, making them clean and beautiful, changing the appearance of the locality.

At the same time, the District Party Committee focuses on developing the Party in private enterprises, thereby spreading the role of Party organizations in all aspects of social life, contributing to improving the quality of the political system and state management capacity in the locality.

Not only focusing on economic development, Bu Dop is also a place where the cultural identities of 26 ethnic groups live together. Cultural institutions are invested in a systematic manner; 100% of villages, hamlets, and neighborhoods have community cultural houses. The whole district currently has 20 active cultural and artistic clubs, creating a colorful cultural picture.

The once wild land has now become vast, green and fertile fields, affirming that the lives of people in the border area are increasingly developing.

The cultural and sports festival of ethnic groups, held every two years, is an opportunity to bring together unique features, such as the New Rice Festival of the Stieng people, the Chol Chnam Thmay festival of the Khmer people, and the amateur music and singing of the Tay people. Cultural exchange activities with districts bordering Cambodia are also maintained regularly, contributing to building solidarity, friendship, and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment.

Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee Nguyen Minh Phong affirmed: "Along with economic development, we pay special attention to preserving and promoting national cultural values. Thereby, helping to improve people's lives, encouraging the spirit of production, contributing to the sustainable development of the locality."

Although agriculture is still the mainstay of the economy, trade, services, production and business enterprises are increasingly developing, creating a change in the economic structure of the district.

Economic development, people's cultural and spiritual life is increasingly improved.

Bu Dop Border Guard always cares about and supports people in border areas to develop the economy, creating a solid position of people's hearts.

As a border district, Bu Dop always identifies national defense and security as an important task. On the more than 86km long border adjacent to the Kingdom of Cambodia, the border guards and authorities at all levels have closely coordinated in territorial management, maintaining sovereignty, and building a solid "people's heart position". Lieutenant Colonel Tran Huu Long, Political Commissar of Hoang Dieu Border Guard Station, said: "The border guards not only protect the border but also accompany the people in building new rural areas, developing the socio-economy, contributing to gradually improving the lives of people in the border areas. Thanks to that, a solid "people's heart position" has been built and consolidated, making an important contribution to maintaining national border security".

22 years is not a long journey, but what Bu Dop has achieved today is the result of solidarity, resilience and constant creativity. However, we cannot be satisfied with what we have. Each cadre and each citizen needs to continue to promote the spirit of initiative, creativity, solidarity and join hands to build Bu Dop to develop quickly and sustainably, becoming a bright spot in the northern border of the province.

Vice Chairman of Bu Dop District People's Committee NGUYEN MINH PHONG

In the new period, the district aims to improve the quality of human resources, exploit the potential of high-tech agriculture, promote investment attraction and develop synchronous infrastructure. On the proud borderland, Bu Dop is continuing its journey of innovation with the spirit of solidarity and the desire to rise up.

Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/4/172818/suc-song-moi-tren-que-huong-bu-dop