Dien Hong: Radiating New Joy

(Baonghean) - These days, officials and people of Dien Hong commune (Dien Chau district) are excitedly preparing to receive the decision recognizing them as a new rural commune. Throughout the villages, there is a buzz of anticipation for this joyous day, a celebration of the continuous efforts of the entire Party committee and people over the past years, which have brought about a great resurgence for their homeland...

On the grounds of the Ai Quoc hamlet community hall, Ms. Phan Thi Binh and other women in the hamlet were busily cleaning the premises. She excitedly told us that her hamlet had just been commended by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for its achievements in building a new rural area.

Workers from Dien Hong commune working at Nam Sung Vina garment factory (Hong-Thap-Ky Industrial Park, Dien Chau). Photo: Mai Hoa

There are many things that have been done, but according to Ms. Binh, the two changes in the hamlet that the villagers appreciate the most are economic development and environmental sanitation, both undertaken by her Women's Association. In 2012, the average per capita income in the hamlet was only 23 million VND. In 2014, it was estimated to reach 28 million VND. This growth is thanks to the new rural development movement, linked with the planning and consolidation of agricultural land. From each household owning a few small plots, they are now concentrated into one large area, helping villagers to specialize in crops for maximum efficiency. Land consolidation is closely linked to land use planning. Farms and family farms have been formed, gradually improving land use efficiency to increase income per unit area.

Thanh Phat's steel pipe manufacturing plant is located in Dien Hong commune.

The second thing we appreciate is environmental sanitation. The women of Ai Quoc hamlet are assigned to take care of environmental sanitation, discussing and establishing regulations on hygiene from inside their homes to the streets and alleys. For example, they collect household waste three times a month for proper disposal, and organize street cleaning and drainage clearing on the 20th of each month. Households that fail to comply are reminded, and repeat offenders are fined according to regulations. This approach ensures that the hamlet's environment is always kept clean.

Not only does Ai Quoc hamlet prioritize economic development as the core element to drive other movements, but it is also a central task set by the Dien Hong commune Party Committee in its goal of building a new rural area to promote the movement throughout the entire commune. According to Mr. Tran Van Tan, Chairman of the Dien Hong Commune People's Committee, Dien Hong has chosen a path that suits its reality: developing agriculture to ensure food security, and on that basis, developing industry, trade, and services to achieve prosperity. From a very early stage, the commune established the province's first small industrial zone, which is now fully occupied, attracting hundreds of local workers daily. Recently, the Ky-Hong-Thap Industrial Zone has become operational, attracting thousands more workers, many of whom are from Dien Hong…

Industrial development has helped Dien Hong reorganize its production forces towards specialization, promoting service and trade sectors; and shifting the agricultural workforce to other fields. Currently, the commune has 86 households engaged in industrial and handicraft production, 10 limited liability industrial production companies, 15 trade and service companies, 5 construction companies, and 750 small-scale trading households… Through the labor export program, 500 people are now working abroad. Regarding agriculture, the commune has completed land conversion according to Directive 68 of the Provincial Party Committee, with 6 high-income fields, 5 farms, and 40 family farms combining crop cultivation and livestock farming, all operating effectively; the average income for the entire commune reached over 42 million VND/person/year in 2014.

Currently, 100% of households in Dien Hong have audio-visual equipment, 55% have internet access, and all village roads have street lighting. All 9/9 hamlets/neighborhoods have cultural centers with complete facilities to serve the community. All 3 schools meet national standards (the primary school meets level 2 standards); 100% of children of school age attend school. For many years, the commune's Party Committee has consistently been recognized as a clean and strong Party Committee. In recognition of the efforts of the officials and people of Dien Hong commune, in 2009, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee awarded a Certificate of Merit, and in 2011, the Government awarded the commune a Flag of Excellence for being the leading unit in comprehensive emulation. And in October 2014, the great joy of the officials and people of Dien Hong commune was the decision by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to recognize it as the first commune in Dien Chau district to achieve the new rural standard.

As for us, we believe in the further potential of Dien Hong. During a moment of reflection on the joyous occasion of receiving the title of "New Rural Commune," the commune chairman, Tran Van Tan, shared his concerns about the next steps in improving the quality of the new rural area. These include upgrading 30 km of asphalt roads throughout the commune, building a clean water system, addressing environmental issues, constructing classrooms for children to meet standards, and developing production… Every task is important, and every requires significant capital, but the goals set must be achieved, just as Dien Hong has done in the past…

PV