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| The Mong people of Ngoi Khu village, Trung Son commune, are boldly changing their crop structure in economic development. |
From poverty to prosperity
Ngoi Khu is a village inhabited entirely by the Mong ethnic group, with 36 households and 118 people. Previously, the villagers faced many hardships; their houses were makeshift, and they relied solely on growing corn for sustenance. In years with erratic weather, when crops failed to grow, the villagers faced food shortages. The poverty meant many households lived hand-to-mouth. Their makeshift houses offered no protection from the cold and rain. Especially during the rainy season, the dirt road leading into the village became muddy, making travel difficult and at times almost completely impassable.
Ms. Giang Thi Chia, Secretary of the Party Branch of Ngoi Khu village, said: “Four years ago, 100% of the households in the village were poor, and life was very difficult. Lack of capital and knowledge meant that livestock farming and crop cultivation were mainly for self-sufficiency. Many families could not afford to send their children to school, and their cultural and spiritual lives were limited. Many households had to borrow food or go into the forest to find vegetables and bamboo shoots to eat during the lean season. Poverty was a vicious cycle year after year, making Ngoi Khu one of the poorest villages in the commune.”
In Ngoi Khu village, everyone admires the perseverance of Ms. Giang Thi Chia, the village Party Secretary. She always practices what she preaches, from introducing rice cultivation to pioneering livestock farming and reforestation. Whenever she sees an effective model, she promotes and encourages villagers to adopt it. She also directly guides villagers on land preparation, rice cultivation, and poultry farming; connecting many households in the village to partner with Yen Son Forestry Company for reforestation. The people of Ngoi Khu village have gradually changed their production mindset, boldly learning new methods to develop their economy. From being accustomed to growing corn and raising chickens on a small scale, many households, after receiving information and participating in training courses, have changed their thinking, learning to utilize hilly land to grow bamboo for shoots and develop commercial livestock farming (buffaloes, cows, pigs).
With a total area of over 106 hectares of production forest, the development of bamboo cultivation for shoot harvesting has been actively implemented by the villagers. As one of the households supported by the bamboo cultivation project, after a period of successful cultivation, Ms. Sung Thi Dung boldly expanded her production area, adding orange cultivation and livestock farming. Ms. Dung shared: “Previously, my family only grew corn, and the income was not much. Since receiving support with bamboo seedlings for shoot harvesting and guidance on care methods, I find it very suitable for the land here. Bamboo is easy to care for, and selling shoots brings in extra money for the family. My family has also invested in planting nearly 100 orange and pomelo trees and raising poultry. Our income is now much better, and we no longer worry about poverty like before.”
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| The people of Ngoi Khu village now have access to clean, safe water. |
Practical support
To ensure that villagers can work and produce with peace of mind, the local government has focused on supporting them with plant and animal breeds, and assisting them in building houses with the motto "leaving no one behind." In 2025 alone, 12 households in the village received support for building new houses and repairing existing ones, totaling over 540 million VND. From 2020 to the present, the village has received state investment for the construction of a pedestrian bridge and the concreting of several sections of the main road. In 2021, the village received investment for a transformer station and low-voltage power lines, providing national grid electricity to 100% of households. In 2024, the Ngoi Ria and Ngoi Khu kindergartens were built with two spacious classrooms, ensuring that 100% of children of school age can attend school.
Comrade Nguyen Van Truong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Trung Son commune, said: "Thanks to the attention and investment of the Party and the State, along with the involvement of the local government, the lives of the people in Ngoi Khu village have changed significantly. The villagers have boldly changed their way of thinking and doing things, instead of just waiting and relying on state support. Previously, 100% of households in the village were poor, but now only 11 remain. The average income is over 2 million VND/person/month; 100% of households have televisions, motorbikes, access to the national power grid, clean water, and children of school age attend school. The village has a regularly maintained arts and sports team, contributing to improving the spiritual life of the people."
Thanks to practical policies and the indomitable spirit of its people, the Mong village of Ngoi Khu is bursting with new life. The achievements show that the Mong people here have changed not only in their mindset but also in their way of doing things.
Text and photos: Thuy Nga
Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/xa-hoi/202607/suc-song-o-ban-mong-ngoi-khu-b2442b9/
