Warm spring in the fishing village

Amidst the vibrant colors of the national flag, the resettlement area for people living along the river in Lam Dat village, Thieu Tien commune, becomes more lively and bustling in the days leading up to the Lunar New Year. People are busy buying peach blossoms, kumquat trees, and fresh flowers; some families are preparing banana leaves, sticky rice, and mung beans to gather together and make banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes). The atmosphere of Tet here, though simple and rustic, is lively and warm.

Fishermen in Lam Dat village, Thieu Tien commune, hang the national flag to celebrate the Party and the Lunar New Year. Photo: Trung Hieu.

Joyful and enthusiastic – that was our first impression when we had the opportunity to chat with the locals here during the last days of the year. In his spacious house, Mr. Nguyen Van Thach (65 years old) was busy trimming peach blossoms and decorating with string lights to welcome Tet (Lunar New Year). Mr. Thach happily shared: “The people here are forever grateful to the Party, the State, the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, and all levels and sectors, as well as benefactors, for their care and assistance in providing land and financial support for house construction, so that the people no longer have to live a precarious life on the river. Since having new houses to live in, this fishing village truly celebrates Tet more fully, harmoniously, and warmly.”

Recalling his time living on the river, Mr. Thach recounted that life was difficult back then, so the Lunar New Year was very simple for many families. In some years, the holiday was no different from any other day. Family reunions were rare, only occurring in the early days of spring. Families in the fishing village would often visit each other's boats to wish each other a prosperous year, and there was never any thought of wishing each other a stable place to live. The Lunar New Year was meant to strengthen community bonds and remind children and grandchildren not to forget the customs and beauty of the traditional New Year.

Not far from Mr. Thach's house, Mr. Nguyen Van Nho's family is also busy cleaning and tidying up their house to prepare for Tet (Lunar New Year). Mr. Thach shared that 2023 is the first year his family is celebrating Tet in their new house, and he and his wife are extremely excited. They also have peach blossoms, banh chung (traditional rice cakes), and more complete shopping, making it a memory that he and his wife, as well as the people of the fishing village where he lives, will never forget. Since settling down, his family's life has changed significantly; he and his wife feel secure and encourage each other to work, and their children can attend school regularly.

“Like many people in this fishing village, my family is busy shopping at the market, decorating our house, and organizing a New Year's Eve dinner to bring the family together. Especially during Tet, we also get to socialize and participate in local activities, which fosters unity and strengthens solidarity among the residents, making us extremely happy,” said Mr. Nho.

Leading us on a tour of the village, adorned with colorful flags and flowers, and looking clean and tidy, Mr. Le Tien Tho, Party Secretary and Head of Lam Dat village, told us about a memorable milestone for the people in this resettlement area: 2023. Following the Provincial Party Standing Committee's policy of allocating land and providing financial support for housing construction to help people living on the river settle ashore and stabilize their lives, the former Thieu Hoa district issued a resolution on the investment plan for the resettlement project for people living on the river in Lam Dat village. The project covered over 1 hectare and had a total investment of over 6.3 billion VND from the former Thieu Hoa district budget. Accordingly, each household was allocated an area of ​​100.8m2 to 153.2m2, depending on the number of family members. Along with land allocation, the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, Caritas Thanh Hoa Diocese, and Thieu Hoa district (formerly) provided each household with 150 million VND. With the joint efforts of the entire political system, just 4 months after construction began, 28 houses were completed, bringing joy and excitement to the people of this fishing village.

After three years of settling on land, the material and spiritual lives of the people here have changed significantly. Gone are the days of poverty and precarious living on the river; people are actively seeking employment and stabilizing their livelihoods; children attend school, and healthcare is increasingly prioritized. “To contribute to building a more modernized homeland, 100% of the people actively participate in local activities. Everyone encourages each other to unite, live a good life, uphold moral values, and strive together to develop the economy and contribute to the local community. This year's Tet (Lunar New Year) will be warm, fulfilling, and joyful for the people here,” Mr. Le Tien Tho said enthusiastically.

The new spring is arriving in every home and on every street of the Lam Dat fishing village resettlement area, bringing with it the joy of settling down and the changes in life here. In the warm atmosphere of the Lunar New Year, the people not only welcome a prosperous and joyful spring but also feel enthusiastic and confident in the future, building a life of abundance and happiness, and always maintaining a sense of responsibility and working together to contribute to the development of the locality.

Trung Hieu

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/xuan-am-lang-chai-278497.htm