New Year joy in resettlement village

On the last day of the year, Luc Thi Giang and Kha Van Dung, a couple in Tan Ngoc village, Ngoc Lam commune, still took the time to go plow and fertilize the tea gardens along the stream. Giang happily said that her family has 16 sao of tea, which has been harvested for many years.

Luc Thi Giang and her husband in Tan Ngoc village, Ngoc Lam commune are taking care of their tea garden. Photo: Huy Thu

Although the income from tea is not much, it still brings a stable source of income for her family. In addition to tea, her family also has 1.5 hectares of acacia, which this year has just yielded a harvest of more than 100 million VND.

Along with farming, her family also actively raises livestock, always maintaining 4-5 buffaloes and many other poultry in the barn. It is known that Ms. Giang's family is one of the typical examples of workers in the commune.

Recalling the first days of settling here, her family faced many difficulties. Thanks to diligence and hard work, and good implementation of the local economic development policy, her family has gradually improved to have a comfortable and stable life.

Along with that joy, Mr. Luong Xuan Dieu in Tan Ngoc village was excited because he had successfully completed his duties as the head of the self-management group, and his family had 3 party members who were "warm inside and peaceful outside, with the money they earned from the fields and the money they earned from their families".

Mr. Luong Xuan Dieu's family in Tan Ngoc village, Ngoc Lam commune has bought a tractor. Photo: Huy Thu

His family currently has 3 hectares of acacia and 11 sao of tea that have been and are being harvested. Thanks to the support of his son who is working in Japan, he has been able to buy a tractor to serve the production of his family and the villagers.

Recently, along with promoting pig farming by making wine, he has also actively raised goats, bees, etc. The batches of golden honey with the sweetness of the mountains and forests have recognized his diligence and ingenuity. His family plans to rebuild a spacious house when his son returns home.

Sharing his joy on the eve of the new year, Mr. Dieu excitedly said: "Last year, I was very excited because the whole family was healthy, business was favorable, family life was relatively stable, my wife and I did not have to worry as much about material things as before."

The road to the resettlement village is filled with Party and national flags. Photo: Huy Thu

A new year is coming to the resettlement area with a myriad of joyful, warm and hopeful sounds. It is the sound of the bustling new market, the sound of gongs and drums, the bustling Nhuon, Xuoi, Lam melodies, the sound of tractors pounding the fields, the sound of trucks carrying goods... It is the green of the vast acacia hills, the tea hills in the budding season, the red of newly built roofs, of the Party and National flags fluttering on the concreted roads...

Remember, 16 years ago, to carry out the site clearance work for the construction of Ban Ve hydroelectric project on the Nam Non river, the Thai, Kho Mu, O Du ethnic groups of 5 communes Luan Mai, Huu Duong, Huu Khuong, Kim Tien, Kim Da, Tuong Duong district had to carry out a large migration.

With the will and faith in the Party and the State, with all their hearts for the future electricity of the Fatherland, people of all ethnic groups sacrificed their own private interests, dismantled their houses, left their fields behind to move to a strange new land, with many difficulties and hardships.

Tea gardens in the resettlement area are in the budding season. Photo: Huy Thu

After 13 years since the establishment of the new communes of Ngoc Lam and Thanh Son (2009), with the attention of all levels of government, departments and branches in the province, the care and support of officials and people of Thanh Chuong district, and the help of the Management Board of Ban Ve Hydropower Project, officials and people in the resettlement area have constantly strived to build a new life.

Ngoc Lam and Thanh Son communes have made efforts to promote all resources and potentials, including the spirit of solidarity and overcoming difficulties of ethnic people, to carry out the construction work, both integrating and innovating, creating comprehensive development and achieving many remarkable achievements in all fields.

The temporary market is a place where people in resettlement communes exchange goods. Photo: Huy Thu

Average income per capita is increasing day by day. In 2022, Ngoc Lam commune reached over 27 million VND/person, Thanh Son commune reached 28 million VND/person. Thanks to the application of science and technology and hard work in investment, the communes have built many effective economic models, generating hundreds of millions of VND/year in income.

Growing industrial crops, afforestation, raising livestock... are potentials being exploited in the resettlement area. When mentioning the model of growing tea and oranges, we must mention typical households such as Mr. Luong Thanh Tuyen, Mr. Lu Duong Tinh, Mr. Bui Cong Ky, Mr. Vi Khanh Hoa... (Thanh Son commune), or the model of growing crops combined with raising livestock such as the households of Mr. Luong Van Hoai, Mr. Kha Van Tuan, Mr. Vi Dai Duong... (Ngoc Lam commune).

Service and professional activities have been expanded (trading, motorbike repair, beauty salons, etc.). Many families have sent their children to work abroad. The poverty rate has decreased, many households have been able to buy cars and trucks. The political system has been constantly consolidated and developed, social security has been ensured, and the material and spiritual life of the people has been constantly improved.

The resettlement area has implemented universal primary and secondary education, typical studious families have appeared; the cultural and sports movement has been promoted...

The joy of the local people in the resettlement area on the first day of the new year. Photo: Huy Thu

One thing worth appreciating is that no matter the circumstances, people in resettlement areas still preserve the beauty of traditional culture, while at the same time adapting, learning, selecting and adding good things to enrich the cultural life of their people.

Although there are still many difficulties and wishes that need help (land issues, building martyrs' memorials, solidifying traditional markets, upgrading some roads...), the achievements that the cadres and people of the resettlement communes have achieved are noteworthy.

Some families in the resettlement village are preserving traditional gong sets. Photo: Huy Thu

Mr. Vi Van Tuyen - Secretary of the Party Committee of Ngoc Lam commune shared: "After 13 years of establishment, the appearance of Ngoc Lam commune in particular and the resettlement area in general has improved a lot, the socio-economic situation in the area is relatively stable and continues to develop in the right direction, security - politics, social security, poverty reduction, policies... have all achieved good results.

Hopefully in the new year, people in resettlement areas will continue to promote solidarity, overcome all difficulties, and strive to build a more developed life."