The Party branch secretary, a member of the Thai ethnic group, is a pioneer in all movements.

Party Secretary Lo Van Nhung encouraged villagers to build a new cultural life, maintain security and order in the village, and protect the environment. Photo: Thai Hien

The person who plays the role of bringing the community together and uniting it.

Vinh Thanh village, Thanh Son commune, was formed by merging Lang Moi hamlet and Hamlet 2. The village currently has 206 households and 843 inhabitants, of whom nearly 80% are ethnic Thai people. While the villagers still face many difficulties, in recent years the village has consistently been at the forefront of local movements.

Leading us along the newly completed, clean concrete road, Mr. Nhung shared: "In 2007, I joined the military service, and after two years, I returned to my hometown. Thanks to the training I received in the military environment, I always enthusiastically participated in activities and movements when I returned home. In 2015, I was trusted and elected as the Party branch secretary, a position I hold to this day."

According to Mr. Nhung, as the Party branch secretary, to persuade the people, one must be close to them, respect them, and listen to their legitimate opinions. In addition, one must always be exemplary, enthusiastic, and practice what one preaches, fostering unity within the Party branch and consensus among the people. Over the past seven years as the village Party branch secretary, Mr. Nhung has closely coordinated with the village committee, mass organizations, Party members, village elders, and influential community leaders to visit each family, propagating and mobilizing people to change their thinking and methods to develop family economies, abandon outdated customs, build a new cultural life, maintain security and order in the village, protect the environment; implement village regulations and conventions; and actively participate in the "All People Unite to Build a Cultural Life" movement in the residential area.

Mr. Lo Van Nhung went to each family to spread awareness and encourage people to develop their family economy. Photo: Thai Hien

Helping people change their mindset and develop their economy.

Seeing the difficult living conditions of the villagers, who mainly relied on agriculture – rice and corn farming – and then going into the forest to earn extra income after the harvest season, Nhung, after much deliberation, decided to work with the Party branch to mobilize the villagers to utilize the potential and advantages of their land, diversify crops and livestock; apply science and technology to convert inefficient land areas to sugarcane and cassava cultivation, and reforestation; and invest in commercial livestock farming to improve their living standards.

Currently, the village has 150 hectares of forest, mainly planted with acacia trees, 50 hectares of sugarcane and cassava, and many livestock farming models that generate considerable income. Responding to the new rural development movement, Mr. Nhung coordinated with various organizations to mobilize people to contribute money and labor to build roads leading into the village.

In the first six months of 2022, with government support in providing cement, Mr. Nhung, along with the village committee, mobilized villagers to contribute 2 million VND per household, totaling over 400 million VND, to build 2.2 km of concrete roads. Currently, Vinh Thanh village has been transformed with clean, beautiful roads and vibrant flowerbeds. Cultural and artistic activities are also thriving. Villagers are gradually abandoning outdated customs, and many good traditions of the Thai ethnic group are being preserved and further promoted. Currently, the average per capita income is 33 million VND/person/year. The percentage of culturally exemplary families is nearly 85%.

Party Secretary Lo Van Nhung (in the yellow shirt) is a role model in local movements. Photo: Thai Hien

Mr. Lo Van Que, a respected figure among the ethnic minority community in Vinh Thanh village, shared: "Although he is a young Party branch secretary, Mr. Nhung's practical actions have left a deep impression on the people and have made him a reliable support for the villagers to entrust their faith in, helping them overcome difficulties together, bringing them closer together, and actively working to boost production and stabilize their lives."

Mr. Nguyen Cuu Tam, Secretary of the Party Committee of Thanh Son commune, commented: "Vinh Thanh village is one of the leading villages in economic development and new rural construction in the locality. The village Party branch is also a model Party branch of the commune Party Committee in effectively promoting the role of comprehensively leading and guiding the people in all fields. These achievements are truly remarkable."Mr. Lo Van Nhung has made a significant contribution. With his sense of responsibility, enthusiasm, and dedication, Party branch secretary Lo Van Nhung has always received the trust and confidence of the local people. His actions have contributed significantly to economic development and the building of a new life in the Thai ethnic minority community of Thanh Son commune, helping the locality achieve the new rural development goals by 2022.