Nhon Mai: Harmony between economic development and preserving cultural identity

Special border communerichidentity

Nhon Mai commune is a border commune of Nghe An province, established on the basis of merging two communes Nhon Mai and Mai Son, belonging to Tuong Duong district (old). With a natural area of ​​up to 31,026 km², this is one of the largest communes in the province. Currently, the commune manages 21 villages and hamlets with a total population of about 6,890 people, equivalent to nearly 1,465 households. The residents here are mainly ethnic minorities such as Thai, Mong, Kho Mu, accounting for 99.79% of the population, along with a small part of Kinh people. This diverse population structure has created a rich cultural space, contributing to the formation of the unique identity of the western border highlands of Nghe An.

Regarding geographical location, Nhon Mai commune has a border with the Lao People's Democratic Republic, stretching over 28 km. In the commune, there are 5 border villages including: Huoi Co, Huoi Man, Pha Mut, Pieng Coc and Pha Khao, at the same time, managing 9 national border markers (from number 381 to 389). This position is of special importance in the work of protecting territorial sovereignty, maintaining security and defense in the border area.

The commune's terrain is mainly mountains and forests interwoven with streams and creeks, creating a diverse natural ecosystem with great potential for agricultural and forestry development, as well as ecotourism. Ethnic villages are often scattered along the mountain slopes and streams, still retaining their original features with traditional stilt house architecture, thatched roofs or po mu wooden roofs - typical of the ethnic communities here.

Culturally, Nhon Mai commune is a place that preserves many precious traditional values ​​such as folk festivals, customs, habits, costumes, and unique cuisine of the Thai, Mong, and Kho Mu people. This is not only a valuable cultural asset but also a foundation for building a rich spiritual life and developing sustainable community tourism.

Despite many difficulties such as fragmented terrain, unsynchronized transport infrastructure, uneven development level and increasingly obvious impacts of climate change, with the efforts of the Party Committee, Government and People, and support from priority policies for remote, isolated and border areas, Nhon Mai commune is gradually transforming itself, promoting internal resources, effectively exploiting available potentials to aim for sustainable development and improving people's lives.

Comprehensive breakthrough in the 2020-2025 term

During the 2020-2025 term, Nhon Mai commune has had strong changes in many fields, especially socio-economic development, strengthening national defense and security, and improving people's lives.

The average economic growth rate reached 5.2%/year, the economic structure shifted positively: agriculture - forestry - fishery still accounted for a large proportion but decreased to 74%; industry - construction increased to 11%; services - trade reached 15%, an increase of 6% compared to the beginning of the term. Average income per capita increased to 18.8 million VND/year; budget revenue in the area reached 140 million VND, an increase of 40%.

The agricultural sector has seen many improvements, high-tech agricultural production models such as VAC, cattle raising, yellow flower tea cultivation, and aromatic root cultivation have been widely replicated, contributing to increasing income and protecting the environment. Up to now, the commune has had 2 products achieving 3-star OCOP. The aquaculture area and the number of fish cages have both increased sharply, with output reaching more than 86 tons, an increase of 42.6%.

The industry and handicrafts sector has also gradually developed, restoring traditional crafts such as brocade weaving, rattan and bamboo weaving, knife forging, etc., creating jobs and income for the people. Services and trade have grown at an average of 15.17% per year, commercial infrastructure, transportation, consumer services and eco-tourism have been expanded, of which Nha Vang waterfall tourism is prominent.

The implementation of the new rural development program has achieved many positive results. Many infrastructure projects have been invested with a total cost of over 44 billion VND; more than 12 km of roads have been upgraded; electricity systems, schools, cultural houses, and People's Committee headquarters have been newly built. Some villages have met new rural standards, and the rural appearance has clearly improved.

The cultural and social fields have developed synchronously. The quality of education has improved, 100% of students have completed universal education; school facilities have been invested in systematically. Health care has been focused on, commune health stations have met standards, the rate of people with health insurance has reached 100%. Disease prevention and control programs, especially the Covid-19 epidemic, have been effectively implemented. Social security has been ensured, support has been provided to repair and renovate 785 houses for poor households, creating new jobs for over 960 workers, and exporting 12 workers abroad.

Resource management, environmental protection, and administrative reform have seen many positive changes. The rate of households using clean water reached 99%; more than 80% of land disputes were successfully resolved. The application of information technology in public administration and services is increasingly effective, and people's satisfaction is improved.

In the field of national defense and security, the commune has performed well the task of building defense zones, organizing KVPT drills, coordinating patrols, and protecting border markers. Political security, order, and social safety have been basically maintained, preventing hot spots from arising; drug prevention and control, residence management, and ID card issuance have been implemented synchronously and effectively.

Sustainable development, preserving identity

Entering the 2025-2030 term, Nhon Mai commune has determined the general goal of stabilizing the organization of the two-level local government apparatus after the merger, continuing to build a strong political system, developing a sustainable economy and comprehensively improving people's lives. In particular, economic development goes hand in hand with reasonable structural transformation, modernizing infrastructure, overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, implementing strong digital transformation, preserving cultural identity, protecting the ecological environment, ensuring national defense and security and maintaining national border sovereignty. Nhon Mai commune aims to build a fairly developed, sustainable locality with a strong national identity.

To realize that goal, the commune has set out 22 main targets in the fields of economy, culture - society, environment, national defense - security and Party building. Based on the assessment of the practical situation and the requirements in the new period, the commune has identified 5 groups of key tasks and 2 groups of key solutions, and at the same time, selected 3 strategic breakthroughs as a fulcrum for comprehensive development.

The first breakthrough is to improve the quality of the staff, civil servants and public employees, promote the role of setting an example and the responsibility of the leaders, and gradually build an honest, effective and efficient administrative apparatus. In particular, Party committees and authorities at all levels will strengthen the work of inspection, supervision, and screening of staff, replacing weak staff who do not complete their tasks or have low prestige, while at the same time, encouraging staff who dare to think, dare to do, and dare to take responsibility for the common good.

The second breakthrough is to promote the application of science and technology and comprehensive digital transformation in all areas of social life. From agricultural production, education, health care, to government operations, administrative agencies will continue to reform in the direction of streamlining and efficiency, taking the satisfaction of people and businesses as a measure. E-government will gradually shift to digital government, promoting transparency, improving operational efficiency, contributing to building a public, modern and serving administration.

The third breakthrough is to focus on overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, stabilizing the lives of people in heavily affected areas, especially households whose houses have been eroded, buried or have to be relocated. Along with that is the construction of a "bright - green - clean - beautiful" living environment, raising community awareness of preserving the landscape and protecting natural resources. The people of Nhon Mai commune will continue to be nurtured and promoted with good qualities: patriotism, diligence, creativity, solidarity, civilized living, respect for humanity, respect for the law and preservation of ethnic cultural traditions. This is not only the goal, but also the foundation for Nhon Mai commune to develop sustainably, both modern and imbued with its own identity.