Feature story

Getting closer to Dan Lai…

Nhat Lan - Thanh Cuong - Vo Hai • February 10, 2025 09:20

Thanks to the attention of the Party and the State through the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, the road from the center of Mon Son commune (Con Cuong) to Bung village of the Dan Lai people in the core area of ​​Pu Mat National Park is gradually taking shape…

Nhat Lan - Thanh Cuong - Vo HaiFebruary 10, 2025

We learned that Con Cuong district was focusing on investing in the road from the center of Mon Son commune to Bung village on September 28, 2024. At that time, Con Cuong district suffered significant negative impacts from Typhoon No. 4 on September 19, 2024. In particular, the villages of Co Phat and Bung, inhabited by the Dan Lai ethnic group, were isolated due to prolonged heavy rain and the rising, fast-flowing waters of the Giang River, making life extremely difficult for the Dan Lai people. Following this information, the Niềm Tin (Faith) volunteer group, led by Mr. Nguyen Van Thong (then the Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee), organized a trip to support the Dan Lai people in Bung and Co Phat villages.

When the group crossed the Giang River into the heart of the Pu Mat forest, nine days had passed since Typhoon No. 4, but the river was still high. Many sections were winding, with strong currents creating rapids and fierce waterfalls, so it took the group more than three hours to reach the beginning of Bung village – the innermost village of the Dan Lai ethnic group.

From here, looking up from the boat, one can clearly see long, reddish-brown streaks of rock beneath the lush green slopes of the primeval forest, and two imposing, silvery-white concrete blocks standing on either side of the river. When asked, the officials from Con Cuong district who accompanied us explained that the reddish-brown streaks were the construction sites of a road leading to Bung village, and the two concrete blocks were the pillars of suspension bridge number 4, which, once completed, would help the Dan Lai people in this remote mountain area escape isolation during the rainy season.

In summary, the Vice Chairman of the District People's Council, Mr. Nguyen The Manh, said: "Along the entire route, from the center of Mon Son commune to Bung village, there are 4 suspension bridges crossing the Giang River. This is the last suspension bridge; the bridge abutments have been completed and will be joined together in a short time. When the road and bridges are completed, it will only take about 30 minutes by motorbike from the center of Mon Son commune to Bung village, making transportation easier for the people and eliminating isolation during the rainy season..."

Regarding Bản Búng, we had visited it several times before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Therefore, we thought it was one of the most disadvantaged areas in the province, to the point of being beyond improvement. But this time, just minutes after leaving the boat, we saw encouraging changes in Bản Búng. A large concrete road connected to a drainage system runs through the village, leading to the pillar of suspension bridge number 4. Along the road, many houses have been renovated, with sturdy green and red corrugated iron roofs, and a new school has been built.

Thanks to the concrete roads and newly built and renovated houses, Bung village has become much more modern and prosperous than before. Moreover, when meeting the residents of Bung village, one can see that their inherent shyness and hesitation when encountering strangers has been somewhat dispelled. The Dan Lai people of Bung village are now more receptive, willing to listen, and willing to answer questions, and joy is clearly visible on their weathered, hardened faces. Representatives of the Dan Lai people of Bung village, such as Village Head Le Van Chin and respected figure La Van Hoai, in their speeches thanking the authorities and the Niềm Tin (Faith) charity group, clearly recounted their difficulties and proposed measures to help the Dan Lai people of Bung village change their lives.

Mr. Lo Van Thao, Chairman of the People's Committee of Con Cuong District, shared that despite many difficulties, the villages of Co Phat and Bung are gradually undergoing positive changes. This is thanks to the special attention given over the years by the Central Government, the province, as well as the Party Committee and the government of Con Cuong District, implementing many programs and projects aimed at improving all aspects of the economic and spiritual lives of the Dan Lai people.

In recent years, new schools have been built for Co Phat and Bung villages; embankments have been constructed to prevent landslides in Bung village; and most importantly, investment has been focused on building roads and suspension bridges from the center of Mon Son commune to Bung village.

In addition, a segment of the young people of the Dan Lai ethnic group, having received education, have gradually left their mountain life to seek work in central areas to build a better life. These young people are able to interact with society, thereby having a positive impact on their families and their community.

Focusing on investment in road and bridge construction, we asked the Chairman of the People's Committee of Lo Van Thao District about the date for the completion of the fourth suspension bridge. He replied: "The bridge piers have just been completed. If the weather is favorable, the bridge will be completed in about 20 days. However, access roads are very difficult, and the weather is unpredictable with rain and sunshine, so we cannot set an exact date yet. When the bridge is completed, I will inform you so you can come and witness it..."

We had arranged to meet with the Chairman of the Con Cuong District People's Committee, Le Van Thao, but due to the constant rain and the extremely difficult road to Bung village, witnessing the completion of the Giang River suspension bridge No. 4 did not materialize. It wasn't until December 24, 2024, that we returned to Bung village.

The distance from the center of Mon Son commune to Bung village by road is over 18km. However, traveling by pickup truck with officials from Mon Son commune and Con Cuong district takes nearly two hours. The reason is that it had been raining continuously for several days, and only about 4km of the entire route has been paved with concrete; the rest is still a winding, steep, rocky mountain trail.

Indeed, the road was incredibly steep and slippery. Every now and then, the driver had to switch to low gear and accelerate to the maximum to climb the slopes and overcome obstacles. After departing from the Mon Son commune headquarters at 8:15 AM, it was past 10:00 AM before reaching the paved section of road.

And despite being exhausted from the nearly two-hour bumpy ride, the members of the delegation were very happy to be able to stroll along the sturdy concrete road, more than 3 meters wide, and admire the fourth suspension bridge that connects the Giang River to Bung village. They clearly saw the concern that the Party and the State have given to the Dan Lai ethnic group in the heart of the Pu Mat forest.

Upon arriving in Khe Bung village, the first people we met were the teachers of the kindergarten, including Ms. La Thi Nghi, a member of the Dan Lai ethnic minority. Excited to be interviewed, Ms. Nghi proudly shared that one of her students from Khe Bung village has now gone on to university. As for herself, although she is married and lives in the central village of Mon Son commune, she is determined to return to Khe Bung to teach the children.

Teacher Nghi said thoughtfully, "I think, as a Dan Lai woman, if I don't go to help my people because of the difficulties, who will? I want to contribute so that the children here can be on par with their peers outside the center. The children here need to be taught everything, from daily activities and hygiene to learning to read and write..."

Then she happily added, "The government's investment in roads and bridges to Bung village has made it easier for the Dan Lai people to travel and interact, changing their way of thinking and customs, escaping backwardness, and developing the economy. The teachers in Bung village are also much less burdened..."

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"I think, as a Dan Lai person, if I don't go to help my people because of the difficulties, who will? I want to contribute so that the children here can be on par with their peers outside the center."

Teacher La Thi Nghi

According to village head Le Van Chin, Bung village has 125 households and 520 inhabitants. Of these, 3 households are near-poor, while the rest are poor. Explaining this, Mr. Le Van Chin said that the villagers still mainly depend on the forest. Mr. Chin stated: “The village has very little rice paddy land; each household only has 40-50 square meters.”²"Furthermore, I don't have any capital to start a business; I only raise a few pigs and chickens. So, when bamboo shoot season comes, I go into the forest to collect them, and when the season is over, I don't know what to do..."

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"To develop livestock farming and crop cultivation, we need land, so we hope the State will pay attention to allocating land to the people..."

Village head of Bung Le Van Chin

I asked about the villagers' thoughts on the new road and bridge. According to him, previously the road to the village was very bad, and there was no bridge, so people had great difficulty crossing rivers and streams, especially during the rainy season when they were completely isolated. Now, thanks to the government's attention, in addition to building a school for their children, they have also invested in a road for the village, making travel easier for the villagers and eliminating worries during the rainy season.

Then, village head Le Van Chin shared his thoughts: “Thanks to the State's investment in bridges, roads, schools, and flood control embankments, the people of Bung village feel secure. However, the villagers also hope that the State will provide more livestock and seedlings to develop animal husbandry and crop cultivation to improve their lives. But to develop animal husbandry and crop cultivation, land is necessary, so we also hope that the State will pay attention to allocating land to the villagers…”

Mr. La Van Linh, Head of the Fatherland Front Committee of Co Phat village, said: “Co Phat village has 126 households (528 people), including 5 near-poor households, and the rest are poor households. The lives of the people mainly depend on the forest for bamboo shoots and beekeeping. In addition, some young people go to work far away in the southern provinces, or in factories and industrial zones in the district and province. Currently, the State is investing in building a primary and kindergarten school for Co Phat village, and the people are very happy. Regarding the road from the center of Mon Son commune through Co Phat village to Bung village, it will help connect trade, create convenience and increase the value of products, so the people are very much looking forward to the completion of this road. However, the road has many steep slopes and is often prone to landslides, so we request that the authorities pay attention to reducing the slope during construction to ensure the safety of the people. At the same time, we hope that the authorities will pay attention to allocating land for housing and production so that the people can have stability and development…”

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The road from the center of Mon Son commune, through Co Phat village to Bung village, will help connect trade, create convenience and increase the value of products, so the people are very much looking forward to its completion.

Mr. La Van Linh - Head of the Fatherland Front Committee of Co Phat village

Joining us on the trip, Mr. Vi Duc Thinh, Vice Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Mon Son commune, said that in the past, the people of Dan Lai mainly went into the forest to hunt and gather, so their lives were very precarious. To get to the central area, people usually had to walk along trails, and a few households with the means traveled by boat. The difficult transportation made it extremely difficult to transport necessities to serve their lives and to sell their products.

For the village of Búng, which is often isolated due to rising stream levels, life has become even more difficult. Now, with the government building roads and bridges into the village, although not yet completed, transportation by motorbike has become easier, making it convenient for the villagers to transport necessities in and agricultural products out.

Mr. Vi Duc Thinh commented: "Thanks to the State's investment in electricity, schools, and livestock, and the regular guidance from the Border Guard, the lives of the people in Dan Lai have gradually changed, and their awareness has also improved. With the addition of roads and bridges, new avenues for development will open up..."

Returning to the center of Con Cuong district, we were received by the Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee, Tran Anh Tuan. According to Mr. Tuan, the road connecting the center of Mon Son commune to Khe Bung village, with a total investment of 63 billion VND, is of great importance and will promote economic development for the Dan Lai people in the core area of ​​Pu Mat National Park.

However, the project is currently only in phase 1, with package number 1 covering 6km and suspension bridge number 4. Due to the very complex terrain, steep slopes, and frequent landslides, construction has faced many difficulties. Specifically, this is a single-lane road, and the frequent rain significantly affects the material gathering process, hinders construction, and impacts the progress and overall investment.

Mr. Tran Anh Tuan explained: “The volume at the time of the project survey differs from the design volume, leading to changes in unit prices. Therefore, the District People's Committee has submitted a proposal to the Provincial People's Committee for approval to adjust the total investment of the project, supplementing the funding. The District People's Committee will review and adjust the documents, approving the investment for the remaining more than 11km to ensure that the entire road will be completed by the end of 2025.”

Regarding the issue of land allocation for the people, Tran Anh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Con Cuong district, said that during the process of the State allocating land to Pu Mat National Park, the allocation overlapped with land belonging to households that had lived there for generations. Faced with this situation, the Party committee and the local government have made recommendations and proposals to the province and the Government.

The Pù Mát National Park Conservation and Sustainable Development Project includes a plan to separate and re-plan the residential and forest land areas for the Dan Lai ethnic minority from the National Park's land. This content has also been integrated into the provincial planning and approved by the Government. Currently, the Provincial People's Committee and relevant departments are carrying out the procedures to make adjustments so that the Dan Lai ethnic minority can be allocated land in the near future…

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The District People's Committee will review and adjust the documents, and approve the investment for the remaining more than 11km to ensure that the entire road will be open to traffic by the end of 2025.”

Tran Anh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Con Cuong District

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake 2025, I contacted the Secretary of the Con Cuong District Party Committee, Nguyen Hoai An, and heard him talk about the district's implementation of directives from the Government and the province to build houses for 72 poor Dan Lai households still facing housing difficulties; and the fact that the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment are focusing on resolving land issues for the Dan Lai people.

Regarding the investment in building the road to Bung village, District Party Secretary Nguyen Hoai An recounted a trip in 2024 that took the Nghe An expatriate association from the southern provinces to visit Bung village by road. During that trip, due to rain, slippery roads, and steep slopes, one car was involved in an accident. “Fortunately, no one in the car was injured, but it was an unforgettable trip…” said Mr. Nguyen Hoai An. Therefore, according to District Party Secretary Nguyen Hoai An, investing in roads and bridges to Bung village is a revolution to change the economic and spiritual lives of the Dan Lai people in the heart of the Pu Mat forest.

“Since 2006, the Government has approved the Project for the Preservation and Development of the Dan Lai ethnic group. For many years, the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee, and various departments and agencies, along with the Party Committee and government of Con Cuong district, have paid great attention to the Dan Lai people. The two villages of Bung and Co Phat have been prioritized for investment in electricity grids, schools, health stations, and economic programs and projects. Currently, from the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, the project to build a road from the center of Mon Son commune to Bung village is being implemented. When the road is completed, travel time will be shortened to only about 25 minutes, not only making travel easier for the Dan Lai people, but also bringing the whole society closer to the Dan Lai people, to continue helping them develop their economic and cultural lives…” – District Party Secretary Nguyen Hoai An added.