Tall trees, casting a large shadow.

(Baonghean) - In recent times, following Uncle Ho's teachings, even though they have reached a rare old age, elderly people throughout the province still diligently work in production, are pioneers in various movements, and live exemplary lives to set a bright example for their children and grandchildren to learn from and follow...

As one of the oldest people in Que Phong district, 88-year-old Quang Van Tho from Phong village, Nam Giai commune, always remembers President Ho Chi Minh's teachings to the elderly: "The prosperity of the country is built by the elderly. The survival of the country is due to the support of the elderly. When the country is lost, the elderly save it. When the country declines, the elderly support it."

"The nation's rise and fall, its survival and demise, all rests on the heavy responsibility of the elderly"; as well as the message from President Ho Chi Minh to the people of the ethnic groups in Que Phong district: "...I hope that the people and cadres of the district will strive to achieve many accomplishments in increasing production, be ready to fight, and continue to study to make further progress...". Fulfilling President Ho Chi Minh's wishes, for many years, according to his abilities, Mr. Tho has actively participated in emulation and contributed. In 1996, implementing the campaign to build farm economies launched by the Association of the Elderly, Mr. Tho wrote a letter to the Phong Village Management Board requesting permission to reclaim 4 hectares of barren hillside land to create a farm. With his advanced age and robust health, after receiving approval, Mr. Tho proceeded to reclaim, restore, and divide the land into three parts for investment and cultivation.

Visiting the beekeeping model of Mr. Dam Van Phi in Hamlet 8, Nghia Binh Commune (Tan Ky). Photo: Tu Oanh

On most of the land, Mr. Tho planted cinnamon and mahogany trees, while the rest was planted with bamboo. Between 1996 and 2000, he planted 13,000 cinnamon trees, 1,750 mahogany trees, and 500 clumps of bamboo. Using short-term gains to support long-term growth, the forest has flourished thanks to the bamboo shoots and fruits from these short-term crops. After more than 10 years of care, the once wild forest has turned into gold under his hands. In 2013, Mr. Tho sold nearly 1,000 cinnamon trees, earning over 100 million VND. And in 2014, the harvest from the 4 hectares of forest also brought in over 100 million VND. With the large trees cut down and the smaller trees cleared, Mr. Tho continued to plant pineapples, bananas, jackfruit, eggplant, and chili peppers. Mr. Tho said: “Que Phong mountainous district is still poor. For the district to prosper, each citizen like us needs to know how to enrich ourselves and develop our families. What I have done and am doing yesterday and today is not just for myself, but also for my grandchildren, neighbors, and the entire village to learn from and emulate…”

Sharing the same aspiration as Mr. Tho, Mr. Tho Giong Nu and Mr. Tho No Po, both nearly 70 years old, from Pa Khom village, Tri Le commune, Que Phong district, have also expressed their determination to build a stable life, setting an example for their fellow villagers, living and prospering in their homeland, and avoiding illegal migration. Mr. Nu and Mr. Po confided: “In previous years, hunger and poverty caused nearly 100 Mong households in Pa Khom village to abandon their land and village and migrate to Laos. But life wasn't any better in the new land, so they returned. Back in their old village, their gardens and houses had all been sold, leaving them penniless and unsure how to start a new life.”

"Thanks to the Party and mass organizations for their help with food and clothing, building houses, giving land and fields, and showing us how to do business, life is gradually reviving. The people are very grateful and appreciative." The Hmong people are inherently hardworking, and with the guidance of the officials on how to do business, they simply follow. The elders encourage each other to work hard to repay the officials' kindness, so that the younger generation can see and know that in Pà Khổm, it is also possible to get rich, and then learn from them… True to their word, starting with the initial buffaloes and cows provided, Mr. Nụ and Mr. Pó have built up their own herds of buffaloes and cows for their families. To date, Mr. Nụ's family has 60 cows and 20 buffaloes, while Mr. Pó's family raises 65 buffaloes and cows.

To ensure that Pà Khổm in particular, and the other nine Hmong villages of Tri Lễ commune in general, are peaceful and prosperous today, free from opium cultivation and illegal migration, the role of the elderly at the forefront of the commune's development is immense. Mr. Vi Văn Nhâm, Chairman of the Elderly Association of the commune, is one such person – his entire life has been dedicated to leading the way, from youth union work and serving as a People's Council representative to serving as Party branch secretary. Although over 60 years old, Mr. Nhâm's tireless legs still travel throughout these highland border villages to promote and encourage people to participate in the self-management of border markers, maintain security and order, and combat acts of territorial encroachment, illegal immigration and residence, and the storage, trafficking, and transportation of narcotics.

Mr. Nham shared: “As the head of the Elderly Association of the commune, I, along with the village branches, have coordinated with village elders, respected individuals, and mass organizations to actively mobilize the elderly, their descendants, and the community to implement the Vietnam-Laos border regulations, promoting the mass movement to participate in self-management of the border markers.” According to Mr. Vi Van Nham: The Que Phong border marker is over 70 km long, and relying solely on border guards and officials is insufficient. Our job is to propagate and mobilize so that every citizen becomes a border guard soldier.

It's not just in Que Phong that we find such exemplary and active elderly people; wherever we go, we meet elderly people who, despite their advanced age, are still wholeheartedly concerned with and dedicated to their families, society, and the country. They are like tireless birds, only wishing to beautify and do good for life… Some exemplary individuals include Mr. Duong Quang Thinh, 60 years old, residing in Quynh Thien Ward, Hoang Mai Town. Mr. Thinh was a member of the management board of Bao Minh Pagoda in the area. In 2011, this provincial-level historical and cultural relic suffered serious deterioration and lacked funding for restoration and repair.

Mr. Thinh took the lead in mobilizing funds from organizations and individuals to rebuild the pagoda. From the 3 billion VND raised, plus contributions from his family, Bao Minh Pagoda has now been renovated and rebuilt to be larger and more beautiful. There is also Mr. Tran Ngoc Anh, from the Elderly Association of Thanh Xuan commune (Thanh Chuong district), who cultivates 4.6 hectares of paper pulp, raises 300 laying ducks, 200 laying hens, and 50 pigs, earning an average annual income of over 150 million VND and providing employment for 5 workers. Responding to the movement to plant trees in gratitude to Uncle Ho, Mr. Nguyen Trong Dieng, from Chi Lam village, Thanh Chi commune (Thanh Chuong district), propagated and planted 60 mahogany trees in the cultural center's grounds free of charge. Mr. Le Dinh Ty, from Da Son commune, Do Luong district – despite being affected by Agent Orange, his advanced age, and poor health – enthusiastically undertakes the role of Vice Chairman of the Agent Orange Victims Association of the district. Overcoming the pain of his illness, he devoted himself to the work of the Association, hoping to alleviate the suffering caused by Agent Orange for the children of his comrades and fellow soldiers.

At 64 years old, Mr. Nguyen Viet Hanh from Hung Yen Bac commune, Hung Nguyen district, still volunteers to donate blood, contributing his life to save others. The compassionate Catholic couple Nguyen Lien Thanh and Nguyen Thi Thinh from Hamlet 1, Nam Loc commune, Nam Dan district, have been caring for and supporting unfortunate people since 1982. They have also encouraged many others in the locality to participate and share the difficulties with orphans and the sick. Elderly members of the Long Son commune's Senior Citizens Association in Anh Son district have actively encouraged their children and grandchildren to donate land for road construction and environmental sanitation. Despite their advanced age, many elderly people in Long Son still participate in social activities. For example, elderly people in Dong Vinh hamlet, Hung Dong commune, voluntarily dismantled their fences and houses, donating over 200 square meters of land to open a 4.5-meter wide, 290-meter long public road. This contributed to the overall achievement of the Vinh City Senior Citizens Association, which donated over 3,000 square meters of land worth over 10 billion VND to build roads in residential areas…

It seems that the elderly don't want to talk much about what they do, nor do they consider it a big deal, but simply a duty and responsibility they must fulfill. Simple, diligent, with a loving nature towards their children and grandchildren, hardworking, and eager to contribute, the elderly are striving to dedicate their strength to their families, hometowns, and country, worthy of being considered a towering figure, a shining example for their descendants to follow.

Thanh Son