Happiness is "one-sided"!

(Baonghean) - The notion of "having a son to continue the family lineage" seemed deeply ingrained in the thinking of farmers. However, as life becomes more developed, this idea is gradually changing, because for them, raising well-behaved and academically successful children, and building a warm, happy family is more important than having a son or a daughter...

People often say that having both sons and daughters is essential for a complete family, but for me, that's not important. My family feels completely happy with two daughters," shared Mr. Le Viet Hung from Dong Hamlet, Quang Phong Ward, Thai Hoa Town, when we visited his family with his wife, Ms. Nguyen Thi Gam. Pouring a cup of tea for the guests, Ms. Gam recounted: "My family currently has three generations living under one roof. Each member is aware of their responsibilities, united, and working together to build a happy family. This year, we are honored to be selected as one of the exemplary farming families that have successfully implemented the population policy and family planning, receiving commendation and awards from higher authorities. This is a motivation for us to better implement the policies and guidelines of the Party and the State."

The family of Mr. Le Viet Hung.

The greatest happiness for this family is their children being well-behaved, academically successful, and filial towards their grandparents and parents. Their eldest daughter, Le Thi Kieu Trang, born in 1989, was an excellent student throughout her 12 years of schooling. During her three years of nursing school, Trang was always an outstanding student in her class. Graduating with honors from Nghe An Medical College, Ms. Trang currently works at the Nghia Dan District Health Center and received a Certificate of Commendation from the Health Center for her achievements in the "healing and saving lives" movement. Their second daughter, Le Thuy Nhung, born in 1997, is currently a 12th-grade student. Throughout her 11 years of schooling, she has consistently achieved the status of an advanced and excellent student; she is filial and diligent.

Mr. Hung shared: "When it comes to raising children, the first thing parents must do is be a good role model for their children to follow, showing care, sharing, being close to them, educating them to be polite, and learning from the good examples around them..."

Mr. Le Viet Hung's family was recognized as a "Model Farmer in the New Rural Development Movement"; in 2011-2012, they received the title of "Model Cultural Family" at the town level; from 2007-2013, they received the title of "Model Cultural Family" at the ward level and were awarded a Certificate of Commendation by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

*As a locality where over 90% of the population lives in rural areas, the majority of the people...Nghi Xuan - Nghi LocAll professions are associated with sea voyages, arduous work requiring the strength of men, and the seafaring profession is fraught with danger. That's why families involved in fishing always hope to have sons and value them highly. However, the family of Mr. Hoang Van Kinh and Ms. Dau Thi Nho in Xuan Canh hamlet is different: They are happy with their two obedient and academically successful daughters, Hoang Thi Phuong Chi, in 11th grade, and Hoang Thi Tuyet Nhung, in 8th grade... But to have this small, warm, and happy family, they had to overcome many prejudices, family pressures, and the gossip of friends.

The family of Mr. Hoang Van Kinh.

Mr. Kinh shared: “Whether it’s a boy or a girl doesn’t matter. I work as a fisherman, each trip lasts 7-10 days, enough to eat but still very hard. In coastal areas, many people talk about it, saying that you need a son to go to sea and be the pillar of the family later on… But my view is not to have many children, just stop at two so that we can raise them well, because having more is too much trouble!” And so, he and his wife discussed and agreed not to have any more children, determined to focus their efforts on raising their children and giving them a good education.

Ms. Dau Thi Thuong, the population officer of Nghi Xuan commune, Nghi Loc district, said: "The Kinh and Nho family are Catholic and live in a coastal area, but they always set a good example in complying with the Party's guidelines and policies, and the laws of the State, including the population and family planning policy. Furthermore, they are also population propagandists in their hamlet; Mr. Kinh often shares his experiences on building a happy family and knowledge on raising children with other families in the parish. Their family is also very active and exemplary in implementing the new rural development movement."

* In Hamlet 11, Nghi Lien Commune, Vinh CityEveryone considers the family of Mr. Nguyen Phi Hung and Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai Lan as a prime example of successful implementation of the Population and Family Planning policy and a thriving business in the locality.

The family of Mr. Nguyen Phi Hung.

Married in 1991, starting from nothing, Mr. Hung and Ms. Hai Lan worked diligently, striving to achieve legitimate wealth. After five years, their family happiness multiplied when they welcomed two beautiful and healthy daughters into the world. They have always believed that children are their most precious possessions, a gift from God, and that "whether girls or boys, two is enough."

Thanks to actively participating in training courses on farming and livestock raising, in addition to their few acres of rice fields, the couple boldly invested in building a model of breeding cattle and laying hens, bringing high economic efficiency. Taking advantage of their free time during the agricultural off-season, they also opened a small kiosk to sell agricultural supplies, pesticides, and groceries to neighbors. Thanks to implementing the population policy/family planning and working diligently, they have been able to provide their children with a good education and accumulate capital for long-term development. Their family earns hundreds of millions of dong annually.

Besides being a successful businessman, Mr. Hung is also enthusiastic and actively participates in social activities. As a Party branch secretary and head of the village's Fatherland Front Committee, he is exemplary and takes the lead in all activities; actively propagating and mobilizing relatives and people in the village to effectively implement the Party's guidelines and the State's laws, especially the population and family planning policy and the new rural development movement.

When talking about their small family, the couple couldn't hide their pride. Mr. Hung confided: "For me, happiness is a harmonious marriage, raising healthy children, and teaching them good values... The greatest asset of my wife and I is not our house or money, but our two daughters. They are very well-behaved, conscientious, and excellent students." Ms. Lan shared: "My greatest luck is being a daughter-in-law in a family where my parents-in-law have very modern views, my husband is very understanding and supportive, and everyone in the family, male or female, is equal and respects each other. I've never felt pressured by having only daughters."

Not letting their parents' efforts go to waste, the two daughters are both well-behaved and academically successful. Their eldest daughter, Nguyen Thi Phuong, born in 1992, after graduating from high school, passed the entrance exam to the National Economics University and graduated with honors. She is currently working in the telecommunications industry. Their second daughter, Nguyen Mai Anh, born in 1996, recently passed the university entrance exam to Hanoi University of Agriculture with a high score. Mai Anh's dream is to use the knowledge she has gained at university to serve her homeland.

With their achievements, Mr. Nguyen Phi Hung's family has been recognized as a "Model Cultural Family" at the commune level for many consecutive years. In 2013, his family received the title of "Outstanding and Excellent Farmer in Production and Business" from the Nghi Lien Commune Farmers' Association and was honored at the "Outstanding Farmers in Implementing Population/Family Planning Policy Conference in 2014".

Ngoc - Huong - Ha

(Provincial Population/Family Planning Department)