The aspiration to get rich in the village of former soldiers in Nghe An.

Lieutenant Colonel returns to the village to "build" a model garden.

In the semi-mountainous region of Tan Ky district, veteran Nguyen Tat Thong, a member of the Veterans Association of Ky Tan commune, is one of the exemplary figures in economic development, mentioned by many people with admiration and respect.

Mr. Thong was the first person in the local Catholic community to pass the entrance exam to military school in the last century. During his service, he trained and matured, earning the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before returning to his hometown. After leaving the military, Mr. Thong did not choose a life of leisure but continued to "attack" on a new front – economic development.

In 2021, he immediately began renovating his neglected garden, developing a garden-based economy, and registering it as a model new rural garden on an area of ​​over 4,000m². After more than two years of effort in beautifying and renovating, in 2023, his garden was officially recognized as a standard new rural garden in the locality.

In that garden, Mr. Thong grows a variety of fruit trees, primarily: 150 guava trees, 100 custard apple trees, 60 sapodilla trees, and 40 pomelo trees. Besides these, there are also plums, peaches, and star apples… Thanks to careful cultivation, all the trees thrive, providing a stable income. From the fruit trees alone, he earns over 200 million VND annually.

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My family also invested in an automatic sprinkler irrigation system to reduce the amount of labor required for maintenance. Every day we prune, water, and weed to ensure the plants grow well, creating a bright, green, clean, and beautiful landscape in the countryside. This is also our way of contributing to the development of new rural areas.

Veteran Nguyen Tat Thong, Ky Tan commune, Tan Ky district

Mr. Thong also owns 4 hectares of acacia plantation forest, expanding into integrated livestock farming: raising dozens of beehives for honey (rotating between his house and the forest), over 100 chickens, 70 pairs of pigeons, sows, and pigs for meat. This closed-loop model, effectively utilizing by-products, has provided a steady income throughout the year.

In particular, Mr. Thong is also a role model in the movement to build a green, clean, and beautiful landscape. Along the village road where he lives, hundreds of colorful bougainvillea plants are grown in cement pots or repurposed from old tires, creating a vibrant highlight for the small mountain hamlet.

From a veteran with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel to an exemplary farmer, Mr. Nguyen Tat Thong has made significant contributions to the new rural development in his locality. He has not only enriched his family but also spread the spirit of responsibility, creativity, and resilience of a soldier of Uncle Ho in peacetime.

From truck drivers to construction contractors

In Hung Yen Bac commune (Hung Nguyen district), veteran Nguyen Quoc Nang is also a shining example of overcoming difficulties, achieving sustainable wealth, and living an exemplary life of "Good life - Beautiful morality".

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Nang was born in 1964 and enlisted in the army in 1984, at the age of 20. After years of training and participating in battles to defend the country, he was discharged and studied Civil Engineering. On his challenging journey to make a living, he worked in various professions: working in a slaughterhouse, working in Angola, and then returning to his hometown to start from scratch, building his economic future with his own hands and determination.

With his driving and machinery operation experience from his military days and his business acumen, in 2015, he borrowed over 1.5 billion VND to invest in a fleet of machinery for land leveling and infrastructure construction. Initially, he only took on small-scale projects around the commune. There were times when he suffered losses due to lack of experience, but he didn't give up, Mr. Nang shared.

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As a soldier of Uncle Ho's army, I must dare to think, dare to act, and not be afraid of failure...

Veteran Nguyen Quoc Nang, Hung Yen Bac commune, Hung Nguyen district

To date, Mr. Nang has expanded the model into a small local construction business, contracting for construction projects with various machines and equipment. The business is growing steadily, creating stable jobs for 12-15 local workers, with incomes ranging from 10-15 million VND per person per month.

Mr. Nang also invested in over 2 hectares of land to establish a comprehensive farm: growing trees, raising fish, and raising pigs and chickens. Each year, after deducting expenses, his family earns a profit of approximately 300 million VND. In the future, he plans to invest in more machinery, expand the scale, and aim for a more professional business.

Not only is Mr. Nang a successful businessman, but he is also an exemplary veteran in his association work. He actively participates in the "Veterans Helping Each Other Develop the Economy, Eradicate Hunger and Reduce Poverty" movement in Hung Yen Bac commune, regularly supporting disadvantaged members, sharing experiences, and providing interest-free loans to help them improve their lives.

In addition, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Nang is also an active propagandist in the "National Unity for Building New Rural Areas" movement, encouraging people to abide by the law, maintain security and order, and eradicate social evils.

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Mr. Nang is a shining example, always exemplary and dedicated to the collective and the community.

Mr. Pham Ba Tuu - Chairman of the Veterans Association of Hung Yen Bac Commune

Two veterans from two different regions and two different journeys share one thing in common: They are both exemplary parishioners and both inspire today's young generation with their unwavering will and self-reliance in the face of hardship, further enhancing the noble image of the soldiers of Uncle Ho's army in peacetime.

These are two of many effective models of veterans developing the local economy. According to the Propaganda and Movement Department of the Nghe An Provincial Veterans Association, the province currently has over 172,000 members participating in various associations at all levels. This is a large force with strong political qualities, always upholding the spirit of responsibility, discipline, and unwavering determination of soldiers of Uncle Ho. After completing their military service and returning to their localities, many veterans have continuously strived to improve themselves, affirming their pioneering role in local economic development, always being dynamic and creative in building effective production and business models.

From livestock farms and integrated farming models (garden-pond-livestock-forest), to production facilities, cooperatives, and small and medium-sized enterprises owned by veterans, many models have provided stable income and created jobs for thousands of local workers. They have become shining examples in the community, serving as a solid foundation for the emulation movement to develop production and alleviate poverty in many localities throughout Nghe An province.