Leveraging internal strengths and unleashing potential - Thong Thu aims for comprehensive development.

Along with the strong transformation in economic structure, infrastructure, human resources, and the development of digital government, the locality is aiming for comprehensive and sustainable development, improving the material and spiritual lives of the people in the border region.

A place where Thai ethnic culture converges and where border region development potential is at its core.

Thong Thu Commune was established according to Resolution No. 1678/NQ-UBTVQH15 dated June 16, 2025, of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, based on the rearrangement of the entire natural area and population of Dong Van Commune and the former Thong Thu Commune. Located on the border with the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the commune has a border length of 33.737 km, more than 200 km from the provincial center, and has the Thong Thu - Nam Tay secondary border gate, facilitating trade with Laos. With a total natural area of ​​706.75 km², Thong Thu Commune currently has 1,922 households with 8,481 inhabitants living among 7 different ethnic groups. Among them, the Thai ethnic group accounts for the majority, over 97%, creating a distinctive and rich cultural character of this region.

In recent years, the local economy has developed and expanded its access to the market economy. Many small-scale services such as grocery trading, loans for purchasing transport vehicles, the development of cage fish farming on the Hua Na hydroelectric reservoir, as well as livestock and poultry farming have been promoted. In addition, the planting and management of forests, especially valuable medicinal plants such as golden flower tea, bon bo tree, macadamia, *Centella asiatica*, *Codonopsis pilosula*, etc., also play an important role in the economic life of the people.

Culturally, the Thai people in Thong Thu commune still preserve their long-standing traditions through their distinctive clothing and cultural activities. Traditional costumes such as skirts and scarves are hand-woven and meticulously embroidered by the people themselves. Ethnic cultural values ​​are preserved through folk art forms such as stream singing, bamboo pole dancing, gong playing, furrow carving, rice wine festival dances (Lam Vong dance), throwing the ball, and especially the Xang Khan ceremony – a unique cultural feature. Traditional dishes such as ot soup, bamboo rice, banh chung (rice cake), banh giay (rice cake) for Tet (Lunar New Year), and the new rice harvest festival (Khau Cam) are also preserved and maintained as distinctive cultural symbols of the community.

Thus, Thong Thu commune is not only a strategically located border area but also a place that preserves and promotes the distinctive cultural values ​​of the Thai ethnic group, contributing to enriching the diverse cultural identity of the province.

Breakthroughs in economic development, science, technology, and environmental protection.

During the 2020-2025 period, the locality achieved many outstanding accomplishments in economic development, science, technology, and environmental protection, contributing to improving people's lives and promoting comprehensive sustainable development. The average growth rate of added value reached 7.45%, with a clear shift in the economic structure towards increasing the proportion of industry - construction and services. Per capita income increased to approximately VND 31.255 million, a 37% increase compared to 2020. Total development investment capital is estimated at over VND 250 billion, creating favorable conditions for the balanced development of production and business sectors.

In the fields of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, the locality has effectively exploited its existing potential. Aquaculture on the Hua Na hydroelectric reservoir has developed strongly with 912 cages, an increase of 725 cages compared to the beginning of the term. Simultaneously, a brand of reservoir fish meeting VietGAP standards has been established, exemplified by the fish products of Mr. Lang Van Quy in Pu Duoc village. The crop structure has also shifted towards diversification and efficiency, with the area of ​​wet rice cultivation increasing to 484.4 hectares and a yield of 51.5 quintals/hectare. Total food production in 2025 is estimated at 2,322 tons, averaging 276 kg per person, contributing to ensuring food security.

Forestry continues to maintain sustainable development with a forest cover rate of 89.24%. Forest management and protection are well-organized through 18 effective forest protection teams. Simultaneously, many production models combining forest protection have been implemented, such as restoring 5 hectares of bamboo forest and caring for nearly 840 hectares of FSC-certified forest. Projects to replicate livelihood models using high-value native plants such as golden flower tea, bamboo, and bon bo have been implemented across more than 1,200 hectares, contributing to raising awareness and income for local people.

Livestock farming has developed strongly in both scale and quality, with a total herd of over 9,600 animals, including buffalo, cattle, pigs, and goats, all showing stable growth. The exploitation and protection of aquatic resources have also received special attention, with the establishment of three co-management models in the villages of Khun Na, Muong Piet, and Muong Phu. Policies supporting investment in cage farming, specialty fish species such as sea bass, black carp, and climbing perch, and the experimental cultivation of pearls have been strongly implemented, contributing to increasing the economic value of the fisheries sector, with an average annual catch of 170 tons.

The industrial and construction sectors maintained a growth rate of 7.88%, contributing 18.69% to the local economic structure. Small-scale handicraft activities were maintained and expanded with civil wood products and handicrafts made from bamboo, rattan, and woven bamboo. Several large enterprises, such as Hua Na Hydropower Joint Stock Company and Dong Van Hydropower Joint Stock Company, created stable jobs for workers and promoted infrastructure investment with a total capital of over 250 billion VND in the 2021-2025 period.

Trade and services have developed rapidly with an average growth rate of 7.93%, accounting for 17.72% of the economic structure. Diverse service activities, meeting the living and production needs of the people, such as food services, raw material procurement, transportation, and ecotourism at tourist destinations like Suoi Pa Waterfall, Huoi Ngan Waterfall, and the Hua Na hydroelectric reservoir, are increasingly developing, attracting the participation of many economic sectors, especially the private sector.

The synchronized implementation of national target programs, including the New Rural Development program, the economic development program for ethnic minority and mountainous areas, and the sustainable poverty reduction program, has created positive changes. Total investment in these programs has reached tens of billions of VND, focusing on infrastructure development, education, healthcare, clean water, and effective production models. The appearance of rural areas has improved significantly, with many villages achieving new rural standards, and the poverty rate has decreased rapidly, contributing to improving the material and spiritual lives of the people.

In the field of science and technology, the locality focuses on applying technical advancements to management and production. The application of information technology in administrative management and the development of cage fish farming models and processing of cage products has increased product value, gradually forming a supply chain from production to market.

Resource management and environmental protection are carried out rigorously with appropriate land use plans, widespread issuance of land use right certificates to the people, ensuring legal rights and creating favorable conditions for production. Environmental protection and raising community awareness about preventing and combating plastic waste and maintaining environmental hygiene are promoted through practical movements such as "Clean Villages, Good Fields". The percentage of households using hygienic domestic water reaches 85%, and all production and business establishments meet environmental requirements, contributing to maintaining a green, clean, and beautiful landscape.

Simultaneously, socio-cultural fields have also received due attention, with the preservation and promotion of national cultural identity, and the improvement of education, healthcare, labor, and employment quality. The percentage of culturally exemplary households has reached over 85%, and the grassroots healthcare system has been strengthened, ensuring effective medical examination, treatment, and disease prevention and control. Vocational training and job placement for young people have been implemented systematically, giving many young workers opportunities to work domestically and abroad.

Leveraging internal strengths to create breakthroughs for comprehensive development.

Entering the 2025-2030 term, building upon the positive results achieved in the previous period, the Party Committee and people of Thong Thu commune set the overall goal of continuing to build a clean, strong, and comprehensive Party and political system. The focus of this term is to strengthen political, ideological, and revolutionary moral education for cadres and Party members; consolidate and enhance the leadership capacity and fighting strength of Party organizations at all levels; promote the role of national unity; and thereby mobilize and effectively utilize resources to create strong transformations in socio-economic development, maintain national defense and security, ensure social order and safety, and border security. The ultimate goal is to improve the material and spiritual lives of the people.

To concretize development orientations for the new term, Thong Thu commune has established 26 key targets in the fields of economy, culture and society, environment, national defense and security, while focusing on Party building and the political system. These targets are not only a measure of task performance but also a basis for managing, monitoring, and evaluating the effectiveness of the entire political system in the development process. Based on this, the commune has clearly identified 4 key task groups, 3 strategic breakthroughs, and 4 main solution groups, aiming to maximize internal resources, leverage external resources, and thereby create consensus and combined strength from the entire political system and the local people.

Three strategic breakthroughs have been identified as key factors that will be decisive in promoting the comprehensive development of the commune in the coming term.

The first,The commune will focus on promoting the application of science and technology in production, especially in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. This aims to improve the productivity, quality, and added value of local products, contributing to the development of 2-2 OCOP products achieving 3 stars or higher, thereby enhancing the position of local goods in the market.

Monday,Thong Thu commune will accelerate the digital transformation process in the management and operation of its government. Building a digital government will not only improve management efficiency but also create favorable conditions for citizens and businesses to access public services. Simultaneously, the commune will prioritize investment in and upgrading of technical infrastructure to create a favorable business environment, attract investment, serve the goal of sustainable economic development, and improve the quality of life for its people.

Tuesday,Human resource development will be prioritized, linked to fundamental and comprehensive reforms in education and training. Thong Thu commune identifies this as a prerequisite for improving the quality of the local workforce, meeting the development requirements of the new era. In addition, the commune will promote traditional cultural values, foster a spirit of innovation and creativity, and overcome stagnation and passivity among some officials and the people. Strongly inspiring aspirations for progress and self-reliance will be the foundation for forming a generation of dynamic and responsible citizens, contributing to a breakthrough in development.

With strong determination and the consensus of the entire political system, along with the active support of the people, Thong Thu commune is confident that it will successfully achieve the set goals, gradually leading the locality to rapid, sustainable, and comprehensive development in the 2025-2030 period.