Funny stories on the river Giang

Dan Lai people in Co Phat village grow wet rice. Photo: Hoai Thu

Bring smiles to remote villages

Co Phat in Mon Son commune is one of the villages with a large population of Dan Lai people. To get to Co Phat village, we started preparing our luggage from early morning. From the district center, we had to travel more than half an hour by car; and then take a boat across the Giang River for more than an hour before arriving at Co Phat village.

Our trip was quite special as we were joined by the leaders of the District Party Committee and the People's Mobilization Committee of Con Cuong District, along with officers from the Mon Son Border Guard Station. On the motorboat that could carry a maximum of 7 people, we had to "cut" one person from staying on shore to make room for two special "passengers", a pair of black pigs that the officers and staff of the District Party Committee's People's Mobilization Committee had pooled money to buy for the family of Mrs. Ha Thi Tuat, a poor household in Co Phat village.

People transport forest products on Giang River. Photo: Hoai Thu

The boat glided upstream on the Giang River towards the border village, the scenery on both banks shimmeringly passed by. There were stilt houses hidden behind the trees, red flags with yellow stars fluttering on the hilltops; herds of cows with bells around their necks looking up at the boat gliding in the middle of the river; pebble beaches of all sizes interspersed among the bushes, evoking a wild, quiet atmosphere.

The loud, ear-piercing roar of the motorboat startled the kingfishers and sent them flying away from the trees. The boat turned around the bends, splashing water everywhere, and the people sitting on the boat inevitably got wet. The two black pigs were bewildered by the “trip” and got seasick, lying listlessly after vomiting their food to the bottom of the boat.

Dan Lai people install electricity on Giang River. Photo: Hoai Thu

Arriving at the "Co Phat wharf", we were welcomed by the Secretary of Co Phat village, La Van Linh, a small man with bright eyes and a gentle smile. He is a son of the Dan Lai ethnic group, born and raised in the Pu Mat forest, closely attached to the people of Co Phat since his childhood. Up to now, having been through many "terms" as Village Chief, then more than 2 terms as Party Cell Secretary, he understands better than anyone the poverty and hardship of the people of Co Phat, the Dan Lai village in this remote border area. Therefore, when he heard that the delegation of district officials came to give piglets to the people, Mr. La Van Linh was very happy, all morning he stood awkwardly waiting to welcome the delegation, running to the Mon Son Border Guard to ask about the situation and then running to Mrs. Ha Thi Tuat's house to check if the barn was secure.

Mrs. Ha Thi Tuat's household received money from the staff of the Con Cuong District Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Committee to buy a pair of breeding pigs. This is one of the households with particularly difficult circumstances in Co Phat village. Mrs. Tuat's husband, Mr. La Van Bang, is a retired soldier who has been bedridden for many years and is unable to work.

Mrs. Ha Thi Tuat: "I am very happy, having pigs to raise means I don't have to worry about hunger or poverty. I will take good care of the breeding pigs so they can reproduce more. Thank you very much, officer." Photo: Hoai Thu

When the Co Phat village cadres and the Border Guard Station stationed in the village heard that Mrs. Tuat's family had received piglets, they coordinated together to mobilize people to help build a pig pen for Mrs. Tuat and her husband. Some people helped with labor, others gave bamboo trees, and others helped cut palm leaves.

Touched by the concern of the authorities and the villagers, Mrs. Ha Thi Tuat shyly said thank you. When the group brought the pair of breeding pigs to give to her family, Mrs. Tuat kept running back and forth, her eyes sparkling with joy.

Knowing that Mr. and Mrs. Ha Thi Tuat's family received gifts, the villagers also came together. On the faces still marked by hardship, happy smiles sparkled. That was the joy of the people in the border village when they saw that they were cared for by authorities, creating favorable conditions in life, and encouraged to do business to overcome poverty...

The People's Committee of Con Cuong District Party Committee presented breeding pigs to Mrs. Ha Thi Tuat's household in Co Phat village, Mon Son commune. Photo: Hoai Thu

In August 2018, the staff of the Con Cuong District Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Committee contributed their salaries to buy 4 pairs of breeding pigs to give to 4 poor households in villages in the 2 border communes of Mon Son and Chau Khe, each pair of pigs worth 1.5 million VND.

"Our village is getting more and more beautiful"

Following the Giang River back to Xieng village of Mon Son commune in late autumn, the weather is really pleasing to walk under the cool green trees around the winding roads under the typical stilt houses. Coming to this unique cultural village, we still remember 2 years ago we also came here, now coming back we see so many changes. The first thing that is easy to notice is the cool green scenery, many flowers and the cleanliness, clarity from the houses to the alleys and roads.

Farmers in Xieng village, Mon Son commune cycle to the field. Photo courtesy

Xieng Village Party Secretary Ha Thi Thin happily said that the green - clean - beautiful result is thanks to the Party Committee, the government and organizations actively responding to the implementation of clever mass mobilization models of planting flowers and ornamental plants to beautify the village. Xieng Village today has not only changed its "face" beautifully decorated with greenness and many blooming flowers, but also has changed the lives of the people.

Xieng Village is located along the road leading to Pha Lai eco-tourism area, so the Mon Son commune government as well as the village executive committee are always aware of the importance of the "chain" that helps connect Mon Son with tourists from all over.

Cage fish farming model on Giang River of Mon Son people. In Xieng village alone, people raise 23 fish cages and a herd of more than 300 cows and nearly 5,000 poultry. Photo: Documentary

Mr. Vi Van Doan, one of the households raising fish in cages in Xieng village, said, "The villagers are now "crazy" about doing business to develop the economy." People have seen the economic efficiency of their own hard work. Heaven does not disappoint those who work hard, if they diligently collect, along with the help and care of the government, no one will worry about hunger. "Mon Son will continue to develop a lot, our Xieng village will become more and more beautiful" - Mr. Vi Van Doan happily said while dropping a handful of grass to the fish wriggling in the cage.

Booth introducing traditional handicraft products of Xieng village, Mon Son commune. Photo: Hoai Thu

In addition to striving for excellence in production, the people of Xieng village also have another passion: preserving the traditional culture of generations. That is the culture of gongs and brocade weaving. Xieng village has been recognized as a brocade weaving village with more than 140 households regularly participating in production. And the convergence point of the quintessence of Xieng village brocade weaving for many years is the product introduction and sales point located right on the main road to the village center. The booth, although quite small, is always neatly arranged and cozy. There, the folds of fabric, shirts, skirts and traditional handicrafts of the people are solemnly displayed, catching the eyes of viewers.

The Dan Lai ethnic people in Mon Son have begun to use modern appliances. Photo courtesy

For tourists like us, when we step in here, we don't want to leave because of the strangeness and interest of the products. It is a scarf woven from silk thread that the people grow mulberry, raise silkworms, spin, and dye from the leaves of the mountains and forests. It is a small, pretty bag embroidered with delicate patterns, very convenient for women to carry personal belongings when going out...

The booth is especially crowded when the "tourist season" comes, many of whom are foreign visitors stopping by on their way to Pha Lai eco-tourism area - one of the destinations on the community tourism connection route that Con Cuong district is focusing on investing in and developing.

Tourists visit Pha Lai dam. Photo: Huu Vi

Mon Son - Luc Da Festival. Photo archive

We said goodbye to Mon Son, bringing back to the city the sounds of the mountains and forests, of the poetic Giang River and the joys of change of the land that once witnessed the establishment of the first Party cell of Western Nghe An./.