These days, visiting the two Dao ethnic minority villages of Cat Thinh commune, Khe Gan and Khe Nuoc, one can see the joyful atmosphere of Tet (Lunar New Year) celebrations everywhere. The villages seem to have donned new clothes with the bright colors of flowers, national flags, the green of cinnamon trees, and the new tiled roofs of the well-built houses.
Ms. Ly Thi Hoa from Khe Nuoc village, Cat Thinh commune, shared: “Before, we would just plant young cinnamon trees without preparing the soil or pruning, letting them grow naturally, which was ineffective. Because of this, we had land but remained poor, constantly hoping for government support. Since the local government guided us on farming and livestock raising, especially teaching us how to grow cinnamon seedlings and cultivate organic cinnamon, and traders come directly to our village to buy it at a stable price, our income has increased significantly. Therefore, every Tet holiday, every household in the village is excited and goes shopping to buy plenty.”
Ms. Ha Thi Thuy, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Cat Thinh commune, said: "The Dao people of the commune are very hardworking, eager to learn, and know how to apply technological advancements to production. Not only has the economy developed, but the spiritual life of the Dao people in particular and the people of Cat Thinh commune in general has also changed significantly. Outdated customs are gradually being replaced by a civilized, thrifty, and united way of life. A concrete and clear example is that the people no longer celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) for as long as in previous years. After Tet, around the 5th or 6th day, the people are already going to the fields to plant spring rice or to the hills to plant cinnamon. The people are also very united and share with people of other ethnic groups. Wherever there are difficulties, the Dao people in the commune are always ready to help and support. That is a very valuable thing that the commune has been and is promoting."
In Khe Hop village, Mo Vang commune, nestled among the vast cinnamon hills, stands the large, modern house of Mr. Dang Kim Hien's family. Mr. Hien says his family owns 20 hectares of cinnamon trees. Each year, just harvesting branches and leaves and thinning the trees brings in several hundred million dong for his family. Therefore, every year his family has enough money to prepare for and celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) in abundance. Mr. Hien confided: “We Dao people have been connected to cinnamon trees for generations. For more than a decade, thanks to the Party and State's attention to attracting investment and building cinnamon essential oil processing plants, and exporting cinnamon, the cinnamon tree has increasingly brought high economic value to the people.”
Ms. Ban Thi May's family in Khe Hop village, Mo Vang commune, owns about 3 hectares of cinnamon trees. Thanks to cinnamon, her family's life has become more stable. Ms. May said that all the hilly land here is used to grow cinnamon. The cinnamon trees are planted right along the roadside, within easy reach. However, no one in the village or commune has ever experienced cinnamon theft. Ms. May added: "The economy of my family, as well as other cinnamon-growing households in the village, is improving: we've been able to buy cars, build beautiful houses, and contribute money to the village to build a large, beautiful concrete road for easier travel and trade. This is not only because we work hard, but also thanks to the local government, the commune police, and the village's security and order protection team always doing a good job of ensuring security and order. Social evils such as theft, gambling, and drug use are gone, so everyone can work and celebrate Tet with peace of mind."
The entire Mo Vang commune has 10,043 inhabitants, of which the Dao ethnic group accounts for nearly 43%. Thanks to cinnamon cultivation, the lives of the Dao people are becoming increasingly prosperous. Not only have they escaped poverty, but many households have also risen to become wealthy. Mr. Ban Van Ton, Secretary of the Party branch of Khe Hop village, Mo Vang commune, happily said: “Khe Hop village is 100% Dao ethnic minority. In recent years, the economic life of the villagers has been steadily improving. Many households have even risen to earn hundreds of millions of dong per year. Well-off households help and support poor households with capital, technology, and experience to help each other improve. Along with that, the awareness of preserving cultural identity and building a new way of life is always being promoted by the people. This is the foundation for the village's increasing prosperity.”
Spring has arrived in the Dao villages not only in the blossoming peach trees in front of each house, in the more abundant meals, or in the bigger, more beautiful houses, but also in the radiant eyes of those confidently stepping out of poverty. Despite many hardships, the Dao people in Khe Hop, Khe Gan, Khe Nuoc in particular, and the Dao people of Lao Cai province in general, always hold faith in the leadership of the Party, the State, and the government at all levels, and faith in change brought about by their own hands and minds.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/xuan-am-ban-dao-post893704.html
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