Xuan Lanh strives to improve the lives of ethnic minorities

A working delegation from the provincial Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions inspected the progress of the project to relocate residents to Soi Nga village, Xuan Lanh commune. Photo: NGO XUAN

Simultaneous implementation of projects

Xuan Lanh commune has more than 2,700 households; living in 8 villages, of which 4 villages are in ethnic minority areas, including Da Du, Ha Rai, Xi Thoai and Soi Nga. The whole commune has 1,165 ethnic minority households, mainly Ba Na and Cham ethnic groups. In recent years, the lives of ethnic minority people in Xuan Lanh have faced many difficulties because the economy depends mainly on agricultural production; many households lack land and production capital. By the end of 2024, the whole commune had 354 poor households; 943 near-poor households, accounting for 47.96% of the whole commune. Of which, 328 poor households are ethnic minorities, accounting for 92.65% of the total poor households in the commune; 639 near-poor households are ethnic minorities, accounting for 67.76% of the near-poor households in the whole commune.

Implementing the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas (Program 1719), Xuan Lanh commune has simultaneously deployed 8 projects and sub-projects, aiming to improve living conditions; gradually improve the quality of life for ethnic minority people in the area.

Typically, implementing Project 1 on solving the shortage of housing, residential land, production land, and domestic water in the period of 2021-2025, Xuan Lanh commune was allocated over 2.2 billion VND from the central budget and over 220 million VND from the local counterpart budget, supporting 56 poor households to build houses. To date, the locality has completed 52 houses, 4 houses are still under construction and are expected to be completed in 2025. Also within the content of Project 1, Xuan Lanh commune supported 148 poor households to buy machinery and agricultural tools to convert their occupations; supported 31 poor households to buy water tanks for daily use, and is continuing to support the provision of 325 domestic water tanks for the remaining households.

For Project 2 on planning, arranging, and stabilizing residents in necessary places, Xuan Lanh commune is organizing the leveling of the Soi Nga resettlement area to arrange and allocate new accommodation for about 30-35 households in need of land and housing. Currently, the Soi Nga resettlement area is gradually being completed, and the locality continues to propose capital sources to invest in the electricity system and traffic routes to be ready to arrange and allocate people to live there.

Implementing Sub-project 2, Project 3 on supporting the development of production according to the value chain, precious medicinal herb growing areas, promoting business start-ups, startups and attracting investment in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, Xuan Lanh commune has supported 119 poor and near-poor households to develop production, diversify livelihoods through the form of breeding cows. Not only providing cows, the local government also assigned staff to provide technical guidance; regularly monitor and support households in taking care of cows to make the most of the program's capital.

For Project 4 on investment in essential infrastructure serving production and life in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, Xuan Lanh commune has invested in building 235m of new cement concrete roads; upgrading and repairing 1,563m of many other roads; maintaining and repairing 18,950m of intra-field roads. The locality also focused on repairing classrooms in kindergartens, primary schools and cultural houses, community activity houses in villages and hamlets; investing in and upgrading the market network in ethnic minority and mountainous areas... with a total cost of over 23.4 billion VND.

In addition to projects and sub-projects on infrastructure investment and economic development, Project 6 on preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development; Project 8 on implementing gender equality and solving urgent problems for women and children... are also being vigorously implemented to serve the spiritual life of ethnic minorities.

Improve quality of life

According to the People's Committee of Xuan Lanh Commune, after more than 3 years of implementing Program 1719, the appearance of Xuan Lanh Commune has been changing positively; the quality of life of ethnic minority people has been significantly improved. Notably, Project 1, Project 4, Project 8 have created a driving force to contribute to changing the appearance by solving the problem of clean water for daily life; investing in essential infrastructure, serving the material and spiritual life of people in the commune.

Ms. Dinh Thi Vien, Ba Na ethnic, in Da Du hamlet, Xuan Lanh commune is one of 56 households receiving financial support for housing construction from Program 1719. Specifically, Ms. Vien's family received support of 44 million VND; low-interest loan support of 80 million VND to build a house. In addition, Ms. Vien's family also saved and borrowed more to build a spacious house with an area of over 70m2, including 1 living room, 2 bedrooms and a kitchen. The house ensures the 3 hard criteria: hard foundation, hard frame (wall) and hard roof according to the program's requirements.

As soon as it was deployed, Program 1719 received the attention and drastic participation of the entire local political system, along with the management board of national target programs at the commune level, with the determination to make the most of allocated capital to gradually improve infrastructure conditions and enhance the quality of life for ethnic minorities in Xuan Lanh commune.
Mr. Ho Thanh Hai, Vice Chairman of Xuan Lanh Commune People's Committee

Standing in front of her dream house that is gradually being completed, Ms. Dinh Thi Vien emotionally said: My family has no land for production, only working for hire all year round, so the economy is very difficult. Without the State's financial support, I don't know when I will have a decent house to live in. Not only supporting the house construction, the State also supports my family with a water tank, a saw and a cutting machine to have the means to work for hire. This is a dream that my husband and I never dared to think of before. With a decent house and working tools, I believe my husband and I will soon escape poverty and settle down.

Also in the 1719 Program, Ms. La O Thi Nhung's family was supported with a breeding cow under Sub-project 2, Project 3 to support people in developing production and diversifying community livelihoods. Ms. Nhung said: For a poor household in the mountains, a breeding cow is a huge asset. When receiving the cow, I prepared a clean barn; regularly cut grass for the cow to eat every day and fully vaccinated it. Hopefully, from this cow, my family will gradually breed a herd of cows as a basis for economic development and escape poverty.

Mr. Ho Thanh Hai, Vice Chairman of Xuan Lanh Commune People's Committee, said: Program 1719 is a major, correct and historic policy of our Party and State. Therefore, as soon as the program was implemented, it received the attention and drastic participation of the entire local political system, together with the management board of national target programs at the commune level, with the determination to make the most of the allocated capital to gradually improve infrastructure conditions and improve the quality of life for ethnic minorities in the area. Up to this point, Xuan Lanh commune has disbursed over 85% of the capital to implement Program 1719, initially creating trust and excitement among ethnic minorities in Xuan Lanh commune. In the remaining months of 2025, the local government is determined to disburse the maximum amount of allocated capital to support ethnic minorities in the commune to gradually improve and enhance their quality of life, develop the economy, and escape poverty sustainably.

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/dan-toc-mien-nui/202505/xuan-lanh-no-luc-nang-caodoi-song-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-00d1898/