Keng Du Commune: Turning difficulties and challenges into development motivation
Keng Du is one of the most remote border communes of Nghe An province. The commune determines to strive to rise from its potentials and advantages, preserve and promote its traditional cultural identity, and gradually overcome difficulties. Keng Du commune determines its future development goals based on the motto "Solidarity - Democracy - Discipline - Innovation - Development".
A land of rich identity
With a natural area of 9,824.07, a border of 29.909 km adjacent to Noong Het district, Xieng Khouang province, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Keng Du is both a land rich in potential and a "fence" to protect national sovereignty. In the commune, there is currently a Border Guard Station, closely coordinating with the Party Committee, government and people to perform well the task of protecting the border, maintaining political security, social order and safety, contributing to building a peaceful and friendly border.
Keng Du currently has more than 5,000 people, living in 1,002 households in 10 villages, of which 8 villages are located close to the border. The population mainly consists of two ethnic groups: Thai and Kho Mu, which are communities with a long tradition of solidarity, rich cultural identity, and passionate patriotism. For generations, the people of Keng Du have been attached to slash-and-burn farming, terraced fields, and vast forests, both resiliently fighting against harsh nature and constantly aspiring to escape poverty and build a prosperous life.
Keng Du's terrain is mainly high, steep mountains with many streams; transportation is still difficult, especially during the rainy season. The climate is typical of high mountains, with cold winters and hot summers, heavy rainfall, and frequent flash floods. These harsh natural conditions create great challenges for socio-economic development, but at the same time bring certain advantages, such as the potential for developing medicinal plants, raising large livestock, aquaculture and eco-tourism associated with the pristine landscape of the border mountains and forests.
Keng Du has many important advantages. That is the attention, direction, and investment support of the Central Government and Nghe An province, especially programs and projects on hunger eradication and poverty reduction, new rural construction, and infrastructure development. The people have a tradition of solidarity, diligence, hard work, and aspiration to rise up. Abundant forest and land resources are the basis for developing forestry and agricultural economy and medicinal plant growing models. The special friendship with the border villages of Laos helps expand exchanges, trade cooperation, and develop international solidarity.
Along with the advantages, difficulties and challenges are also great. The commune's economy is still slow to develop, the poverty rate is still significant. The transport infrastructure has not met the development requirements, many remote villages are difficult to travel. Natural disasters occur frequently, especially flash floods and landslides, causing damage to production and life. Farming practices are still backward, the situation of early marriage and incestuous marriage has decreased but has not been completely eliminated. Some social evils, especially drugs, still pose a potential risk of complications. These factors have significantly affected the overall development of the commune.
Important milestones
During the 2020-2025 term, under the leadership of the Commune Party Committee, the support of superiors and the spirit of unity and determination of the people, Keng Du has achieved many important results in many fields. Regarding the work of Party building and the political system, in the past 5 years, the commune has admitted 58 new Party members, exceeding the target set in the Resolution. The Commune Party Committee has been recognized for many consecutive years as clean and strong.
Political and ideological work, personnel work, inspection and supervision, and mass mobilization have all been strengthened, contributing to improving the leadership capacity and fighting strength of grassroots party organizations. The political system has been consolidated and improved, operating increasingly effectively and efficiently, affirming its role as the political nucleus in the locality.
Socio-economic development has progressed. The average growth rate in the period of 2021-2025 is estimated at 5.8%. The total value of the whole commune's products in 2025 will reach 94.2 billion VND. In the agricultural sector, the area of upland rice is 403 hectares, and wet rice is 41.6 hectares; people have gradually converted from low-yield upland rice production to high-yield wet rice, while expanding the area of hybrid corn, taro, peanuts, squash and some medicinal plants under the forest canopy. Vaccination for livestock and poultry has reached 90% of the total herd, contributing to disease control. In livestock farming, despite fluctuations due to African swine fever, in general, the herds of buffalo, cows and goats have still developed, becoming an important source of livelihood.
The forestry sector continues to play a key role. The whole commune manages and cares for 3,200 hectares of forest, maintaining a coverage rate of 100%. During the term, 8.07 hectares of forest were newly planted with trees of economic value. Forest protection and forest fire prevention and fighting are maintained regularly, contributing to ensuring the ecological environment and sustainable livelihoods. Aquaculture has also initially developed with a fish farming area of 4.9 hectares, with an output of about 20 tons/year, serving consumption in the commune and partly supplying to neighboring areas. In the industrial - handicraft sector, a number of small mechanical establishments have initially appeared to serve production needs, along with the maintenance and development of the traditional brocade weaving profession.
During the past term, the commune has invested in building and upgrading 17 civil works, with a total capital of more than 22.4 billion VND. Many important works such as schools, medical stations, civil bridges, anti-erosion embankments, and domestic water works have been put into use, significantly improving the living conditions of the people. The national grid has reached most households, creating a driving force to promote production, daily life and improve living standards.
The cultural and social fields have many positive changes. The quality of education has been significantly improved. 100% of 5-year-old children go to school, 100% of students graduate from junior high school. The commune's kindergarten has been recognized as meeting national standards at level 1. Socialization of education has been focused on, the movement to encourage learning and talent has developed in most villages. The movement "All people unite to build a cultural life" has been widely implemented, 8/10 villages have maintained the title of cultural village, over 61% of households have achieved the title of cultural family. Cultural, artistic and sports activities have been maintained regularly, including 5 mass art teams, a Tom singing club, Khen be, and flute, contributing to preserving and promoting traditional cultural values. Attention has been paid to medical work and public health care. Expanded immunization programs, population - family planning have been implemented synchronously. The rate of malnourished children has decreased over the years.
In the field of national defense and security, the commune has completed 100% of the annual military recruitment target. In 2023, the commune organized a defensive combat exercise and was assessed to have excellently completed the task. Political security and social order and safety were basically maintained. The movement of the whole people to protect national security developed strongly. Foreign relations with Bo Nhia and Huoi Lom clusters of Noong Het district, Xieng Khouang province (Laos) were increasingly strengthened through cultural exchange activities and village-to-village twinning, contributing to fostering the special solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Laos.
In addition to the achievements, Keng Du still has some limitations. Economic development is still slow, not commensurate with its potential. The poverty rate is still high. Transport infrastructure has not met development requirements. Some new rural criteria have not been completed. Diseases in livestock and labor migration still affect production and life. Backward customs and practices, social evils, especially drugs, still pose potential risks. The main reasons are low starting point, harsh natural conditions, limited investment resources; uneven staff capacity; and the people still have a mentality of waiting and relying on others.
Turn difficulties and challenges into driving forces for development
The 16th Keng Du Commune Party Congress set out the direction and tasks for the 2025–2030 period with specific goals by 2030: average income per capita reaching 23–25 million VND/year; reducing the poverty rate by an average of 5%/year; the rate of population participating in health insurance reaching 100%; building at least one village to meet new rural standards; having one to two OCOP products (rice wine with forest leaves, brocade weaving); 10/10 villages achieving the title of cultural village; 100% of inter-village roads being hardened; maintaining border security, maintaining a drug-free commune.
Keng Du commune determined to implement 3 breakthroughs:
First, planning and building rural market in Keng Du commune.
Second, do a good job of managing, protecting and developing upstream forests; protecting, caring for and promoting natural forest regeneration; and expanding the forest planting model in the area.
Third, develop the cultivation of medicinal herbs in the area.
With the tradition of solidarity, the spirit of overcoming difficulties, and the attention and support of all levels and sectors, Keng Du commune is gradually rising up, turning difficulties and challenges into development motivation.
In the new period, the Party Committee, government and people of Keng Du commune are determined to promote the potential and advantages, and make efforts to build the border homeland to become more and more prosperous and civilized, contributing to maintaining national sovereignty and border security. In particular, according to Decision No. 3618-QD/TU dated June 18, 2025 of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, Keng Du commune Party Committee is officially under the Provincial Party Committee. This is an important milestone, demonstrating special attention and affirming Keng Du's strategic position in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.
