The motivation for the people of Mon Son to rise out of poverty.
In Mon Son border commune, one of the important "channels" supporting and motivating poor households to rise out of poverty is the projects of the National Target Program (NTP). In particular, the disbursement of funds for Sub-project 4, "Support for Livestock Development," has yielded many significant results.
The joy of escaping poverty and achieving economic independence for the family.
Towards the end of the afternoon, Ms. Vi Thi Hoa from Thai Son 2 village, Mon Son border commune, leisurely walked out to the fairly large grassy area along the Giang River, not far from her house, to herd her family's cattle back home.
As she walked, Ms. Hoa talked, saying that in her life, she never imagined her family would have a herd of four cows like they do today. And given their reproductive rate, her family gains one or two more cows each year. While herding the cows along the familiar path back to the village, Ms. Hoa chatted with her neighbors who were also calling their cows back home.
Previously, Ms. Vi Thi Hoa's family was classified as a long-term poor household, relying solely on a few acres of rice paddies and raising a flock of about a dozen chickens for their daily needs. Since October 2024, Ms. Hoa's family has considered changing their occupation for the first time in their lives, shifting from farming to intensive livestock breeding, after receiving support in the form of two breeding cows.
“Before, we only knew how to harvest whatever season was available. Since we got the breeding cows, I've received guidance from commune and village officials on care techniques and how to utilize agricultural by-products to make silage for fattening the herd. With these new methods, the cows are healthy, grow quickly, and reproduce well, so my husband and I have completely shifted to investing in livestock farming. Besides utilizing straw and corn stalks, my husband and I take turns cutting grass and gathering banana trees to feed the cows, and we also raise chickens… From 2 cows, we now have 4. Thanks to the government giving us cows, money for building barns, and guidance on livestock farming, my family has escaped poverty,” said Ms. Vi Thi Hoa happily.
Mr. Vi Van Nghi, head of Thai Son 2 village, said that the village has 164 households and 745 people, but now only 10 households are poor and 19 are near-poor. The number of poor and near-poor households is decreasing year by year. One of the "driving forces" helping the people of Thai Son 2 rise out of poverty is the livelihood support from national target programs, especially projects supporting cattle and seedlings. In 2024, 12 poor households in Thai Son 2 village received breeding cows. These are the "means of livelihood," the support for livelihoods, not only providing capital and production materials to the people, but also encouraging the spirit of overcoming difficulties and diligently working in production among the people of Mon Son.
The head of Thai Son 2 village added that many poor households who received breeding cows and buffaloes in 2024 have since escaped poverty, such as the household of Ms. Vi Thi Hoa, the household of Mr. Lang Van Tinh, and the household of Mr. Ngan Dang Thiem…
“By the end of 2025, it is expected that many other households receiving cows will also escape poverty, because they will have a new livelihood and will be able to combine it with expanding other occupations, thus improving their economic situation and gradually achieving economic independence for their families, no longer relying on community support,” said Mr. Vi Van Nghi.
Leveraging livelihood support resources
Mr. Vuong Dinh Huy, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Mon Son commune, said that Mon Son is a highland border commune with a large ethnic minority population. Currently, out of a population of over 18,800 people, 92.6% are ethnic minorities; including the Dan Lai people living in the core area of Pu Mat National Park. The commune's terrain and transportation conditions are complex, infrastructure is still difficult, and resources are limited. However, in recent years, thanks to support from national target programs, preferential policies for border areas, and the attention of all levels and sectors, the material and spiritual lives of the people have been improved, and some results have been achieved. Particularly noteworthy are projects supporting livelihoods and vocational retraining for the people.
Mon Son commune was established in July 2025 based on the merger of two former communes of Con Cuong district: Mon Son and Luc Da. In the former Luc Da commune, the total number of projects and the total budget for the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021-2025 have been planned and appraised for the 5-year and annual program implementation. After receiving guidance documents from higher levels, the People's Committee of the commune established a steering committee and a working group to implement the program. From 2021 to July 2024, the former Luc Da commune received over 1.6 billion VND to implement livelihood models and has already spent over 1.3 billion VND. In the former Mon Son commune, the total budget allocated was over 3.2 billion VND, and by July 2024, nearly 2.7 billion VND had been disbursed.
Mr. Vuong Dinh Huy also affirmed that since the establishment of the new government, the disbursement of funds for projects under the National Target Program has been temporarily suspended pending the consolidation of the administrative apparatus and the updating of mechanisms and policies according to the two-tiered government model. The projected operational budget for Mon Son commune in 2025 is over 40 billion VND, of which over 2.2 billion VND will be allocated to support livelihood development through poverty reduction models. In addition, there will be support from the Poverty Reduction Program, the New Rural Development Program, etc.
These support measures will gradually and sustainably reduce the poverty rate in the commune. At the same time, they will contribute to a more modern and civilized local landscape; and help raise awareness and motivation among the people to improve their work and production through the benefits of Party and State policies, enabling households to increase their income and gradually escape poverty.