They are the soldiers of Uncle Ho.

(Baonghean)Upholding the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers, despite their advanced age, many veterans in Chau Hoi commune (Quy Chau district) are leading the way in economic development and social activities. Their contributions have helped alleviate poverty, build new rural areas, and educate the younger generation about revolutionary traditions, thereby strengthening people's faith in the Party.

Veteran Truong Duc Ninh, Vice Chairman of the Veterans Association of Chau Hoi commune (Quy Chau district), braved the muddy and slippery roads to guide me to Le village. Our friendly conversation along the way revolved around the vibrant activities of the Chau Hoi commune Veterans Association. I learned that, as part of the New Rural Development Program, the veterans' association of Le village had exemplarily donated 16,000 square meters of land, along with assets on the land and the land itself, valued at approximately 30 million VND, to expand the village's internal road from 2.5 meters to 5 meters wide, spanning 3.2 kilometers.

Veteran Truong Duc Ninh shared that there are many exemplary veterans, but a prime example is veteran and Party member Ha Minh Toan, who has been a Party member for nearly 50 years. Looking at his robust and sturdy appearance, no one would guess he is 76 years old. Comrade Toan was formerly an armed police officer stationed in Que Phong, and later held various positions at the district and commune levels until his retirement. One might think that after a lifetime dedicated to the revolution and contributing significantly to the Party and the State, he would return to his hometown to enjoy his old age. But as he confided: "I am a soldier, trained in the military environment, and honored to be a member of the Party, so even after retirement, I must live and work in a way that is worthy of the title of 'Uncle Ho's Soldier,' worthy of the image of a Party member."

Perhaps it is precisely because of this mindset that, even though his children have achieved success and have their own homes, Mr. Toán remains a shining example in household economic development. With 20 hectares of acacia trees, 1 hectare of sugarcane, 50 hectares of fish ponds, and 21 hectares of rice paddies, his total annual income, excluding his pension, exceeds one hundred million dong. In addition, he is a key figure in many organizations and a driving force behind numerous local movements. In implementing the New Rural Development Program, he and other veterans in the branch, including six Party members, set an example by donating land first and encouraging others to follow suit. Mr. Toán's family alone donated 300 square meters without any hesitation or second thoughts.

Leveraging his prestige as a respected "village elder," he and his comrades repeatedly visited the homes of families who were still unconvinced, persuading and explaining the correct policies of the Party and State, and the benefits of building new rural areas for the lives of the villagers. Like a persistent drizzle soaking the earth, finally, the entire population of Le village completed the land donation and clearance process, and the boundary markers for the village's internal roads were placed. "Soon, the village roads will be paved with concrete. Our village will be much cleaner, more beautiful, and more civilized," veteran Ha Minh Toan remarked admiringly, looking out at the wide but still slippery dirt road under the drizzling rain.

The chicken farming model of war veteran Nguyen Duc Xuan in Lam Hoi village, Chau Hoi commune.
(Quỳ Châu).

Leaving Bản Lè – a shining example of the new rural development program in Châu Hội – I, along with veteran Trương Đức Ninh, traveled down National Highway 48 to Bản Lâm Hội. Due to the fact that many families in Lâm Hội are retired forestry workers with very little arable land, developing their household economies is challenging. Faced with this situation, the village's Veterans Association branch has taken the lead in finding new ways to help each other develop their economies. Comrade Hoang The Dieu - a veteran and Party branch secretary of the village - shared: “The Lam Hoi Veterans Association has 39 members, including 11 Party members. Given the reality that most of us do not have land for production, the association has encouraged members to pursue livestock farming and service businesses, sectors that require less land for production. Those members who have reclaimed land are encouraged to increase reforestation. In addition, the association has established a fund with a minimum contribution of 200,000 VND from members, used for members to borrow for production investment. Currently, the association's fund has 16 million VND.”

For example, Comrade Hoang The Dieu's family has worked hard to plant acacia, bamboo, and cinnamon trees on their 2 hectares of reclaimed land. Recently, they sold 0.6 hectares of acacia trees, earning 20 million VND. As for the family of veteran Nguyen Duc Xuan, due to limited land, he invested in raising free-range chickens, sometimes reaching several hundred birds at peak times, combined with growing organic vegetables and bananas. The veteran, who fought on the Quang Tri battlefield during the anti-American war, confided: "The income from these additional household activities not only helps improve our family's living standards but also allows us to help and support our children and grandchildren when needed. If we relied solely on our pensions, we wouldn't be able to do that."

Evaluating the contributions of the Veterans Association of Chau Hoi commune, Comrade Lang Van Ngo - Secretary of the Party Committee of Chau Hoi commune, said: “The veterans always uphold the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers. The Veterans Association is a model in studying and following the moral example of Ho Chi Minh. Through their actions, the Association has directly worked with the Party Committee and the government to care for the lives and economic development of the people, actively contributing to the work of building and protecting the Party and the government.”

Text and photos: Thanh Duy