The story of using the power of the 'virtual world' to create real-world effects.

Nghe An Newspaper had a dialogue with Comrade Cao Duy Thai about related issues.

PV:FromOver time, the Facebook account "Sắc Núi" and the website "Chọng Temple - A Sacred Mountain Realm" have become familiar to the community. Thanks to the appeals and information posted on these platforms, they have encouraged and actively contributed to mobilizing a large amount of social resources for the restoration of Choọng Temple in Châu Lý. Could you share your story of using the power of the "virtual world" to achieve real and positive effects in mobilizing community strength?

Comrade Cao Duy Thai:I've always thought that the internet and social media have added another way for people to communicate with each other. Whether it's "virtual" or not is up to each individual to decide; ultimately, human communication can only truly touch other hearts. I was surprised and genuinely delighted that through the page "Choong Temple - A Sacred Mountain Realm" (http:muongchoong.blogspot.com), the Facebook account "Sac Nui" has connected with so many people, and so many people have joined me in contributing something to the community during these years...

My journey into information technology began with the Nghe An Newspaper. Having collaborated with the Nghe An Newspaper since 1996, my dedication to writing motivated my family and me to save up money to buy a camera and a desktop computer during a time of financial hardship... so I could send information to the newspaper. Following that, I taught myself Photoshop, set up email accounts, and created websites... All of this was learned little by little, day by day, and today I can design graphics and edit photos independently.

The memorial monument for martyrs in Chau Ly commune (Quy Hop district) was mainly built with funding from social contributions.

The creation of the website "Choong Temple - A Sacred Land" (http: muongchoong.blogspot.com) reflects my long-standing desire to restore Choong Temple, a wish shared by the local people and many others interested in the history of Western Nghe An province.

That day, the first day of the ninth lunar month in 2010, coinciding with the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi, I went with Mr. Nguyen Tinh Phu, then Chairman of the Chau Ly Commune People's Committee, to Pu Den to offer incense. In that sacred space, I suddenly thought, why not use the Internet to promote the Choong Temple relic, so that more people would know about it and, consequently, more resources could be mobilized for the restoration process?

I had never created a website or used any programming languages ​​before, but I told myself I had to do it. So I tinkered around, using Blogspot to create the Muong Choong website. By over 2 AM, the product was officially finished, and I've basically kept the same interface and modules ever since.

It's gratifying that through this page, many people have come to know Choong Temple – a sacred land with hospitable people in the western part of Nghe An province, contributing to the successful social mobilization efforts in the restoration and reconstruction of Choong Temple with donations of nearly 10 billion VND.

PV:It is known that, from the restoration of Choong Temple, the preservation of cultural identity, and the creation of cultural institutions and activities, Chau Ly commune is also one of the leading communes in economic development in Quy Hop district, especially in the new rural development program. These successes were not easily achieved, nor did they happen naturally. In your opinion, what resources and reasons have enabled Chau Ly commune to achieve such results?

Comrade Cao Duy Thai:I often think of the various aspects of local social life as the constituent parts of a body. To have a healthy, flawless "body," no aspect should be overlooked. Economy, culture, social welfare, security and order at the grassroots level are all intertwined. Cultural development provides motivation for the people to be enthusiastic and confident in their production efforts; economic development provides the resources and conditions for investing in culture and social welfare... The reality in Chau Ly has proven this.

I know this by heart: "The Party is wholeheartedly dedicated to the people. The people trust the Party. The revolutionary cause will certainly succeed." In Chau Ly, it can be affirmed that the care for social welfare, the attention to cultural life, and the wholehearted dedication to the people... have helped the locality achieve consensus within the entire political system and among all the people, creating a remarkable leap forward in economic development. Of the 23 units and hamlets in Quy Hop district that registered to achieve the new rural development goals in 2016, after the assessment process, only 6 hamlets met the standards; Chau Ly commune contributed 2 hamlets that met the standards: Pan hamlet and Na Lan hamlet.

Building roads in Tham village.

In 2017, 99 households escaped poverty, reducing the poverty rate by 5%. Dozens of families in the commune have acquired cars, passenger vehicles, and trucks for transportation and business purposes... something that many people wouldn't have dared to dream of just a few years ago.

Chau Ly is a rural area steeped in loyalty and affection. Along with wholeheartedly contributing to the restoration of Choong Temple, the people voluntarily donated nearly 750 million VND to build a memorial monument for martyrs, which was inaugurated on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs, July 27, 2017...

PV:What are your thoughts on the current use of Facebook by officials and Party members, especially those in management positions? Could you share some experiences on using Facebook and social media to support your leadership and management work?

Comrade Cao Duy Thai:I think everything has two sides, and social media is no exception. For example, a knife in the hands of a villager is a useful tool for work, but in the hands of a criminal, it becomes a murder weapon. What matters is the intention of the user and how they use it. Cadres and Party members, especially leaders and managers, should pay even more attention to this when using social media.

At Chau Ly commune, over the years, management and administration have been primarily conducted through information technology applications. Work schedules, monthly reports, and document approvals are all done via email. It is a mandatory requirement for all officials and civil servants, especially young officials, to be proficient in using email and information technology in handling documents and work. Using social media requires responsibility and accountability for posted information, adherence to the law and social norms; and avoiding actions that harm the agency, family, or society.

In reality, through the internet and social media, many people have learned about remote areas, such as Chau Ly commune, and the daily events happening there. Through social media connections, in 2017 alone, over 250 million VND reached the poor and disadvantaged families in Chau Ly commune through programs such as: "Overcoming Challenges - HTV," "Sacred Crescent Moon," "Winter is Not Cold," and "Great Unity Day"... There are many people I have never met, and they have never been to Chau Ly, but they are willing to donate money to support the poor in Chau Ly commune through information on social media.

PV:Thank you, comrade!