From dialogue to consensus

Through persistent dialogue, explanation, and listening to the people, Tan Hoi commune has gradually overcome difficulties in production transformation, restoring order in land use and construction. The consensus of the people has become an important foundation for the sustainable development of the locality.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Ngoc (far right) engages in dialogue and persuades residents to dismantle structures located within the traffic safety corridor. Photo: DANG LINH

Consensus to shift production

From the very beginning of implementing the shrimp-rice farming model in Tay Son 2 hamlet, An Bien commune, dialogue has been a key factor in achieving consensus. Previously, this area was planned for shrimp-rice farming development, but its implementation sparked numerous dissenting opinions. Residents worried about the success of shrimp farming; they also feared that introducing saltwater could affect rice fields in the area bordering the former Thu Ba town, leading to conflicts.

Mr. Le Minh Duong, former Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of the old Dong Yen commune, said that the plan to zone shrimp-rice farming in Tay Son 2 hamlet dates back to 2022, based on a request from the people. However, the initial mobilization process faced many difficulties because some households did not agree, believing that this model was not suitable for their production conditions. The local authorities had to organize consultations with the people four times before reaching a consensus.

When the project began, the problem of the lack of a dike to prevent saltwater intrusion between the Tay Son 2 shrimp farming area and Dong Quy hamlet (formerly Thu Ba town) continued to arise. Local leaders had to go directly to the site, dialogue, and exchange ideas with the people to find a feasible solution. From that spirit of consensus, Mr. Danh Tien, residing in Tay Son 2 hamlet, voluntarily donated more than 1,000 square meters of land to dig a ditch and build a dike, creating favorable conditions for the model to be implemented smoothly.

Ms. Thi Sanh, residing in Tay Son 2 hamlet, shared: “Previously, my family grew rice and frequently suffered losses due to tidal surges. After switching to a model of one shrimp crop and one rice crop, our 11 acres of land yielded a profit of about 100 million VND per year. Since starting shrimp farming, the subsequent rice crop also achieved higher yields, with a profit of over 4 million VND per acre per crop, something unprecedented before.” According to Mr. Huynh Tu Em, Party Secretary and Head of Tay Son 2 hamlet, the shrimp-rice model brings in a profit of 70-100 million VND per hectare, much higher than cultivating two rice crops which only yield 20-30 million VND per hectare. Currently, the entire hamlet has 128.1 hectares of shrimp-rice farming, in addition to over 300 hectares of two-crop rice farming that are gradually being converted to adapt to climate change.

Persistently restore order in land management.

Dialogue with the people is not only effective in economic development but also in land management and construction. A prime example is Tan Hoi commune after the merger. Before July 2025, the situation of encroachment on public land and illegal construction along the Rach Gia - Long Xuyen canal, and encroachment on the traffic safety corridor of provincial road 961 in the former Tan Thanh and Tan Hoi communes, was complex. Many houses were built right next to the canal, with roofs extending onto the road, and construction materials piled up in the road. There were numerous cases of buying and selling land using handwritten documents, and unauthorized transfers of public land and water surface along the canal for business purposes.

On July 2, 2025, following the announcement of the establishment of the new Tan Hoi commune, the People's Committee of the commune promptly reviewed the current situation. Through inspection, the local authorities discovered 22 violations, including 19 cases of illegal house construction and 3 cases of other constructions, one of which involved encroachment on public land. A task force was established to go to the site, draw up a report, suspend construction, and issue a decision requiring rectification of the consequences as prescribed.

The initial handling process faced many difficulties due to people's concerns about economic losses, especially in cases of transactions conducted with handwritten documents. The case of Mr. TTB buying water surface area along the canal to open a shop is a typical example. After dialogue and explanation from commune officials, he voluntarily dismantled the structure, accepting the losses to comply with regulations.

By early 2026, the results of the enforcement showed significant effectiveness. Of the 19 cases of illegal construction, 7 cases involved repairs where the procedures were completed according to the existing structure and a commitment was signed to voluntarily dismantle the structures when the State requires it; 4 cases rectified the issues satisfactorily; and 8 cases remained unresolved and enforcement measures were underway. Regarding the 3 other cases, 2 had rectified the issues themselves; and 1 case of encroachment on public land continued to be subject to enforcement action.

Alongside addressing violations, Tan Hoi commune requested organizations and households to voluntarily dismantle awnings, signs, structures, and vehicles encroaching on the traffic corridor; and to clear 5 meters from the center line of the road on each side. After several campaigns, the situation gradually stabilized, with no new violations occurring. The majority of people agreed with the policy of restoring order to public land. Mr. Nguyen Minh Ngoc - Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Tan Hoi commune affirmed: "The decisive factor is the continuous dialogue with the people. Dialogue helps people understand legal regulations, distinguish between personal rights and community interests, and at the same time create a persuasive and humane basis for handling decisions when necessary."

This practice shows that when localities prioritize dialogue, persistently explain and respect the voices of the people, many pressing issues can be effectively resolved. Consensus not only helps to effectively implement economic development policies, but also contributes to maintaining discipline, stabilizing people's lives, and creating a foundation for long-term sustainable development.

DANG LINH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/tu-doi-thoai-den-dong-thuan-a477820.html