A new day in An Giang province

An Giang Province was formed through the merger of Kien Giang and An Giang provinces. This border region is home to over 472,000 people from ethnic minority groups, accounting for 9.53% of the population.

Over the past five years, An Giang province has made concerted efforts to implement the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period of 2021-2025 (Program 1719), with total funding of over VND 952 billion allocated to a wide range of works and projects. An Giang province also proactively allocated an additional 15% in counterpart funding, demonstrating its determination to support the program in fostering socio-economic development within ethnic minority communities. These resources have driven significant positive changes for the locality.

Traveling through the communes and hamlets inhabited by ethnic minority communities in An Giang Province today, one can easily see the dramatic changes. The once-muddy dirt roads have been paved with concrete or asphalt, facilitating the smooth movement of people and vehicles. All communes have roads accessible by car to their centers, 90% of particularly disadvantaged hamlets have paved or hardened roads and 99.6% of households have access to electricity. The national power grid now extends from commune centers to every village and hamlet.

Beyond roads and electricity, An Giang province boasts a widespread network of facilities serving the public’s needs. Residents are enthusiastic about production thanks to investments in irrigation systems. Children happily head to school, as schools and kindergartens have been established in every commune. Every commune has a health station, radio and television signals reach every corner of the region. The rate of households using clean water reached nearly 90%; Modern telecommunications infrastructure ensures information connection. People have more convenient and complete access to knowledge, healthcare and social services.

Life is getting better and better, the rate of poor households among ethnic minorities has decreased sharply: in Kien Giang (formerly) it is only 1.86%, in An Giang province (formerly) it is only 5.2%. In particular, 65/65 communes in ethnic minority areas have completed the goal of building new rural areas - something that was once a dream has now become a reality.

Today’s achievements are the result of the close yet proactive and innovative leadership of the Standing Committee of the An Giang Provincial Party Committee, the decisive engagement of all levels and sectors and the dedication of grassroots-level officials. The Provincial Party Committee consistently reminds leaders to set a truly exemplary example and take direct responsibility for preventing delays or errors, given that every project is closely linked to the lives of local residents. Before implementation, all project components must be carefully considered, prioritizing feasibility, effectiveness and the pace of fund disbursement. Above all, every decision made prioritizes the interests of the people and minimizes disruption to their daily lives and agricultural seasons, ensuring that upon completion, each project earns the community’s consensus, trust and support. The significant transformations within the ethnic minority areas of An Giang Province serve as a testament to the soundness of ethnic policies and guidelines. Above all, they reflect the trust that ethnic minority communities place in the Party and the State; conversely, they also demonstrate the political system’s confidence in the strength of unity among the local ethnic communities.

With a new life come new aspirations; the ethnic minority communities of An Giang province desire not only sufficient food and clothing but also opportunities for education, economic development and increasingly favorable access to science and technology. Building on its existing foundation, An Giang province aims for sustainable development not only by reducing poverty but also by improving the quality of life, preserving cultural identity and ensuring national defense and security in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. Leveraging resources from Program 1719, An Giang province strives to become a relatively developed province nationwide by 2030./.