The "red seeds" in the upper reaches of the Giang River
Amidst the vast Pù Mát forest, where the Giăng River originates, and the still-difficult Dan Lai villages in the Khe Khặng area, there are Party members quietly contributing to the transformation of their communities. They not only act as a bridge, bringing the Party's policies and guidelines into practice, but also serve as "locomotives" in economic development, eradicating outdated customs, and spreading aspirations for progress within the community.
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Khanh Ly - Thanh Phuc/Present:Hong ToaiFebruary 1, 2026
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Amidst the vast Pù Mát forest, where the Giăng River originates, and the still-difficult Dan Lai villages in the Khe Khặng area, there are Party members quietly contributing to the transformation of their communities. They not only act as a bridge, bringing the Party's policies and guidelines into practice, but also serve as "locomotives" in economic development, eradicating outdated customs, and spreading aspirations for progress within the community.
In late December, when fog still blanketed the paths leading to the two villages of Dan Lai Bung and Co Phat, the Tet atmosphere was already evident in every home. On the fields along the streams, people busily prepared the land and sowed the spring crop; in the villages, the sounds of saws and hammers echoed as many families took the opportunity to renovate their houses to welcome the new year.
Following the task force of the Khe Khang Border Guard Station, we visited the family of Party member Lo Thi Pia (born in 1999) in Co Phat village.
The small house, situated right on the inter-village road, is currently undergoing a site expansion. Several construction workers are diligently mixing mortar and laying bricks; the homeowner is both directing the work and warmly welcoming guests. "At the end of the year, there's a lot of merchandise, and people are busy shopping for Tet (Lunar New Year), so I'm expanding the shop. Besides groceries, I'm also stocking up on household goods so people don't have to travel far," Pìa said with a gentle smile.
In a remote village deep within the heart of Pù Mát National Park, the image of a young woman who simultaneously runs a business, holds multiple roles in the village such as Secretary of the Youth Union, Vice Chairman of the Farmers' Association, and People's Inspector, and was recently admitted to the Party in early 2025, is not easily found.
But what's even more remarkable about Ms. Pìa is her strong sense of responsibility as a Party member to set a good example. After graduating from high school, due to difficult circumstances, Pìa left her village to work elsewhere. In 2020, after getting married, she returned to her hometown, seeking ways to develop the economy while actively participating in social work. Recognizing the long distance and scarcity of goods from the commune center to her village, she boldly opened a general store. "Having a store in the village makes things easier for the villagers; they don't have to wait for trucks to bring goods from outside," she said.
Besides trading, the young female Party member also persistently encouraged her fellow villagers to change their mindset and way of doing things. "If we want to improve our lives, cadres and Party members must lead by example. Starting with small things like planting more vegetable patches, raising more chickens and pigs to improve our meals," Pìa shared, pointing to the lush green vegetable garden behind her house.
In Co Phat, Lo Thi Pia is not the only Party member leading the way in economic development. La Van Linh, the Deputy Secretary of the village Party branch, is also a prime example with his integrated farm model: fish ponds, raising buffalo, cows, chickens, and ducks. The journey from his house to his farm takes nearly four hours round trip, but Linh consistently works there every week. “We Dan Lai people believe in actions more than words. If Party members only talk but don’t act, the people won’t trust them,” Linh simply stated.
Visiting the home of La Van Tam (born in 1988), the Party Secretary and Head of the village, we saw him still diligently working in his small carpentry workshop behind his house. Each plank of wood is smoothly planed and assembled into tables and chairs according to orders from the villagers. Having a talent for carpentry, and encouraged and guided by the border guards, Mr. Tam started taking on wooden furniture projects in 2016. Initially, it was just simple chairs and tables, but gradually it developed into a small workshop, helping his family stabilize their finances while also serving the needs of the village.
“Previously, if people wanted to buy a table or a bed, they had to go all the way to the commune center, a long distance, and transportation was very difficult. Seeing the people's needs, we do what we can to serve them right in the village. Party members must lead by example, do things genuinely and effectively, so that the people will trust and follow,” Mr. Tam shared. The joy of the village Party Secretary was further amplified when he looked back on a year of many positive changes: the Party branch admitted three new members; many households received support with seedlings, livestock, and animal shelters; houses were renovated; young people boldly went to work far away, including overseas labor… Life in the village is gradually improving.
It's not difficult to see that the common thread in the economic development of the Dan Lai Party members in Khe Khang lies not in the scale of the model or income level, but in how they fulfill their role as the political core at the grassroots level. In a place with limited socio-economic conditions and uneven levels of education, the leadership capacity of the Party organization is first and foremost demonstrated through prestige, exemplary conduct, and the ability to "earn the people's trust."
It is through these small-scale models and concrete actions that the people's trust in the Party is strengthened, and the leadership role of the Party branch is affirmed naturally and sustainably.
At 71, Mrs. Vi Thi Ky, who has spent her entire life in Co Phat village, clearly feels the changes: “In the past, the Dan Lai people lived in very makeshift conditions. Now, with the concrete road leading to the village, many houses have sturdy tiled or corrugated iron roofs. Thanks to the exemplary actions of officials and Party members, the villagers are also more diligent. My husband and I, even though we are old, still grow rice, vegetables, raise pigs, and nearly 100 chickens and ducks. There are still many difficulties, but our village is very different from before.”
Not far from Co Phat is Bung village, home to 127 households with 573 Dan Lai people. In the village, the locals hold Ms. Chuong Thi Lap (born in 1977), the head of the Women's Association, in particular fondness.
At over 50 years old, having become a grandmother, this Dan Lai woman has persevered for 22 years as the "leader" of the village women's group. In 2025, she will have the honor of joining the Party. "I joined the Party to set an example for my children and grandchildren, for the younger generation, and to better fulfill my responsibilities to the village," Ms. Lap said sincerely.
According to Luong Van Cang, Secretary of the Bung Village Party Branch, due to long-standing perceptions and prejudices, recruiting female Party members in the Dan Lai community is not easy. Before Ms. Lap, the Party branch only had 2 out of 17 members who were women. Therefore, the admission of an elderly Dan Lai woman into the Party has created a strong ripple effect, helping the villagers understand that joining the Party does not discriminate by age; what matters is willpower and dedication.
Ms. Lap's family is a prime example of successful economic development in the village, with a model of raising pigs and free-range chickens combined with a grocery store, generating a stable income of hundreds of millions of dong each year. Their spacious stilt house in the center of the village serves as vivid evidence of their innovative business approach. Her son, Lo Van Thanh (born in 1997), currently the Deputy Village Head, Head of the Front Committee, and Police Officer, is also a dynamic young Party member.
“When I joined the Party, I became even more aware of my responsibilities to my family and village. Previously, the Dan Lai people mainly relied on the forest, hunting, gathering, and manual fishing on the river, and were also influenced by many outdated customs, so life was very difficult. In recent years, thanks to the attention of the Party and the State, the involvement of the Party committee, the government, and the border guards who provided hands-on guidance, the lives of the people have gradually changed. As the head of the Women's Association in the village, I regularly encourage women to develop poultry and pig farming to improve their income; prevent consanguineous marriage and child marriage; and work together to maintain environmental hygiene in the village,” Ms. Lap shared.
The story of Ms. Chuong Thi Lap reveals a very different perspective on Party development work in this special region. Joining the Party is no longer a "destination" for young people, but has become a voluntary political choice for those who have been tested in practice, have prestige and influence in the community.
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Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Sy Ha, Head of Khe Khang Border Guard Station, emphasized: “The exemplary conduct of the Party members has created a strong ripple effect within the Dan Lai community. This is also a suitable direction in the context of building Party organizations in remote areas. It is about using quality as a measure, dedication as a criterion, and practical effectiveness to evaluate Party members. When people see that Party members are people who dare to act and care for their villages, striving to join the Party becomes a self-driven need, not a distant dream.”
In the upper reaches of the Giang River, where livelihoods still heavily depend on slash-and-burn agriculture and the forests, the transformation of the villages stems from the exemplary role of Party members, the persistent leadership of the Party branches, and the implementation of Party policies in daily life through appropriate methods that are close to the people. And it is from these remote villages that the Dan Lai people's trust in the Party is strengthened every day, becoming an important foundation for maintaining border security, stabilizing the population, and achieving sustainable development…
