Springtime Beauty of Vo Lao

In the Võ Lao region, the arrival of spring brings with it clear skies, warm earthy scents after the cold winter days, and a vibrant rhythm of life emerges in this prosperous countryside.

This spring, Vo Lao is not only beautiful because of its natural scenery, but also refreshed by the belief and enthusiasm of the first year of implementing a two-tiered local government system, bringing with it new hope and new motivation for this land to "gallop" in the year of the horse.

In early spring, walking along the winding road leading to the center of the commune, a breathtaking landscape unfolds before your eyes. Lush green rice fields stretch as far as the eye can see. A gentle stream flows like a soft silk ribbon, reflecting the clouds and the bustling figures of people. Vo Lao has always been like this – a rural area blessed by nature, with fertile fields, rich soil, and hardworking, resilient people.

As a mountainous commune with advantages in agriculture , Vo Lao aims to continue achieving success in agricultural production in 2025.

The total area planted with grain crops reached 2,437 hectares, completing 100% of the plan, ensuring food security and creating stable livelihoods for the people. On the fertile fields, the lush green in the spring sunshine is a vivid testament to the diligence and perseverance of the farmers of Vo Lao. Livestock farming, despite facing many difficulties due to disease and climate change, is gradually being strengthened in a safe and sustainable direction with a herd of nearly 15,000 head of cattle, over 160,000 poultry, and 145 hectares of water surface for aquaculture.

Alongside this, promoting the development of concentrated commercial agricultural production and increasing the value per hectare of cultivated land has been identified as a continuous task, linked to the construction of a civilized and modern new rural area. The Nậm Mả taro, an OCOP product with its chewy texture and rich aroma, has become famous far and wide, with hundreds of tons exported to the market each year. Cinnamon trees, valued at approximately 300-400 million VND/hectare, have become the "green gold" of the people of Võ Lao.

The results are clearly evident: local budget revenue reached nearly 85 billion VND, exceeding the provincial target by 37%; commune budget revenue reached 255 billion VND, exceeding the provincial target by 12%, affirming the internal strength and "health" of the local economy . These "telling" figures provide a solid foundation for Vo Lao to confidently embark on a new phase of development.

On the way from the People's Committee office to the Party Committee office (the former Nậm Mả commune headquarters), Mr. Nguyễn Khánh Toàn - Chairman of the People's Committee - took us on a tour along the newly opened road, following the stream and crossing the lush green fields. He enthusiastically shared that after the merger, Võ Lao town has become more bustling, with many restaurants and services opening up. It's not only busy during the day, but also very lively at night. Along with the improvement in economic life, the culture and spirit of the people have also improved.

As spring arrives in every village, the cultural space resonates with its own unique sounds. On the way to Vinh village, a place undergoing a transformation thanks to the new rural development program, Mr. Doan Van Vinh - Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Vo Lao commune - said: The commune is now formed by merging three communes: Vo Lao, Nam Ma, and Nam Dang. Each ethnic group here has preserved its own distinct identity, such as the colorful Tet feasts of the Tay people, the vibrant traditional clothing of the Mong people, or the traditional festivals of the Dao people… All of these blend together to create a Vo Lao rich in cultural identity, where each Tet is not only the beginning of a new year, but also an opportunity for the community to reflect, preserve, and strengthen itself for the journey ahead. Cultural identity does not "lie dormant" in memory, but is being awakened, nurtured, and spread along with the rhythm of modern life.

During our time in Vo Lao, we explored pristine nature such as the Nam Ket waterfall, giant footprints, and terraced rice fields shaped like mounds of sticky rice; we enjoyed local dishes like duck cooked in bamboo tubes, grilled fish, five-colored sticky rice, mooc (minced meat and fish wrapped in leaves), and dishes made from local pigs and free-range chickens, seasoned with characteristic spices like dổi seeds and mắc khén... all with rich and unique mountain flavors; we immersed ourselves in Nôm singing, Then dances, and Xòe circle dances... The spring atmosphere in Vo Lao was further enlivened by rich and distinctive cultural and sports activities, including traditional sports like stick pushing, tug-of-war, throwing the ball, a sticky rice cake wrapping competition, and cultural exchanges, contributing to strengthening national unity.

In the early spring stories told on the verandas of stilt houses, the elders recount to their children and grandchildren the hardships of the past, when hunger and poverty still clung to the land, village roads were muddy, and fields were fragmented. That story is now continued by telling statistics, by the increasingly vibrant appearance of the countryside with 12 criteria already met; by bountiful harvests, thriving livestock and poultry, and new and supplementary occupations creating additional livelihoods for the people. Spring, therefore, is not only found in the colors of nature, but also in the peaceful smiles and trusting eyes of each person in Vo Lao.

This spring, after more than half a year of implementing the two-tiered local government system, the people here have experienced very tangible results: the government apparatus is closer to the people, work is handled more smoothly, and the voices of the people are heard more promptly... From village meetings to voter outreach sessions, the spirit of consensus spreads like an underground stream, silently but persistently.

In the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), the local officials are still diligently working, busy preparing for Tet for their families while also attending to the general affairs of the commune. On their desks, plans, targets, and intentions for the new year have been clearly outlined. These include a determination to develop the strengths of agriculture and forestry, increasing the value of production per hectare of land; efforts to better care for healthcare, education, and culture; and the aspiration for sustainable poverty reduction and improving the quality of life for the people. The words on the paper seem to carry the breath of spring, warm and full of hope.

For Vo Lao, spring represents the bridging of tradition and modernity. Folk festivals are preserved alongside the development of a new way of life. Clean concrete roads lead to each village, and sturdy houses interspersed with traditional stilt houses create a harmonious picture of old and new. The Year of the Horse – a year of breakthroughs and perseverance.

As spring descends upon Vo Lao, the gentle golden sunlight shines. The springtime beauty of Vo Lao – the spring of a fertile land, rich in identity, is rising strongly with renewed hope. A spring that marks the beginning of a new journey, where tradition serves as the foundation, innovation as the driving force, and people at the center. And in this springtime, Vo Lao is ready for long, persistent, and steadfast strides, amidst the spring of nature and the spring of people's hearts.

Presented by: Thanh Ba

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/xuan-sac-vo-lao-post893481.html