SPRING ON THE FENCE - Final Poem: Spreading Kindness and Compassion

Following the merger, An Giang expanded its administrative area, encompassing many border and island communes. In the "first spring" of the new province, activities aimed at improving social welfare, stabilizing the market, and preserving cultural identity were implemented comprehensively, spreading compassion to people in remote areas and islands.

Báo An Giang•01/03/2026

A heart full of affection

At 3 a.m. on the eve of Tet (Lunar New Year), members of the Provincial Young Entrepreneurs Association eagerly boarded a boat, heading straight to Hon Nghe commune. The organization maintains its tradition of donating 120 gift packages annually to impoverished residents. This year, half of the gifts were transported to the island commune. Due to the long journey and rough seas, we arrived at the gift distribution location a little later than planned, only to find the villagers already waiting. Ms. Nguyen Thi My Linh, President of the Provincial Young Entrepreneurs Association, offered her apologies and expressed: “After many years of dedicating our hearts to the community on the mainland, this year we continue to share and spread love during the spring season to the people on the island. Each gift package is only a few hundred thousand dong, but it carries the weight of effort and heartfelt dedication of each business and young entrepreneur. We hope the villagers will accept it.”

Community organizations help families receiving preferential treatment in Vinh Xuong commune clean and decorate their homes to welcome the traditional Lunar New Year. Photo: GIA KHANH

Mrs. Thai Thanh Dang (51 years old) moved from Rach Gia to Hon Nghe commune about 10 years ago. Her husband works tirelessly at sea, while she stays home to dry fish for sale. Carrying the gifts home, Mrs. Dang happily said: “Living on the island is naturally more difficult than on the mainland. We have elderly people at home who need careful care, so our family life is quite challenging. Receiving these Tet gifts eases my worries somewhat, and displaying them on the altar makes things much warmer and more welcoming.”

Mr. Ngo Ngoc Chuan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hon Nghe Commune, shared: “Currently, the commune has 2 poor households, 420 households with difficult circumstances, and social welfare beneficiaries. We are very grateful for the attention and support from organizations and individuals. All the care and resources from the mainland help the locality overcome obstacles related to geographical location and transportation infrastructure.” Contributing to this year's Tet holiday, poor households and those with difficult circumstances in the commune received care. 420 Tet gifts were transported to the island and delivered directly to the recipients, totaling 210 million VND, entirely from social contributions. These shipments, braving the waves, have bridged the geographical distance, ensuring that spring on the island commune is no longer a precarious occasion.

A season of love during Tet.

Besides focusing on welfare, life in the border areas during the Tet holiday was also vibrant and stable. The market for goods before and during the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 was relatively abundant, with sufficient essential goods available for the people, stable prices, and guaranteed quality to meet people's shopping needs. In the border area of Phu Huu commune, the traditional market continued to play an important role as a distribution channel. In the days leading up to Tet, the number of shoppers increased significantly, focusing on food, confectionery, Tet gifts, and flowers. "Generally, purchasing power increased by about 5-10% compared to normal days. The consumption trend shows that people shopped strategically, prioritizing essential goods, buying only what they needed, and limiting large-scale stockpiling," said Mr. Dao Van Phi, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Huu commune.

This year's traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) falls during Ramadan (also known as the Month of Love) for the Cham Muslim community. Therefore, people in the border areas, especially in Khanh Binh and Nhon Hoi communes, are celebrating two Tet holidays intertwined. According to Mr. Haji Jacky, Head of the Provincial Muslim Community Representative Board, Ramadan – the most important holiday for followers of the religion – begins on February 18th (the second day of Tet) and lasts for a full month.

Throughout the holy month of Ramadan, believers are forbidden from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset, demonstrating their ability to restrain material temptations. From this, they learn empathy, love, and sharing, helping each other in life. Ramadan reflects faith and goodwill, while also contributing to preserving the unique cultural identity of the Cham community in An Giang , creating a diverse tapestry of ethnic cultures in the upstream region of Vietnam.

The festive atmosphere is vibrant with characteristic dishes such as beef curry, sticky rice, and traditional cakes, all meticulously prepared to entertain guests and strengthen community bonds. “The villagers observe Ramadan until March 17th, after which they will celebrate with many rich and unique activities. We also organize a football tournament between Cham villages in the province, attracting people to come together for this loving festival. Tourists from near and far who have the opportunity to visit the Cham villages at this time will clearly feel that joyful atmosphere,” said Mr. Haji Abul Alim Ramadan, Director of An Giang Cham Village Trade and Tourism Company Limited.

Looking back at this year's Tet holiday, the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the province assessed that cadres, Party members, Youth Union members, association members, and all strata of people in the province in general, and in the border areas in particular, celebrated the spring festival and Tet in a spirit of economy and safety. The Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at all levels in the province implemented many forms of mobilization to encourage organizations, individuals, businesses, and religious groups to provide Tet support for poor households, near-poor households, and households with difficult circumstances... As a result, 98,917 gift packages reached poor households, near-poor households, and households with difficult circumstances, with a total cost of nearly 48 billion VND.

From ships braving the waves to deliver Tet gifts to the islands to the bustling border markets, everything contributes to a spring season full of meaning, warmth, and fulfillment. When the government, businesses, and the community work together, geographical distances are shortened, and the trust of the people in the border regions of the Fatherland is strengthened.

GIA KHANH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/xuan-phen-giau-bai-cuoi-lan-toa-nghia-tinh-a477936.html