As a border commune, Thanh Nua has gradually escaped poverty and become a shining example of economic development in Dien BienSuccess comes from changing mindsets and ways of doing things
On a farm spanning over 1.5 hectares with hundreds of fruit-laden Dien pomelo trees, the spacious house of Mr. Lo Van Oai’s family (58 years old, of the Thai ethnic group) in Hoong Lech Cang village is a testament to the achievements resulting from bold innovation.
Previously, the couple relied solely on rice, corn and cassava for their livelihood, their lives were a constant struggle to make ends meet. Recognizing the advantage of abundant water resources, in 2017, he decided to borrow 100 million VND from the Agricultural and Rural Development Bank, plus additional loans from relatives to invest in fish farming. He hired an excavator to dig ponds, expanding the area from 960m² to 3,600m² with two ponds for raising monosex tilapia, grass carp and common carp. Initially, fish often contracted diseases due to erratic weather, so resulting in significant losses. Undeterred, he persevered in learning techniques, maintaining pond hygiene, regulating water sources and applying systematic care procedures; at the same time, they utilized 1,500m² of land to grow rice, cassava and elephant grass as natural food for the fish. As a result, the fish population has developed steadily and productivity has steadily increased.
In 2018, in addition to fish farming, he continued to invest in raising 60 pigs and poultry, planting 3,000m² of Dien pomelos, green-skinned pomelos and many other fruit trees. He regularly attends technical training courses and visits successful models to update his knowledge. After 8 years of perseverance, the family now achieves an annual revenue of 900 million to 1 billion VND, with a profit of approximately 250-300 million VND. He paid off all his debts, accumulated considerable savings that helped his family become well-off, at the same time created seasonal jobs for four local workers.
Along with economic development, traditional national cultural values are preserved and promotedSpreading the spirit of wealth creation
Inspired by Mr. Oai’s success, many households in Thanh Nua commune have learned from him and boldly switched to new production methods, building integrated economic models. Some families combine fish farming, fruit tree cultivation, and livestock and poultry raising; others open commercial services, creating jobs and increasing income. The family of Mr. Bui Quang Tien in An Binh village is a prime example. From humble beginnings, his family has risen to prosperity thanks to a diversified economic model: growing fruit trees, ornamental plants, herbs and more. In 2001, after getting married, the couple started building their economy on more than one hectare of hilly land given to them by their parents, beginning with planting bamboo and raising bees to “use short-term gains to support long-term growth”. In 2018, he applied to expand his farm to over 2.2 hectares and borrowed 100 million VND from the Social Policy Bank to buy green pomelo, custard apple and aromatic herbs. With the advantage of spacious land and suitable soil, combining the cultivation of pomelo, custard apple, various herbs and spices yields high and sustainable economic efficiency. Up to now, he has 1.1 hectares of bamboo, 5,000 square meters of green pomelo trees, 2,000 square meters of custard apple trees, 2,500 square meters of herbs, and 200 bee colonies. After deducting expenses, the family earns a profit of 200-250 million VND per year. For three consecutive years (2022-2024), his family was recognized as an outstanding household in production and business.
Mr. Nguyen Trong Duong, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Thanh Nua commune, affirmed: The economic models of Mr. Oai and Mr. Tien’s families have been contributing to the socio-economic development of Thanh Nua border commune. This also serves as vivid evidence of the effectiveness of the Party and State’s policies on developing household economies and building new rural areas in conjunction with sustainable poverty reduction in ethnic minority regions. Their economic approach demonstrates a spirit of daring to think and act, becoming shining examples for people in border areas to learn from and continue writing their own stories of wealth creation in their homeland.
