The "fire-lighter" in Phong village
From a particularly disadvantaged area, Phong village (Tam Thai commune) is now gradually flourishing. This journey bears the mark of Party branch secretary Vi Thi Anh – a Tay Poong ethnic woman who is always exemplary and dedicated to Party and people affairs. In her role as the village leader, she has persistently spread the "flame" of enthusiasm for innovation, from awareness to action, contributing to changing the appearance and lives of this highland village.
Content:Khanh Ly - Thanh Phuc/Technique:Hong ToaiDecember 15, 2025
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From a particularly disadvantaged area, Phong village (Tam Thai commune) is now gradually flourishing. This journey bears the mark of Party branch secretary Vi Thi Anh – a Tay Poong ethnic woman who is always exemplary and dedicated to Party and people affairs. In her role as the village leader, she has persistently spread the "flame" of enthusiasm for innovation, from awareness to action, contributing to changing the appearance and lives of this highland village.
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The road leading to Phong village, Tam Thai commune, is no longer dusty in the sun or muddy in the rain as it used to be. The winding concrete road meanders through lush green hillsides dotted with cassava and elephant grass fields, leading us to the community cultural center just in time for the village's regular Party branch meeting.
In the simple yet cozy community cultural center, Party branch secretary Vi Thi Anh is reviewing the results of implementing the branch's resolution over the past year, focusing on economic development models such as growing basil, high-yield cassava, and digging ponds for fish farming…
The frank and lively exchange of opinions among party members revealed a clear shift in the thinking and working methods of cadres, party members, and people in Phong village – a remote, highland village still facing many difficulties but undergoing a transformation day by day.
Leading us on a tour of the economic models, Party Secretary Vi Thi Anh shared: "In recent years, the people of Phong village have boldly changed their mindset and practices in economic development. Besides traditional crops and livestock such as buffaloes, cows, pigs, chickens, corn, and cassava, many households have registered to experiment with new models."
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Typical examples include the cultivation of white basil with 17 participating households and a total area of 10 hectares; the pineapple cultivation model with 15 households on an area of 0.4 hectares; and the fish pond farming model with 19 participating households and 0.5 hectares of water surface. The area planted with high-yield cassava reached 21.5 hectares, exceeding the assigned target by 119.4%.
According to the elders in the village, around the 1950s, the Tay Poong people from the headwaters of Khe Khang (Mon Son) migrated to this area to live, scattered on the hillsides and along the streams; it wasn't until 1968 that they were encouraged to establish a village in the area of present-day Phong village.
The entire village currently has 170 households with 696 inhabitants. Besides the Tay Poong people, other ethnic groups such as Thai, Kinh, and Kho Mu also live there. Starting from a low base, with a high poverty rate and outdated production practices, the task of disseminating information and persuading people to change their mindset faces considerable difficulties.
In that context, the Phong village Party branch determined that: To gain the people's trust and follow, Party members, especially leaders, must be pioneers and role models. For example, when implementing the model of growing basil, Party branch secretary Vi Thi Anh and other Party members such as Vi Thi Thin and Vi Manh Cam - Head of the Front Committee - registered to do it first, with each household planting an average of 3 sao (approximately 3,000 square meters). Seeing the clear economic benefits, the villagers boldly registered to follow suit.
"The lives of the people are still very difficult, and the poverty rate is high, so the Party branch's resolution always focuses on changing mindsets and methods in economic development and sustainable poverty reduction. In this, Party members must truly be the 'lights' that guide the masses to trust and follow," affirmed Party branch secretary Vi Thi Anh.
Thanks to persistent propaganda, mobilization, and hands-on guidance, many households in Phong village have become more proactive in economic development. Besides the hill and forest economy, many new livestock and crop farming models such as raising goats, raising bamboo rats, and growing seasonal vegetables have brought stable income, helping many families escape poverty.
The Party branch also directed the village management board to strengthen propaganda and strictly implement regulations on livestock farming, limiting the practice of letting animals roam freely, which causes environmental pollution and destroys crops. In 2025 alone, the village reminded and obtained signed commitments from 15 violators.
Alongside economic development, Party branch secretary Vi Thi Anh pays special attention to mobilizing villagers to change their living habits and maintain environmental hygiene. Activities such as garbage collection, clearing drainage ditches, and clearing overgrown village roads and alleys are regularly maintained. The Women's Association of the village has established self-governing women's groups for environmental management, organizing general cleaning twice a month.
To date, 100% of households in the village have access to clean water and have containers for household waste. The village's appearance is becoming increasingly clean and tidy, with well-maintained and spacious village roads and alleys.
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Born and raised in Phong village, Vi Thi Anh quickly recognized the importance of knowledge for the development of her community. Despite her family's difficult circumstances, she persevered in her studies, graduating from a teacher training college and then continuing her education at university. She also aspired to join the Party with the desire to "gain more knowledge, have a stronger voice, and help her fellow villagers more."
In 2013, while serving as the head of the Women's Association in her village, Ms. Vi Thi Anh was admitted to the Party. Thanks to her pioneering spirit, exemplary conduct, and high sense of responsibility, in 2016 she was entrusted with the position of Secretary of the village Party branch, and a representative of the People's Council of the commune and Tuong Duong district (formerly); in 2018, she was further elected as Vice President of the Women's Union of Tam Hop commune (now Tam Thai commune). The fact that a Tay Poong ethnic woman held so many important positions has become a shining example for the younger generation in the village.
Despite holding multiple positions and being the mother of two young children, Party Branch Secretary Vi Thi Anh always strives to balance family life and social work. In particular, she and the village Party Committee pay close attention to the recruitment and training of new Party members. Recruitment is selected from various associations and organizations, demobilized soldiers, with the support of border guard Party members who actively participate in the branch's activities.
On average, the Phong village Party branch admits 1 to 3 new Party members each year. In 2025 alone, the branch admitted one young Party member, Mr. Vi Van Chuan (a demobilized soldier), and granted full Party membership to three other young members. Currently, the branch has 32 Party members, including 12 female members – who are key figures in grassroots emulation movements.
Recognizing that sustainable change in the village must begin with raising the intellectual level of its people, Party branch secretary Vi Thi Anh also pays special attention to the education of the children in the village, resolutely preventing students from dropping out of school prematurely.
Furthermore, concerned about the fact that many elderly women were illiterate, she collaborated with the Tam Hop Border Guard Post and the local primary school to organize literacy classes right in the village. These classes, held every Tuesday and Thursday evening, instilled confidence in many women, helping them overcome their insecurities and learn with self-assurance. From being illiterate, many women now know how to read, write, sign their names, and actively participate in community activities. "It's never too late to learn" – this simple message is spreading strongly throughout the lives of the people of Phong village.
As an elected representative, Party branch secretary Vi Thi Anh always stays close to the people, promptly grasping their thoughts and aspirations to report to the Party committee and government. Issues related to policies for the elderly, loans for economic development, support for seedlings and livestock, etc., are all monitored and supervised by her, contributing to strengthening the people's trust in the Party and the State.
Mrs. Vi Thi Hue (80 years old), the wife of a fallen soldier, emotionally shared: “Ms. Anh regularly visits and connects me with the Party committee, the government, and the border guard station to help me repair the bathroom and water tank… for daily use. I am very touched.”
Commenting on the Party Branch Secretary of Phong village, Comrade Nguyen Hoang Son – Vice Chairman of the People's Council of Tam Thai commune, remarked: “Despite holding many roles, Comrade Vi Thi Anh always upholds a high sense of responsibility, is not afraid of difficulties or hardships, and is wholeheartedly dedicated to the Party and the people.”
Late in the afternoon, as she saw us off on the clean, well-maintained concrete road leading out of the village, past sturdy, neat houses, the female Party Secretary of Phong village was still pondering her future plans. She hoped to work with the Party branch and the village management board to revive some traditional crafts of the Tay Poong people, such as rattan and bamboo weaving, brocade weaving, and rice wine making… both to preserve cultural identity and to promote community tourism.
Today, Bản Phồng still faces many difficulties, but thanks to the collective efforts and unity of the community, and the spirit of "actions speak louder than words" of pioneering figures like Party branch secretary Vi Thị Ánh, the appearance of this highland village is gradually changing, moving towards prosperity and peace…
