Ky Son Seedling Nursery

Each time we visit Ky Son (Nghe An), we feel a new change. These changes come so subtly. Sometimes it's old houses being given nameplates, sometimes it's newly planted flowerbeds, sometimes it's a new resettlement area being handed over to residents… Ky Son is changing from the thoughts and actions of dedicated and responsible people, in a project with a grand aspiration – “Nurturing Ky Son”. The road from Provincial Highway 538D to the Vang Phao Resettlement Area (Muong Tip, Ky Son, Nghe An) is about 4km steep. I had to constantly shift to low gear, while my companion clung tightly to my back. After navigating winding slopes, Vang Phao sits atop a mountain, within sight of the Vietnam-Laos border. The government has just issued Decree No. 41/2025/ND-CP dated February 26, 2025, stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religion. According to the Decree, the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religion is a government agency performing state management functions in the following sectors and fields: ethnic affairs; beliefs and religions; and state management of public services under the Ministry's state management as prescribed by law. The map of Vietnamese digital technology enterprises is expected to be an important tool to help position businesses in the market, enhance competitiveness, and expand opportunities for domestic and international cooperation. Each time we visit Ky Son (Nghe An), we feel another change. This change comes so gently. Sometimes it's old houses being given nameplates, sometimes it's newly planted flower-lined streets, sometimes it's a new resettlement area being handed over to residents... Ky Son is changing thanks to the thoughts and actions of dedicated and responsible people, in a project with a grand aspiration - "Nurturing Ky Son". I was born and raised by the Sa Ky seaport in Quang Ngai province, so my childhood years were always connected to folk tales told by my father. One summer afternoon, I went with him to the scenic spot of Ham Ruou - where there are footprints of a giant and a pair of kitchen chopsticks. Here, he told me another story tinged with legend. Introduced by Comrade Vuong Thi Chung, Director of the Meo Vac District Health Center, I sought out and spoke with Dr. Hoang The Hieu, a Tay ethnic minority, Head of the Ta Lung Commune Health Station (Meo Vac District, Ha Giang Province), to learn about his work. On February 27th, the Dam Ha District Education and Training Department (Quang Ninh) organized a thematic conference on “Strengthening Vietnamese language skills for preschool children in ethnic minority areas based on their mother tongue” for the 2024-2025 school year. The summary of the Ethnic Minorities and Development Newspaper. The morning news bulletin of February 28th, 2025, includes the following noteworthy information: Cham villages bustling with the celebration of Ramuwan. The green treasure of Dong Thap Muoi. Dedication to traditional medicine. Along with other current news from ethnic minority and mountainous regions. This is a summary of the Ethnic Minorities and Development Newspaper's news bulletin. The morning bulletin on February 28, 2025, includes the following noteworthy information: Cham villages bustling with celebrations for Ramuwan; The green treasure of Dong Thap Muoi; Dedication to traditional medicine. Along with other current news from ethnic minority and mountainous regions. From ancient times to the present, the Co Tu ethnic group has been closely associated with slash-and-burn agriculture. Because they mainly live in the mountains and forests, making agricultural cultivation difficult, the Co Tu people always wish for bountiful harvests, with rice grains heavy and corn filling their granaries. Therefore, after harvesting the rice, the people organize a ceremony to celebrate the new rice crop, ending a planting cycle and entering a new season. Spring brings a hundred flowers to bloom, and it is also the time when many types of flowers are harvested for medicinal use throughout the year... below are some typical remedies. Bearing the beauty of the Northwest mountains and forests, the purple bauhinia flowers are blooming brilliantly in the border region of A Lưới (Hue City) in spring. The purple color of the bauhinia flowers amazes many people, making them feel as if they have wandered into a beautiful natural painting in the Northwest region. In the vibrant atmosphere of the Forest Worship Ceremony of the Mong people in Na Hau commune in 2025, on February 26-27, at the Na Hau commune stadium, Van Yen district, Yen Bai province, various rituals and many unique cultural, artistic, and folk game activities took place.

There is a space filled with vibrant cherry blossoms in the villages of Ky Son district.

In our minds and thoughts, Ky Son is a land of immense hardship. Just imagine the journey from Vinh city to the district center, Muong Xen town – it already takes 5-6 hours by car. Continuing on to the remote villages would certainly be impossible. Visitors are forced to stay overnight in the town, waiting until the next morning to have any chance of returning on the same day.

Ky Son is also known as a land with many villages shrouded in mist year-round. These lands are buried in clouds, and only in the summer months does the sun appear. Being high and remote, the hardships of this border region are deeply ingrained and difficult to change…

The red maple forest creates a stunning landscape in the Ky Son mountain range.

But, a poor and struggling Ky Son is gradually changing. Today, Ky Son has gradually moved beyond the concept of "three secure areas" – meaning secure people, secure territory, secure border – as the district leaders once affirmed; to transform itself. This change, though just beginning, is still noticeable if we pay attention and observe. Especially when viewed within the context of a project full of ambition and dedication – "Nurturing Ky Son" – this change becomes even clearer.

One of the highlights of the "Kỳ Sơn Seedling Project" is tree planting. From shade trees and flowering plants to timber trees and forest trees, people are encouraged and promoted to plant them everywhere, throughout the villages and hamlets. Just during the Lunar New Year of 2025, schools throughout the district planted more than 7,000 flowering trees of various kinds.

From schools and village roads ablaze with the vibrant pink of cherry blossoms and the deep red of poinsettias; to forests ablaze with the colors of peach blossoms, the pristine white of plum blossoms, the rich yellow of wild sunflowers, and the red-leaved maple trees... growing naturally, these elements add to the colorful tapestry of the mountain landscape.

The resettlement area in Son Ha village, Ta Ca commune, has been completed and is in the process of being handed over to the residents.

Through the "Nurturing Ky Son" project, the locality is striving to mobilize social resources to create more roads, villages, and schools... adorned with vibrant flowers. So that each season brings its own blossoms, blooming brilliantly amidst the mountains and forests.

Recently, this locality collaborated with the United Nations Global Environment Fund to install commemorative plaques for the preservation of 23 ancient houses belonging to the Mong ethnic group in Tay Son commune. This is the result of months of planning and deliberation on preserving these old houses – evidence of the cultural history of an ethnic group, a bridge between the present and the past of the inhabitants of the high mountain peaks.

The Mong ethnic group in Ky Son district numbers nearly 26,000 people, residing in 73 villages across 12 communes. Dozens of villages still preserve traditional houses roofed with cypress and fir wood. Chairman of the Ky Son District People's Committee, Nguyen Viet Hung, stated: "We will continue to implement the project of attaching nameplates to the ancient stilt houses of the Mong people throughout the district. The goal is to preserve, protect, and promote the unique cultural values ​​of the ethnic groups in Ky Son district in order to develop tourism in the area."

The ancient houses of the Hmong people, roofed with cypress and pine wood, are being labeled with names to protect and preserve them.

That's quite clear, just like how the district is nurturing and implementing the planting of trees and flowers throughout the villages, offices, agencies, and units. The goal is to transform Ky Son into a land that, despite its poverty and hardships, is also poetic and romantic; a way to attract tourists and draw friends from all over to visit Ky Son.

Soon, the road to the summit of Puxailaileng, 2,721m above sea level; or the road to the Muong Long Sky Gate, the road to the Nam Can border gate, the road to the ancient Yen Hoa tower… will be lined with vibrant flowers. How captivating, how lovely!

As spring arrives, resettlement areas for flood victims in Vang Pao (My Ly), Hoa Son (Ta Ca), etc., have seen residents arrive to receive land and build houses. A new, prosperous, and stable life will soon emerge in these new lands.

The Nậm Mộ river embankment project is nearing completion.

Along the roaring Nam Mo River in the heart of Muong Xen town, a project to build embankments to prevent erosion on both banks is gradually taking shape. This means that when the rainy season arrives, people on both banks will feel less anxious and less worried about the floodwaters threatening to swallow their homes into the deep river.

Some might wonder why the phrase "Nurturing Ky Son" is used in a project with the same name, since Ky Son is a newly established district. The answer is that, historically, during the Later Le Dynasty, from the 15th century, Ky Son belonged to Tra Lan Prefecture, Nghe An Province. This shows that the name of this region has a considerable history.

During our discussions, we learned that the project's initiators, through their thoughts, actions, and deeds—from planting flowers to more significant life events like choosing land to build houses and establishing villages—have been and continue to want Ky Son to change and develop. "Nurturing Ky Son" means sowing ideas, planting green shoots... so that future generations can reap the sweet fruits. Without even mentioning grand gestures, even small, simple actions like planting trees are incredibly valuable. Let's start big with small thoughts and actions. Just as our ancestors used to say, "Many small things make a big difference," and "Even ants can fill their nest over time."

The "Kỳ Sơn Seedling Project," initiated by the District People's Committee in early 2024, focuses on planting, preserving, and developing unique flower and fruit tree species suitable to the soil and climate of Kỳ Sơn, using socialized funding. This aims to serve the needs of local people and tourists, contributing to socio-economic development and environmental protection in Kỳ Sơn.

Winter tourism in the highland district of Kỳ Sơn.

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/uom-mam-ky-son-1740025041929.htm