Que Phong - Go and see: Part 3: Tien Phong, a place without poppies

From the land of Muong Hin and Chau Long, nearly 40 years ago, Tien Phong commune was born and became the headland of the mountainous district of Que Phong. For generations, the ethnic communities here have worked hard on the peaceful fields. Their diligence has brought prosperity to the people. However, recently, some information has emerged that Tien Phong has fields growing poppies. On the back roads this July, we met Tien Phong.

Leaving Tri Le when it was getting dark, after a night's stay in Kim Son district town, we returned to Tien Phong - the land at the head of Que Phong district.

Spread over an area of ​​over 14,000 hectares, Tien Phong has 21 hamlets and communes that have been home to the Thai, Kinh, Kho Mu and Tho ethnic communities for generations, with 1,927 households and 9,865 people, of which the Thai ethnic group accounts for more than 80%. On this barren, miserable land, the ethnic communities live in harmony, working hard in the fields specializing in wet rice cultivation, and from here they find prosperity and happiness.

But recently, there have been poisonous winds blowing into everyone's ears, that poppies have bloomed on the gentle land. How strange. Because when the Party Secretary of Luong Hien Chuong commune heard us ask about the work of destroying drug plants and eliminating this evil in the area, he affirmed: "From the past until now, we have not had drug plants to destroy!". Coming to Tien Phong to meet with people and cadres, asking questions, everyone seemed surprised. Because, never before have the Thai, Kinh, Kho Mu, Tho people here been so fascinated by the irresistible attraction of this plant.

Of course, according to Mr. Ha Sy Que, the commune police chief, Tien Phong still has 35 addicts (except for 14 who have been sent to the district's drug rehabilitation center, 6 who have been sent to re-education camps and 5 who have died recently), all of whom are involved in heroin. When asked about this issue by Party Secretary Luong Hien Chuong, Mr. Chuong asserted: "Tien Phong people have never grown opium, first of all because the natural conditions of the commune are not suitable for this plant to grow, and importantly, the ethnic minorities in the area do not have the habit of growing opium, especially the majority of Thai ethnic minorities, who "hate" this plant.

To verify the information, specifically to find out whether the Thai people really "hate" this "evil" plant, we went back along Highway 48 in the direction of Thong Thu border gate to Na Bon, Na Chang, Xop Sanh, Na Sanh villages - the Thai villages located farthest from the commune center. Where, we thought, if there was a "poppy growing situation", these villages were the most qualified.

Na Bon - means a field with many taro plants (itchy mosquito nets), the Thai people explain the name of their village as follows: In the past, this was the land of taro plants. Taro plants were taller than the head, and they grew densely in streams and creeks, so the village was named Na Bon (in Thai). So we know one more thing: poppies never live together with plants in the bushes and in the swamps like that.

Arriving at Na Bon, we met old man Lo Xuan Hac, 76 years old, the oldest person in the village and also the most prestigious. At this rare age, the old man is still very agile! With a hearty voice and bright eyes, the old man enthusiastically greeted the guests when we came to the hut perched on the hillside, next to Highway 48. He asked: "Old man! Do the Thai people grow opium?". "From the time of our ancestors until now, the Thai people have never grown opium. I have lived in this land of Na Bon since I was born, I know that the Thai people have never come to it. We work hard in farming, weaving, raising buffaloes and cows and are well-off," old man Hac explained. Saying that, the old man's voice suddenly became low: "But to tell the truth, in the past, some Thai people bought opium from Mong villages to smoke. They were addicted to "swallowing" (opium was condensed into small grains of rice and each time they used it, they just swallowed it). It was very harmful! Many people died because of it. Nowadays, cadres come to propagate that Na Bon no longer has "swallowing" addicts."

Mr. Ha Sy Que - Chief of Tien Phong Commune Police said: Gia Hac has great prestige in the village, he is a 40-year Party member. During the resistance war against the US to save the country, he was an infantry soldier fighting on the Quang Tri battlefield. With his prestige, at village meetings, he often talks about the harmful effects of drugs and opium with the villagers. Hearing that, the old man interrupted: "Opium is very bad, addiction means death, we must tell the villagers to avoid it". The whole Na Bon village has 79 households with nearly 500 people. 100% are Thai people and there are almost no opium or drug addicts.

Saying goodbye to old Hac, leaving "Ruong Mon" village when it was past noon, we continued to Na Sanh in the scorching sun that "swallowed" all the skin. From Phap village (headquarters village) going up along National Highway 48 are 4 inner villages: Na Bon, Na Chang, Xop Sanh, Na Sanh, along National Highway 48 extending towards Kim Son town are 17 outer villages. All are peaceful villages with a rice yield of more than 5.5 tons/ha in this year's Winter-Spring crop. Not only that, Tien Phong still has 2 forestry hamlets 2 and 3 with Muong Hin village, which is the commercial center of the Northwest commune cluster of Que district, the proportion of trade and services accounts for 33.31% of the whole commune's economy.

Through the road turning to Xao Va waterfall (the address is already listed on the tourist map of Nghe An) is the Thinh Phong 3-way ranger station, in charge of the entire commune, we met the District Forest Protection Management Board (formerly Phu Phuong Forestry), further down towards the center of the district is Que Phong Rubber Plantation (formerly Youth Volunteer Team 7). These units have been attached to this land since its establishment, it is not easy for strange flowers to overwhelm.

After nearly a whole day of walking and seeing, we realized many things. The doubt about Tien Phong having drug fields blooming all year round was dispelled. However, a feeling of sadness suddenly entered our thoughts when the Commune Police Chief said: "Although opium poppies are not grown, drugs still infiltrate the lives here, bringing about sad consequences."

Up to now, the whole commune has 35 addicts, 14 people have been sent to the district's drug rehabilitation center, 5 people have died because of the "white fairy". That is not only the work of those responsible, but also the advice of village elder Lo Xuan Hac, the thoughts of those who have been involved. My notebook also records many stories about Tien Phong. But basically, I keep seeing many happy stories, stories about a commune at the forefront that is moving forward with steps, although not long but strong.

PV Group