Joy in Pieng Cooc

Bringing Tet to the misty peak

The program “Warm Tet in the Western Region of Nghe An” organized by the Provincial Military Command aims to share the difficulties with people in remote border areas, bringing joy and excitement to the villages that are still facing difficulties. This year, along with Puc village, Nam Giai commune (Que Phong), Pieng Cooc village, Mai Son commune (Tuong Duong) also received the sharing and affection of soldiers in their homeland.

From Vinh city to the old Tuong district, the delegation of cadres and soldiersProvincial Military CommandArrived at Thach Giam town (Tuong Duong) just as it was getting dark. Stayed at Thach Giam, and set off at 4am the next day. The journey from the center of Tuong Duong district to Muong Xen (Ky Son) was quite easy, but from Muong Xen to Mai Son (Tuong Duong) was really arduous and difficult.

A corner of Pieng Cooc village, Mai Son commune (Tuong Duong). Photo: Cong Kien

The car followed National Highway 16, passed through Pha Danh, Huoi Tu, My Ly communes (Ky Son) to reach Mai Son, a total journey of about 120 km. Continuing along the mountainside, passing through Huoi To 1, Huoi To 2, Huoi Xa and Na Kha villages, it reached Pieng Cooc. Several days of continuous rain made the road from Na Kha to Pieng Cooc slippery as grease, cars could not circulate, so they had to unload goods and send people to the village to ask for help.

About an hour later,Party Cell SecretaryAnd Ba De led the "troops" to support. Men rode motorbikes, women walked and carried baskets. And Ba De said: "Hearing the news that today the group was going to organize a warm Tet in the Western region of Nghe An, people have been waiting since early morning. Knowing that it was raining and the roads were slippery, everyone was ready to welcome them."

It was raining and the road was slippery, so the pickup truck could not get to Pieng Cooc, so they had to unload the goods and carry them on foot and by motorbike. Photo: Cong Kien

All the goods including candies, cakes and necessities were loaded onto motorbikes and carried to the village. Luckily, more than 50 pairs of banh chung had been brought to the village in their original form and ingredients to be wrapped and cooked in advance, otherwise it would have been extremely difficult.

We walked back to Pieng Cooc. The small road was steep, winding, slippery and muddy. There were sections where motorbikes had to be driven on “4 wheels”, meaning the rider had to put both feet on the ground to keep balance, and sometimes someone had to walk behind to hold and push the bike so it wouldn’t slide down the cliff. The slippery and vertical slope made the journey up to Pieng Cooc really difficult, with countless hardships and fatigue.

The road to Pieng Cooc is still arduous and difficult. Photo: Cong Kien

Finally, after more than 1 hour we arrived.Pieng Cooc, where the houses have moss-covered thatched roofs and are immersed in a misty fog. The Pieng Cooc people welcome guests with a very friendly smile, full of gratitude and a tight handshake.

Taking the opportunity to talk to Secretary Va Ba De, we learned that Pieng Cooc is home to 52 households (more than 380 people) of Mong people, and is one of the most remote and difficult villages in Mai Son commune. Currently, the village has 49 poor families, the remaining 3 families are near-poor, meaning the poverty rate of the village is over 94%.

“The main source of income for the village is slash-and-burn farming and livestock and poultry farming. However, the area is not large, the number of buffalo and cows is limited, and transportation is difficult, so life in all aspects is still difficult,” said Ba De.

The belief in the rise

Representatives of households in Pieng Cooc village gathered at the village's primary school to receive Tet gifts from the Provincial Military Command. People in this "high land, low sky" place were all happy to receive practical and meaningful gifts to have a new year.Warm Tetand more fun. Each household was given a pair of banh chung, a bottle of cooking oil, cakes, candies and 500,000 VND in cash.

After a difficult journey, all the Tet gifts were finally delivered to the Pieng Cooc people. Photo: Cong Kien

Mr. Va Ba Gia shared: “This year the economy is very difficult, my family only has a little sticky rice to make cakes, a little money to celebrate Tet. Today, receiving Tet gifts from the soldiers, my whole family is very happy. So we have more cakes, more money to shop, our family will have a happy Tet.”

The happiest are still the childrenMong peoplePieng Cooc, because this was the first time they saw so many visitors coming to visit the village, bringing candy, cakes, and new clothes. When the soldiers put on their brand new and clean shirts, their innocent eyes and dirty faces suddenly lit up with bright and warm smiles, as if dispelling the cold of the mountains and forests. Shyness and apprehension seemed to disappear, only joy and excitement remained in every gesture and smile.

The program "Warm Tet in the Western region of Nghe An" organized by the Provincial Military Command is truly a happy day for the people of Pieng Cooc. Photo: Cong Kien

“Welcoming the Lunar New Year 2022, Pieng Cooc village received the attention and sharing of the Provincial Military Command, bringing much joy to the people. At the same time, this year's Tet, Pieng Cooc also has the great joy of having national grid electricity for the first time. The grid project was just completed and energized a few days ago, the villagers are really excited."

Ms. Lo Thi Huong - Chairwoman of Mai Son Commune People's Committee

According to the female Chairwoman of Mai Son Commune People's Committee, the nearly 10km road from the commune center to Pieng Cooc is under urgent construction and is expected to be open in the next few months. This road is important for national defense - security and socio-economic development, gradually changing Pieng Cooc. There aregrid power, there will be a new, spacious road soon, certainly the life of the Mong people in Pieng Cooc will gradually improve...

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Khan Toan - Deputy Chief of Politics, Provincial Military Command presents Tet gifts to Pieng Cooc people. Photo: Cong Kien

Children in Pieng Cooc also received new clothes from soldiers to wear during Tet and to ward off the cold of the mountains and forests. Photo: Cong Kien

Before leaving Pieng Cooc, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Khan Toan - Deputy Chief of Politics, Provincial Military Command warmly said goodbye to each person. Pieng Cooc people held hands tightly as if they wanted to keep the guests to stay and celebrate Tet together, so that the joy would spread and blend with the mountains and forests. Everyone's eyes were filled with tears and contained so much deep affection between the army and the people. Going down the slope at the beginning of the village, we all felt warm and shared the belief that Pieng Cooc would soon change...