These female 'leaders' fulfill their duties to the Party and the people.

"Leading the way" to overcome difficulties.

In Ka Duoi village, Na Ngoi commune—home to 46 households and over 300 Mong ethnic people—the election of young female Party member Ly Y Cho (born in 1993) as Party branch secretary became a major event for the entire community.

Traditionally, most Hmong women, after getting married, spend their days working in the fields and their evenings confined to the kitchen. Some don't even speak the common Vietnamese language, let alone become "leaders" of their villages.

Yet, young Ly Y Cho overcame all prejudices and difficulties, striving to join the Party. As an enthusiastic and dynamic women's association leader in Ka Duoi village, Ly Y Cho was a "red seed" chosen by veteran and reputable Party members to be nurtured and become a new Party member. In 2020, Ly Y Cho proudly joined the Party. Thanks to her pioneering and exemplary spirit, at the Ka Duoi Village Party Branch Congress for the 2025-2027 term, held in February 2025, young Party member Ly Y Cho was elected as the Secretary of the village Party Branch.

The fact that a woman (a young bride from the village) became the head of the Party branch is a "major event," representing innovation and a breakthrough in the thinking of the Hmong people in the villages at the foot of Puxailaileng mountain.

The Party Secretary of Ka Duoi Ly village, Ly Y Cho, said: "When Uncle Gia Tong Thu - the former Party Secretary of the village - encouraged me to take on the responsibility in his place, I was very hesitant and worried, because I am a woman, and still young, and not good at leadership."

However, Uncle Thu said: "Now, the backs of Hmong women not only carry corn and cassava, but also the Party's guidelines and policies to the villages. Just be brave and try it; if you have any difficulties, I will support you." So, I boldly accepted the task. At first, I was a little hesitant, but with the help of the Party branch and the support of the people, I have gradually become proficient. From environmental sanitation to selecting suitable plant and animal breeds for high productivity, to poverty alleviation and rural development... all are discussed, implemented, and specific resolutions are issued by the Party branch to guide the villages in their implementation.

"The important thing is that in every movement and activity, if we are honest, fair, and responsible, then Party members and the people will agree and support us," Ly Y Cho expressed.

Comrade Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Na Ngoi commune, said: Comrade Ly Y Cho is the only female Party branch secretary among the 25 village Party branches in Na Ngoi commune. Her eagerness to learn, enthusiasm, dynamism, hard work for the village and people, and pioneering spirit of innovation serve as a shining example for Mong women in particular, and ethnic minority women in the highlands in general, to learn from and emulate.

Similar to Ly Y Cho, La Thi Van (born in 1996), the Party Secretary of Chau Son village, is also a source of pride for the Dan Lai people in Chau Khe commune. Due to difficult circumstances, La Thi Van completed only junior high school before staying home to work and produce, and actively participating in community activities in the village. In addition, she has strived to develop her family's economy, planting acacia and bamboo combined with livestock farming to increase income.

Thanks to her own efforts, in 2019, Ms. La Thi Van was honored to join the Party. Trusted by the Party and loved by the people, in early 2021, Ms. La Thi Van was elected Secretary of the Party Branch of Chau Son village – becoming the first Dan Lai woman to hold a village leadership position.

Chau Son village is a disadvantaged area, with 221 households and 907 inhabitants. The people there face many difficulties in their lives (the entire village has 154 poor households). The men work far away, while the women stay at home raising livestock and doing odd jobs because there is little arable land.

Therefore, fulfilling the leading role effectively is no easy task for a young female Party branch secretary like Ms. La Thi Van. However, thanks to her skillful propaganda and mobilization of the people to change their mindset and practices, develop production, plant forests, raise carp in cages, and develop livestock and poultry to increase income, and always setting a good example in all activities, "leader" La Thi Van always enjoys the trust and support of the people.

Along with poverty alleviation, the development of young Party members in the Dan Lai community is also a priority for Secretary La Thi Van and the Chau Son village Party branch. On average, the branch admits one new Party member each year. Currently, the Chau Son village Party branch has 25 members, including 3 female members.

With her husband working far away, raising two young children alone and juggling household chores, La Thi Van, the young "leader" of Chau Son village, with her pioneering and exemplary spirit, overcomes difficulties, fulfilling her roles as wife, mother, and daughter-in-law, while also performing her duties to the Party and the people.

Her efforts have been recognized by the people, Party committees, and authorities at all levels; she was honored by the Provincial Women's Union as an exemplary woman from ethnic minorities and religious groups for the period 2021-2024.

"Taking the lead" for the sake of the community and the people.

Currently, with the trend of young people leaving for work elsewhere, in many villages and hamlets, the positions of village head, Party branch secretary, and head of the Fatherland Front working committee are held solely by women. They are not only close to the people, skilled in propaganda and mobilization, but also exemplary workers who strictly adhere to the policies and guidelines of the Party and State; actively helping the community to overcome poverty and stabilize their lives.

For example, in Mon Son commune, which shares a 36.5 km border with Laos, there are 7 border markers and 25 villages. Of these, 10 villages have female Party members as branch secretaries, and 4 villages have women as village heads. Notably, in some villages, both the branch secretary and the village head are women.

According to Comrade Pham Manh Hung - Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Mon Son commune: Practical experience shows that female Party branch secretaries and village heads have effectively played their roles in their villages. With their flexibility, adaptability, pioneering spirit, and exemplary conduct, they have "ignited" emulation movements in the locality, such as the movement for economic development, sustainable poverty reduction, and building new rural areas...

A typical example is Nam Son village, where a pair of female Party branch secretaries and village heads have long enjoyed the trust of cadres, Party members, and the people. These are Ms. Quang Thi Van and Ms. Ngan Thi Xuyen. The village currently has 187 households with 832 inhabitants, 89% of whom are of the Thai ethnic group, but mainly elderly people and children because the younger generation has gone to work elsewhere.

As individuals knowledgeable about local customs and traditions, and in their capacity as village "leaders," these women always listen to the thoughts and feelings of Party members and the people to work with the Party branch and village management board to lead the development of the village in all aspects. Besides encouraging people to actively develop livestock farming, crop cultivation, and economic development models, the two female "leaders" of Nam Son village also pay attention to ensuring security and order in the area.

Typical examples include the establishment of "Self-governing groups" models; "Drumbeat for studying," "Drumbeat for friendship," and coordination with the Mon Son Border Guard Post to build and operate the "Women's Club for protecting national territorial sovereignty and border security." To date, the club has attracted over 30 members.

Ms. Ngan Thi Xuyen, Head of Nam Son village, said: "By participating in the 'Women Participating in Protecting National Territorial Sovereignty and Border Security' Club, women not only regularly receive updates on new policies and regulations, as well as knowledge about border laws and regulations, but also have the opportunity to support each other in life through fundraising activities. The club's fund currently stands at about 20 million VND, which is used for revolving loans to members to purchase plant and animal breeds, support disadvantaged members, and help them improve their lives and gradually escape poverty."

Furthermore, to foster a spirit of solidarity and mutual support, the Party branch issued a resolution directing the villages to establish 11 savings groups, each responsible for 11 policy beneficiary households. These groups provide labor assistance for harvesting crops, and donate firewood, rice, etc., when the households face difficulties, misfortunes, or prolonged illnesses. In addition, these savings groups also establish mutual aid groups for chickens, rice, sticky rice, and rượu (traditional Vietnamese rice wine) to support each other during family events or village celebrations.

Speaking about the secret to effective "people mobilization," Party branch secretary Quang Thi Van said: To "speak in a way that earns people's trust and actions that earn their followership," first and foremost, the village leaders and the 23 Party members in the branch must be pioneers and role models, leading by example. On the other hand, village officials themselves must also know how to scientifically balance family matters with village affairs, ensuring both understanding and support from their families, and the trust and confidence of the people.

In Do Luong commune – an area considered a "super commune" because it was formed by merging Do Luong town and eight other communes of the former Do Luong district – out of 49 hamlet-level units, there are currently 20 female Party branch secretaries and 8 female hamlet leaders. According to Comrade Hoang Thi Hong Hanh, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Head of the Party Building Committee of Do Luong commune: The Party Committee and the government always create conditions and boldly assign tasks to women in hamlets and villages, providing them with an environment to develop and affirm the role and position of women in the family and society.

Regarding the female "leaders" in the villages and hamlets, although each has their own methods of operation, they all share the common trait of "putting the people first," thus earning the trust and support of the people; this helps them fulfill their duties to the Party, the village, and the people.