For the first time, Dan Lai villagers used rice cookers and refrigerators.

For the first time, the Dan Lai people in Khe Bung village, Mon Son commune, used electric rice cookers. Photo: Ba Hau

The Dan Lai people in the upper reaches of the Giang River have been clustered together in large villages since the revolutionary government took power. Previously, they had three villages, but they moved closer to the center of Mon Son and Thach Ngan communes in the early 2000s. Now, only two villages remain.

The Dan Lai people in Con Cuong have about 3,000 people. Before the relocation, they mainly lived in Chau Khe and Luc Da communes, with the largest population in Mon Son commune. The lives of the people here are also more difficult than those of the Dan Lai communities elsewhere. Currently, both Co Phat and Khe Bung villages have 223 households with about 1,000 people.

24 years ago, many villages in Con Cuong district started to have electricity from the national grid, but it was not until early 2018 that Co Phat and Khe Bung villages were connected to the grid. Previously, the road system and welfare facilities such as medical stations and schools were also invested quite basically. Roads in the village were all concreted.

Before the introduction of grid electricity, the Dan Lai people in the upper reaches of the Giang River mainly used electricity generated from streams. This primitive tool only provided enough electricity for lighting, and rice had to be cooked on a wood stove. Refrigerators and televisions were once completely foreign to this community.

The Dan Lai people in the upper reaches of the Giang River still live in makeshift stilt houses. The arrival of electricity is opening up a hope for change. Photo: Huu Vi

Ms. La Thi Pa, a resident of Co Phat village, said that right before the day the electricity was available, she used the money she had saved for a long time to buy two rice cookers. One was for personal use, the other was for emergencies because the area was far from the center. The purchase was very difficult. She said that many households in the village did the same thing. “Before, when we came back from the forest, we had to go into the kitchen to cook rice, which took a lot of time. Now, all we have to do is cook food. The electricity cooks the rice for us,” Ms. Pa said, smiling.

Two children in a family in Co Phat village are engrossed in their first days of watching TV. Photo: Ba Hau

Khe Bung village woman with her newly purchased freezer. Photo: Ba Hau

Mr. Le Van Chin - Head of Khe Bung village said: Currently, all households in the village use grid electricity. Many households have purchased expensive audio-visual equipment such as large-screen TVs. Some households even buy refrigerators and freezers to serve grocery sales. "The most important thing is that when there is grid electricity, our people have better conditions to communicate with the outside world," Mr. Chin added.

La Thi Que, a 5th grader, also shared her joy at having electricity. “I am happiest when my friends and I in the village no longer have to use kerosene lamps to study.”

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