Stories of economic development and rural construction in the Ban Thach Catholic community.

Dynamic economic development

Regarding Ban Thach Parish, what impressed us most were the smooth, paved roads and concrete pavements, along with the well-built houses springing up in the villages. Not long ago, few could have imagined that this semi-mountainous, barren rural area would experience such a strong resurgence and become as prosperous as it is today.

Mr. Bui Van Ky, Chairman of the Pastoral Council of Ban Thach Parish, explained: “In the past, the people here almost exclusively cultivated rice, with no other sources of income, so life was difficult, barely enough to eat each day. In recent years, thanks to the dynamism in economic development, the people have added more industries, professions, and sources of income, thus, their lives have improved and been enhanced, and the appearance of the hamlet and village has truly brightened.”

Mr. Bui Van Ky led us to Son Thuy village to visit the carpentry workshop of Mr. Ngo Tri Suu's family. Mr. Suu is one of the earliest households to invest in a carpentry workshop, equipped with all kinds of machinery and equipment worth hundreds of millions of dong, serving the needs of the local people.

Thanks to this, his family earns hundreds of millions of dong each year, allowing them to build a spacious house and purchase modern conveniences. At the same time, they provide regular employment for five workers with stable incomes and help those in need.

Not far from Mr. Suu's house is the family of Mr. Hoang Van Loi, who are well-known for making rice noodles and rice cakes in Ban Thach Parish. Every day, Mr. and Mrs. Loi produce rice noodles and sell them at Thanh Khe market, meeting the needs of people in the surrounding villages and hamlets.

Mr. and Mrs. Loi also invested in raising dozens of pigs, each litter bringing in tens of millions of dong. Their noodle-making and pig-raising businesses have provided the family with a stable income, allowing them to save up and build houses for their children.

Currently,parishionersThe Ban Thach parish has truly diversified its industries and occupations. Along with rice cultivation, the parishioners have invested in large-scale livestock and poultry farming in a commercial farm model, generating high incomes.

Notable examples include the households of Mr. Pham Van Hieu (village 1) and Mr. Hoang Van Huong (Yen Linh village), who have developed pig and chicken farming models with thousands of animals, generating hundreds of millions of dong in income annually. In addition, the villagers are also promoting carpentry, purchasing agricultural and forestry products, transporting goods, and providing services.

At the same time, many families have facilitated their children's vocational training, employment in industrial zones, and overseas labor export. According to statistics, currently, more than 80 workers are employed abroad, and many more are in the process of applying for overseas employment, promising a substantial income for their families and contributing to the development of a prosperous and beautiful homeland.

Actively participate in building new rural areas.

Along with economic development and income improvement, parishioners of Ban Thach Parish have also actively contributed their labor and resources to the construction of new rural areas, helping to change the face of the countryside. A notable example is the movement to donate land for road construction. The well-maintained and clean roads running through the villages and hamlets today are thanks in no small part to the contributions of the parishioners. Many households have voluntarily donated land, trees, and moved their fences inward, readily sacrificing personal interests for the collective good.

A few years ago, many sections of the road were very narrow, failing to meet the standards of the new rural road program, especially the section through Son Thuy village. Faced with this situation, the Party Committee and the government of Thanh Khe commune (formerly) coordinated with the Pastoral Council of Ban Thach Parish to mobilize parishioners to donate land for road construction; many people readily donated land, trees, and moved fences to widen the inter-village road.

For example, the households of Mr. Phan Van Phuoc and Mr. Hoang Van Hai (who donated 100m²).²), Mr. Nguyen Van Son (donated 80m)²), Mr. Nguyen Van Hung (donated 50m)²)…

Besides donating land, the parishioners also contributed nearly 6 billion VND, helping the entire commune build 32 km of concrete roads to serve transportation needs and change the face of the rural area.

During the period from 2023 to 2024, several villages encouraged self-governing groups to mobilize resources for rural development, including the construction of concrete roads. Many households actively contributed labor and resources. Notable examples include Mr. Dinh Van Hua's household, which donated 58 million VND; and Mr. Nguyen Van Tin's household, which donated land for the self-governing group to build a concrete road.

Thanks to diligent efforts, the economic situation of households has gradually improved, the face of rural areas, parishes, and sub-parishes has undergone significant changes, the number of well-off and wealthy households has increased considerably, and many families have acquired many valuable household amenities and means of economic development such as cars, excavators, threshing machines, and rice harvesting machines.

With a tradition of mutual support and compassion, the parishioners have actively participated in charitable and humanitarian work. The parish's charitable associations and groups, as well as those in sub-parishes, have raised hundreds of millions of dong, providing timely assistance to those in difficult circumstances, sick, or ill.

In addition, the community contributed labor and materials to help disadvantaged households repair and build new homes. A typical example is helping Ms. Pham Thi Chinh, a disabled parishioner from a poor household, who lives alone and has no one to rely on, to build her new house.Great unity"worth 200 million VND; support for building houses for Mr. Tran Van Bang and Mr. Nguyen Van Hop, each house worth 70 million VND. Livelihood support for Ms. Nguyen Thi Quy's family, a household with particularly difficult circumstances, with a livelihood support amount of 15 million VND…

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Over the years, the parishioners of Ban Thach Parish, Hoa Quan Commune, have fostered a spirit of solidarity, helping each other develop the economy, alleviate poverty, and actively participate in production and business activities. As a result, all aspects of life have improved, the face of the homeland has become increasingly vibrant, and Ban Thach Parish was awarded a Certificate of Commendation by the Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee for its outstanding achievements in the patriotic emulation movement and for living a good and virtuous life during the period 2020-2025.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chinh - Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial Catholic Solidarity Committee