Everyone knows Mùa A Thi, a young man born in 1999, the head of Háng Pu Xi village (Xa Dung commune, Điện Biên province), as a courageous young "leader" who dares to think and act. In early August 2025, heavy rains caused devastating flash floods and landslides in Háng Pu Xi village. In the most dangerous moment, thanks to his decisive action, Village Head Mùa A Thi saved 90 people from the "clutches of death" in the horrific flash flood.

Becoming village chief at age 23

The Hang Pu Xi village, nestled amidst rugged mountain slopes, is home to 75 households with nearly 400 people of the Mong ethnic group. The terrain is characterized by numerous streams; on days with heavy rain, the streams rise, forcing children to miss school because they cannot cross the bridges. As a result, very few children receive a full education, and even fewer complete high school.

And, among this "rare few," most choose to leave their villages to find work and live in cities—the "path" to escaping poverty and changing their lives for the young people in the highlands today. However, Mua A Thi is different. After graduating from high school, he had many opportunities to continue his education at university, learn a trade, or work as a factory worker... After many sleepless nights, thinking about his hardworking parents and the poverty of his village, he decided to stay in his homeland. Because, according to him: "If everyone leaves the village, what will happen to Hang Pu Xi? There must be young people to stay and shoulder the common tasks, helping the people build a life right in their homeland."

Village head Mua A Thi receives the Outstanding Young Vietnamese Award 2025. Photo provided by the subject.

Staying in the village meant accepting hardship and difficulties, and the path to establishing a livelihood was more challenging. Recognizing this, Mùa A Thi was determined to stay, sharing the hardships, overcoming poverty and hardship, and working alongside the villagers to build their community. With this belief, he began developing the economy by self-learning, researching, and applying scientific and technical methods to livestock farming and crop cultivation. From his initial successes, he gradually found a new direction for economic development for the entire village.

In 2022, the villagers unanimously elected Mua A Thi as the village head, at the young age of 23. Comrade Mua A Trong, Secretary of the Party Branch of Hang Pu Xi village, said: "The Party Branch highly appreciates member Mua A Thi. He is a person with ideals and a sense of responsibility; always energetic and enthusiastic about the common good, not afraid of difficulties, and exemplary in his words and deeds."

To earn the affection, trust, and admiration of the villagers, Mùa A Thi devoted a great deal of effort, but above all, it had to be sincerity. After working in the fields, he would walk around the village, and if he saw any household with unfinished harvest work, he would readily lend a hand; if he saw any family lacking food during the lean season, he would generously share; and if anyone needed help or faced difficulties, he was always there promptly...

Brave rescuers save people during the devastating flood.

Recalling the heavy rains and floods of August 1, 2025, Village Head Mua A Thi recounted that around 3 a.m., amidst the torrential rain, he was restless and anxious. Hearing unusual sounds of rocks and earth coming down from the mountainside, he immediately suspected a landslide threatening his village. In that life-or-death moment, despite the howling wind and rain, he hastily called across the stream, where 21 households lived.

A woman's trembling voice, mixed with panicked sobs, answered the phone: "The land is collapsing!" Immediately, he ran to knock on every door, shouting to wake the villagers. In an instant, people carried small children, the strong helped the weak, and the young carried the elderly; everyone moved quickly to the shelter area. At that time, three elderly people refused to go. Village head Mua A Thi sternly declared: "Human lives are more precious than anything!" Immediately, he assigned four young men to "forcibly" bring the elderly people out of the danger zone.

About 40 minutes later, just as the evacuation of residents was complete, a devastating flash flood struck, carrying thousands of cubic meters of earth, rocks, and trees, sweeping away almost all the houses, gardens, and property of the households along its path. Seventeen houses were buried and swept away, and four were severely damaged. Seeing the scene of devastation, everyone shuddered, not daring to imagine what would have happened if they hadn't quickly evacuated as instructed by the village chief. With decisive action, Village Chief Mua A Thi and the rescue forces saved 90 people from the brink of death.

Mr. Mua Khua Po, one of the three elderly men who initially refused to leave during that night of heavy rain and flooding, choked back tears as he recounted, "If it weren't for the courage and decisiveness of the village chief that day, I wouldn't have survived." When asked about his bravery, Village Chief Mua A Thi humbly stated, "As the village chief, I am aware of my responsibility to protect the people to the very end, under any circumstances."

In recognition of this noble deed, on August 4, 2025, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent a letter of commendation to Village Head Mua A Thi. “I am very happy to receive a letter of commendation from the Prime Minister. It is a motivation for me to continue striving. I believe that if the people trust us, we must put them first, and I will always do my best for my fellow villagers,” Mua A Thi shared.

Speak to the people, act in a way that earns their trust.

After being admitted to the Communist Party of Vietnam, Village Head Mua A Thi was recently elected as a representative to the People's Council of Xa Dung commune for the 2026-2031 term. This is a great recognition and expectation of the villagers for their "leader," Mua A Thi.

As a young village leader, Mùa A Thi always sets a good example by adhering to the motto "speak to the people, act in a way that earns their trust," transforming his words into concrete actions. For the past four years, he has stayed close to the people and the village, accompanying them through thick and thin. In particular, with a spirit of daring to think and act, he researched coffee cultivation models and then encouraged villagers to plant coffee instead of corn and cassava to achieve higher economic returns. This was a bold decision, as for generations, the people here had never known how to cultivate industrial crops.

Village head Mua A Thi compiles a list of damages suffered by each family in the village due to the flash flood that occurred in the early morning of August 1, 2025. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

To gain the villagers' trust and encourage them to follow suit, he took the lead. He converted 5,000 square meters of low-yield upland rice fields to coffee cultivation and reclaimed over 8,000 square meters of paddy fields. He also built sturdy barns for raising buffaloes, cows, pigs, and chickens, replacing the previous free-range farming method. Seeing his success, the villagers gradually trusted him and followed suit. Currently, the village of Háng Pu Xi has been cultivating coffee for three years, covering nearly 10 hectares. Mr. Thi stated: “We are encouraging villagers to completely abandon cassava and corn cultivation and switch to coffee, macadamia nuts, and passion fruit. Based on local research, these crops yield higher economic returns.”

Besides caring for and guiding the people in developing the economy, Mùa A Thi also actively engages with the community. He regularly collaborates with various departments, agencies, and organizations to disseminate information and encourage people to correctly implement the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws. In addition, he always strives to maintain a central role in uniting the community, mobilizing people to abandon outdated customs; and actively participating in movements such as: "All citizens protect national security," "Maintaining security and order in residential areas," and "Building safe villages"...

Speaking to us, Village Head Mua A Thi shared: "The most difficult thing is persuading the elderly to abandon old habits and customs. Especially when resolving land and field disputes between households, there are cases where I have to spend a lot of time thinking and finding ways to mediate so that everyone agrees. However, when I step in to resolve the issues, and I see that it is fair and reasonable, the villagers listen and support me."

Comrade Sung A Mang, Chairman of the People's Committee of Xa Dung commune, said: "Village head Mua A Thi is enthusiastic in his work and always wholeheartedly helps the people. He is also an important bridge connecting the government with the people, effectively disseminating policies and guidelines to each household. With a high sense of responsibility and wholehearted dedication to the community, Mua A Thi has made a significant contribution to stabilizing the lives of the people after the storms and floods, building the village into a more civilized and progressive place, earning the trust and affection of the people and the recognition of the government."

On March 5, 2026, General Secretary To Lam directed during a meeting with the Central Organization Committee on solutions to improve the quality of grassroots officials in the operation of the two-tiered local government: “This model only operates effectively when the implementing officials have sufficient capacity, responsibility, and dedication. Dangerous moments have shown that grassroots officials are not just intermediaries but are the crucial support that determines the lives and trust of the people.” The image and actions of Village Head Mua A Thi are vivid proof of this spirit: Innovating thinking, daring to think and act, always close to the people, working for the people, and for the common good of the community.

From the decision to stay in his homeland, to taking concrete action and leading the community, Village Head Mua A Thi has gradually sown the seeds of change, transforming Hang Pu Xi from a poor village into a thriving place, a place of faith and aspiration for progress. Mua A Thi, a "red seed," is a role model for today's grassroots officials, a strong bridge between the Party's will and the people's hearts, contributing to spreading the spirit of building a strong nation from the grassroots.

For his contributions, Village Head Mua A Thi was honored with the First Class Labor Medal by the President of Vietnam; the 2025 "Youth Living Beautifully" Award by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Youth Union for his actions in saving lives during the flash flood; and the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union recognized him as one of the 10 Outstanding Young Vietnamese in 2025.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-17/thu-linh-tre-o-ban-hang-pu-xi-1033961