The village chief is trusted by the people.

(Baonghean) - For nearly 10 years as village head, Mr. Lo Van Xuan of Pieng Pho village, Pha Danh commune (Ky Son district) has always been trusted and loved by the villagers. A role model in village and commune movements, in 2014 he was elected by the villagers as a respected figure among ethnic minorities to attend a conference at the provincial level...

Mr. Xuan (right) inspects the concentrated pig farming area of ​​Pieng Pho village. Photo: Cong Kien

Mr. Lo Van Xuan is 40 years old this year. In his traditional Thai stilt house, Mr. Xuan poured us water while telling us his story: Born and raised in the village, although he didn't have much formal education, he compensated with his enthusiasm for community movements, his diligence, and his willingness to embrace progress. In 2008, he was elected head of Pieng Pho village. Recalling that day, Mr. Xuan smiled: "Growing up, I dropped out of school and went to the forest to cultivate fields, plant trees, and raise cattle. When I heard the news that the villagers had elected me as head of the village, I was completely surprised!"

His enthusiasm and energy helped him quickly "get involved." Work in the village gradually became more organized, and all aspects of the villagers' lives stabilized step by step.

The most difficult aspect of being an official in Piêng Phô village, and in other poor villages in general, is that poverty is deeply ingrained in the people's minds. They believe they are born poor, that the land and climate are the reason for their poverty. Aware of this limitation, Mr. Xuân proactively went to each household, sharing his own business experiences. Thanks to this, the number of poor and near-poor households in Piêng Phô village has gradually decreased significantly, from 32 households in 2008 to just over 20 today. Not only did he explain things to the people, but he also gained their trust. He was one of the pioneers in introducing banana cultivation to the village and promoting cattle farming. These correct steps were trusted and followed by the villagers. Today, Piêng Phô village has 54 households, of which 22 are government officials, and the rest are involved in cattle farming, with many growing bananas. The village now has a herd of 174 cattle, plus over 20 hectares of banana plantations...

Beyond material and spiritual life, the customs and traditions of the villagers, especially the unique cultural features of the Thai Thanh people in Pieng Pho village, are being preserved and promoted. During village meetings, holidays, and festivals, Mr. Xuan never forgets to remind the villagers about preserving their cultural heritage. Recently, Pieng Pho was selected by the district as a model village for preserving the Thai ethnic identity. This is a source of pride for the people here!

Mr. Kha Van Chan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Pha Danh commune, praised: "Comrade Xuan is one of the capable village heads in my commune, always leading by example and doing the assigned work well..."

Walking with Mr. Xuan along the unfinished concrete road, he recounted in detail the story of the local people's road construction, and I shared in the joy of this dedicated official.

Ho Phuong