Joy in Pieng Cooc
(Baonghean.vn) - Pieng Cooc village, located in Mai Son border commune (Tuong Duong district), is one of the most remote and difficult places in western Nghe An province. The arrival of spring brings with it joyful signs and new hope for the 52 Mong ethnic minority households in this mountainous area.
Bringing Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) to the misty mountaintop.
The "Warm Tet in Western Nghe An" program, organized by the Provincial Military Command, aims to share the difficulties faced by people in remote border areas, bringing joy and excitement to impoverished villages. This year, along with Puc village in Nam Giai commune (Que Phong district), Pieng Cooc village in Mai Son commune (Tuong Duong district) also received the sharing and affection of soldiers from their homeland.
From Vinh city, heading north to the ancient Tuong region, the delegation of officers and soldiersProvincial Military CommandWe arrived at Thach Giam town (Tuong Duong district) just as darkness fell. We stayed overnight in Thach Giam and set off again at 4 a.m. the next day. The journey from the center of Tuong Duong district to Muong Xen (Ky Son district) was relatively easy, but the trip from Muong Xen to Mai Son (Tuong Duong district) was truly arduous and challenging.
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| A view of Pieng Cooc village, Mai Son commune (Tuong Duong district). Photo: Cong Kien |
The vehicle traveled along National Highway 16, passing through the communes of Pha Danh, Huoi Tu, and My Ly (Ky Son district) before reaching Mai Son district, a total journey of approximately 120 km. Continuing along the mountainside, passing through the villages of Huoi To 1, Huoi To 2, Huoi Xa, and Na Kha, they finally arrived at Pieng Cooc. Several days of continuous rain had made the road from Na Kha to Pieng Cooc incredibly slippery, making it impassable for vehicles. They had to unload the goods and send someone into the village to request assistance.
About an hour later,Party Branch SecretaryAnd Ba De led the "army" to provide support. The men rode motorbikes, the women walked carrying baskets on their backs. And Ba De said: "Hearing that the team was coming to organize a warm Tet celebration in the western part of Nghe An province today, the people have been waiting since early morning. Knowing it would rain and the roads would be slippery, everyone was ready to welcome them."
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| It was raining, the road was slippery, and the pickup truck couldn't get up to Pieng Cooc, so the goods had to be unloaded and transported on foot or by motorbike. Photo: Cong Kien |
All the goods, including candy, cakes, and necessities, were loaded onto motorbikes and carried into the village. Fortunately, more than 50 pairs of sticky rice cakes had already been transported to the village beforehand, along with the ingredients for wrapping and cooking; otherwise, it would have been extremely difficult.
We hiked up Pieng Cooc. The narrow road was steep, winding, slippery, and muddy. In some sections, motorbikes had to be ridden on all fours, meaning riders had to brace themselves with both feet to maintain balance. At times, someone had to ride behind to hold and push the bike to prevent it from sliding down the ravine. The slippery and steep slopes made the journey to Pieng Cooc truly arduous; the hardships and exhaustion were too numerous to describe.
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| The road to Pieng Cooc is still difficult and arduous. Photo: Cong Kien |
Finally, after more than an hour, we arrived.Pieng CoocIn this place, houses with thatched roofs covered in moss are shrouded in a mystical mist. The Pieng Cooc people welcome visitors with incredibly friendly smiles, full of gratitude, and a firm handshake.
Taking the opportunity to chat with the Party Secretary and Mr. Ba De, we learned that Pieng Cooc is home to 52 households (over 380 people) of the Mong ethnic group, and is one of the most remote and difficult villages in Mai Son commune. Currently, 49 families in the village are classified as poor, and the remaining 3 are near-poor, meaning the poverty rate in the village is over 94%.
"The main source of income for the village is farming and raising livestock and poultry. But the land area is not large, the number of buffalo and cattle is limited, and transportation is difficult, so life in all aspects is still challenging," said Va Ba De.
A renewed sense of confidence
Representatives from the households of Pieng Cooc village gathered at the village's primary school to receive Tet gifts from the Provincial Military Command. The people in this remote area were delighted to receive these practical and meaningful gifts, which will help them have a better Tet holiday.Warm TetAnd it was even more joyful. Each household received a pair of sticky rice cakes, a bottle of cooking oil, some cakes and candies, and 500,000 VND in cash.
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| After a long and arduous journey, all the Tet gifts have finally been delivered to the people of Pieng Cooc. Photo: Cong Kien |
Mr. Va Ba Gia shared: “This year the economy is very difficult. Our family only has a little glutinous rice for making cakes and a little money for Tet. Today, receiving Tet gifts from the soldiers makes our whole family very happy. Now we have more cakes and more money to buy things, and our family will have a joyful Tet.”
The happiest ones are still the children.Hmong peopleIn Pieng Cooc, it was the first time they had seen so many visitors to their village, bringing candy, cakes, and new clothes. When the soldiers dressed them in brand-new, clean clothes, their innocent eyes and dirt-stained faces lit up with radiant, warm smiles, dispelling the biting cold of the mountains. Any shyness or apprehension seemed to vanish, replaced by joy and excitement in every gesture and smile.
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| The "Warm Tet in Western Nghe An" program, organized by the Provincial Military Command, was truly a joyful occasion for the people of Pieng Cooc. Photo: Cong Kien |
“Celebrating the Lunar New Year of the Tiger 2022, Pieng Cooc village received attention and support from the Provincial Military Command, bringing much joy to the people. Furthermore, this year's Tet celebration in Pieng Cooc is even more joyful as it marks the first time the village has access to the national power grid. The power grid project was completed and energized a few days ago, and the villagers are truly thrilled.”
According to the Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Mai Son commune, the nearly 10-kilometer road from the commune center to Pieng Cooc is currently under urgent construction and is expected to be open to traffic in the next few months. This road is of significant importance to national defense and security, as well as socio-economic development, contributing to the gradual transformation of Pieng Cooc.grid electricityWith the upcoming construction of a new, well-maintained road, the lives of the Hmong people in Pieng Cooc will surely gradually improve…
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| Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Khan Toan - Deputy Head of Political Affairs, Provincial Military Command, presents Tet gifts to the people of Pieng Cooc. Photo: Cong Kien |
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| Children in Pieng Cooc also received new clothes from the soldiers to wear during Tet (Lunar New Year) and to ward off the biting cold of the mountains. Photo: Cong Kien |
Before leaving Pieng Cooc, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Khan Toan - Deputy Head of Political Affairs, Provincial Military Command - cordially bid farewell to each person. The people of Pieng Cooc held our hands tightly, as if wanting to keep us here to celebrate Tet together, so that the joy would continue to spread and blend with the mountains and forests. Everyone's eyes welled up with tears, filled with the deep affection between the military and the people. As we descended the slope at the beginning of the village, we all felt warmhearted and shared the belief that Pieng Cooc would soon change for the better…
