Journey to the most isolated 'oasis' in Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) – Up to now, Huu Khuong (Tuong Duong) can be considered the most remote and difficult commune in the province. Because it is located in the middle of Ban Ve hydroelectric lake, the terrain is complicated, the traffic is difficult, significantly affecting the socio-economic development process.

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To get to the center of Huu Khuong commune, there is no other way than to take a motorboat in the middle of Ban Ve hydroelectric lake. Photo: Ho Phuong.

Many times we have been to Western Nghe An, but this journey to Huu Khuong was truly a journey of "climbing mountains and wading streams". Instead of running from the foot of Ban Ve hydroelectric dam into the lake, we had to go up to Muong Xen, passing Pha Danh, Huoi Tu, My Ly of Ky Son district, then following the Western Nghe An road to Mai Son, Nhon Mai of Tuong Duong.

From the center of Tuong Duong district, this route is nearly 200km, taking more than 3 hours by car. From Nhon Mai, take a motorboat down Ban Ve lake, to the center of Huu Khuong commune, taking about 1 hour more. 4 tiring hours.

As soon as he set foot on the ground, Party Secretary Lo Van Tung immediately said: "Welcome to Huu Khuong, the only commune in the province that does not have a road to the center."

In Huu Khuong, some villages can now travel by motorbike. But before returning to the village, motorbikes must also...go by boat. Photo: Ho Phuong.

Huu Khuong is home to Thai, Mong and Kho Mu people. The commune currently has 7 villages, including: Xan, Huoi Co, Con Phen, Pung Bon, Tung Hoc, Huoi Pung and Cha Lang. Just the names alone sound strange and very remote. The Yen Tinh - Huu Khuong route only reaches Xan and Huoi Co villages, the government has no plans to develop the next sections. So 5/7 villages of the commune have to endure the situation of not having roads, traveling by motorboat and "sea stretch" vehicles, that is... two legs!

Surrounded by mountains, in the middle is a vast lake, Huu Khuong becomes an "oasis" almost isolated from the communes in the area. The main source of income for the people is still nothing other than slash-and-burn farming.

Steep terrain, backward farming techniques, and livestock farming in the most traditional way... free range. The thinking of the Huu Khuong people is still limited to the vicious circle of self-sufficiency and does not know how to develop a commodity economy.

Even if we thought about it, it would not be feasible because without roads, how would we transport goods? We were not surprised to learn that the poverty rate of the commune is over 80%, making it one of the poorest communes in the province.

The roads to the villages in Huu Khuong are steep and isolated, making it impossible for goods to circulate. Photo: CK

Living around the mountains and forests and farming, the ethnic people in Huu Khuong still retain many customs from ancient times. Coming to Mong Cha Lang village, we can easily see houses with moss-covered sa mu planks in the misty fog. Or horses are used to carry goods over steep slopes.

Coming to the Khmu villages, you will see men, and even women, sitting in front of their houses, smoking pipes and pensively blowing smoke into the air. These are the "specialties" that Huu Khuong still preserves.

The Khmu people in Huu Khuong still preserve the way of smoking tobacco with pipes.

However, according to the people here, compared to before, life in Huu Khuong has changed a lot. Some villages have national grid electricity and phone signals for communication. Compared to the neighboring communes of Mai Son and Nhon Mai, Huu Khuong's progress is like a turtle compared to a rabbit. But for Huu Khuong people, it is a big change, opening the door for them to connect with the community.

When we were in Huu Khuong, the locals were actively campaigning to open a road to the village. This year, the commune focused on directing the opening of a road from Con Phen village (commune center) to Huoi Pung village with a length of 7.1km.

The district supported by sending bulldozers to level 2km, the remaining part was mobilized by the commune with nearly 600 workers from all villages to complete within 5 days. A small road along the mountainside, running to Huoi Pung was formed.

On the swaying boats in the middle of Ban Ve Lake or on the steep mountain slopes where small roads are opened, the Huu Khuong people still dream of big roads.

Cong Kien