Thach Son, a season of abundance

(Baonghean) - From the core area of ​​Pu Mat National Park, on December 6, 2006, more than 40 Dan Lai ethnic households from the two villages of Bung and Co Phat in Mon Son commune (Con Cuong district) relocated to Thach Ngan commune, naming their new village Thach Son, a combination of Thach Ngan and Mon Son communes. This is the eighth spring that the Dan Lai people in the resettlement area have celebrated Tet (Lunar New Year) in their new home, and it is also the most prosperous and fulfilling spring they have ever experienced...

From an initial population of over 40 households, Thach Son village now has 50 households and 234 people. Although the lives of the Dan Lai people here are still difficult, located 12 km from the commune center and 32 km from the district center, with only 6 hectares of agricultural land, mainly forest and hilly land, over the past 7 years, thanks to the attention of the Party and the State and the efforts of each individual, they have gradually overcome difficulties, stabilized their mindset, and become attached to their new home. The people have reclaimed land, planted forests, and engaged in agricultural production to develop the economy and build a new rural area. Currently, the village has 40 hectares of forest, 3 hectares of rice paddies, and 8 hectares of other crops with an average yield of 45 quintals/hectare. They also raise 23 buffaloes and cows, 50 pigs, 40 goats, and 130 poultry. As a result, everyone has jobs, income, and improved family living standards.

During the 2013-2014 winter-spring season, the Task Force supporting production guidance for the Dan Lai resettlement community in Con Cuong district gradually guided and transferred agricultural and livestock farming techniques to the people, such as hybrid corn cultivation, corn cultivation on hillside land, wet rice cultivation, vegetable farming, and disease prevention and control, as well as protection against cold for livestock and poultry. At the same time, they provided support with vegetable seeds, rice, corn, and fertilizers for the spring crop. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh An, head of the Task Force supporting production guidance for the Dan Lai resettlement community, said: “The Con Cuong district task force is very concerned about supporting and guiding production to change the awareness and mindset of the Dan Lai resettlement community in farming and livestock raising. At the same time, it stabilizes the security, order, and social situation and helps the people integrate better into the community.”

Housing for the resettled Dan Lai people.

During the recent Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse), the resettled people of Thach Son village received attention from benefactors: Construction and Transportation Engineering Corporation No. 4 donated gifts worth 500,000 VND each to 50 poor households in the particularly difficult villages of Thach Ngan commune, including 25 households of the Dan Lai ethnic group; donated 25 breeding cows, each worth 15 million VND, and provided support for building barns and purchasing vaccines, totaling over 400 million VND. After the cows give birth to their first or second litter of calves, the calves will be transferred to the next households so that more families can benefit from the program.

Not only has economic development been prioritized, but education, culture, and healthcare for the people have also been improved. Kindergarten and primary schools in the village have been built with modern facilities. Not only do children have access to education, but mothers, grandmothers, and other elderly women also receive education to help build more prosperous, happy, equal, and progressive families. This year, the villagers celebrated Tet (Lunar New Year) in their new community center, filling everyone with excitement and joy.

Perhaps, since moving to this new land, this is the happiest, most fulfilling, and most prosperous spring for the people. As Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, they prepare offerings to their ancestors, thanking heaven and earth for a bountiful harvest and healthy children. The beautiful customs and traditions of the Dan Lai people, passed down from generation to generation, are still preserved and promoted. Mr. La Van Hung, from Thach Son village, Thach Ngan commune, said: “The custom of the Dan Lai people is to offer fish during Tet. When we moved here, there weren't as many fish in the rivers and streams as before, so our family had to buy them; we couldn't do without fish. We pray for peace in the villages, good health for our children, and favorable weather for a bountiful harvest next year.”

Through their own efforts, the resettled Dan Lai ethnic people are gradually rising out of poverty sustainably, uniting to build green, clean, and beautiful villages, peaceful hamlets free from social evils, and strictly adhering to all policies and laws of the Party and the State. As spring fills the land, amidst laughter and joy, the spring songs of the Dan Lai people blend with the sounds of the mountains and forests: “In the old days, the Dan Lai people suffered greatly, following the deer's footprints to plant rice, following the tiger's footprints to plant corn / Wandering on mountaintops, lingering on mountain passes / Like a small stream, like the evening breeze / Since the Party came, the Dan Lai people have lived peacefully / No one forces them to hand over a hundred golden bamboo poles, no one forces them to hand over a boat with a rowing oar / The Dan Lai people welcome spring, the Dan Lai people welcome spring.”

Thu Trang(Con Cuong Radio Station)