Regarding the settlements of the Khơ Mú people in the land of 'joyful gold'.
Dinh Tuyen - Huu Vi•December 31, 2023 14:32
(Baonghean.vn) - The Huoi May residential cluster in Cam Pom village is the only Khmu ethnic minority settlement in Cam Muon commune, Que Phong district. It is also the most remote and difficult area in every respect, known as the land of "joyful gold".
Huồi Máy used to be a separate village in the "golden land" of Cắm Muộn, Quế Phong district. For the past few years, this cluster of 37 households, including 35 Khơ Mú households, has been merged with Cắm Pọm village. This cluster is located about 40km from the main village and the commune center. Photo: Đình TuyênReaching this settlement is a truly arduous journey. Of the nearly 40km to Huồi Máy, about 7km from Na Khích village, Nậm Nhoóng commune, is mostly a steep mountain pass, with many sections requiring wading through rocky streams. (Photo: Hữu Vi)There are no roads or cell phone coverage, and the national power grid has not yet reached this settlement. The majority of the residents here still rely on self-generated electricity from turbines floating on the stream. Photo: Dinh TuyenTransportation difficulties and other hardships make life incredibly difficult for the people here. All 37 households in the community are classified as poor. Without fields or farms, the residents of Huồi Máy rely solely on gathering wild resources. Others seek work in industrial zones. (Photo: Hữu Vi)For many years, the people of Huoi May have relied primarily on government aid for their food supply. Several obstacles, including the mountainous terrain, have made land reclamation for production very difficult. This has left many residents in a rather passive position regarding economic development. Photo: Huu ViTransporting construction materials into the area is also difficult. Therefore, the majority of residents still live in makeshift houses. According to some people who participated in the construction of several projects in Huoi May, each cubic meter of construction sand delivered to Huoi May costs millions of dong. Photo: Dinh TuyenNevertheless, some residents have made certain efforts to overcome the difficulties in economic development. Livestock farming is almost the most viable option for the people here, as well as for many other isolated villages like Huồi Máy. Photo: Đình TuyênUnable to hire outside carpenters, some residents taught themselves carpentry and were able to build their own houses and help their neighbors. Photo: Dinh TuyenCurrently, the local government has allocated resources to help the people of Huoi May build houses. Some rice paddies outside the village have also been leveled to create terraced fields. It is possible that in the near future, the people of Huoi May will be introduced to rice cultivation. This contributes to the hope of helping this community escape from relying on natural gatherings and other forms of support. Photo: Huu Vi
