The Party’s will and the people’s hearts in harmony across a land of hardship

Connecting joys

Returning to the U Minh Thuong area today, a sense of astonishment is hard to avoid for those who knew this land a decade ago. The time when “mosquitoes buzzed like flutes and leeches swam like noodles,” with muddy dirt roads that turned dusty in the sun and slushy in the rain, now exists only in memory. In its place is a vibrant new rural landscape with synchronised and modern infrastructure.

In Don Dong Hamlet, Vinh Thuan Commune, the joy of the local residents has doubled as the hamlet’s key road has not only been smoothly concreted but also equipped with a public lighting system. Le Van Phoi, a long-time resident of Don Dong Hamlet, shared excitedly: “In the past, visiting the fields or checking shrimp ponds at night was very difficult. We had to rely on flashlights and the roads were slippery. Now, with bright streetlights, travel is much more convenient and security has improved significantly. This road is the result of the authorities listening to and working together with the people.”

This transformation did not happen by chance. It is the result of persistent mobilisation efforts, with local officials going “door to door” to explain the benefits of building new-style rural areas. Once people understand and trust, they are willing to contribute labour, money, and land to take plans from paper to reality.

Beyond physical changes, the “skilful mass mobilisation” movement in U Minh Thuong also focuses on a core goal: helping people escape poverty sustainably. The story of Huynh Thi Nhi’s family in Lo Ren Hamlet, Vinh Thuan Commune, is a typical example of timely support from local organisations. Once a household in extremely difficult circumstances, thanks to the close support of the Women’s Union, she was assisted in accessing a loan of 30 million VND from the Viet Nam Bank for Social Policies.

With the principle of “teaching how to fish rather than giving fish,” union officials not only helped her obtain loans but also guided her in improving soil for crop cultivation and poultry farming techniques. Her family’s economy has now stabilised, they have escaped poverty, and most importantly, her children are able to attend school. This is the fruit of mass mobilisation: standing alongside people in their most difficult times.

High technology on acidic land

In Vinh Binh Commune, the movement has taken on a new dimension: encouraging farmers to shift from traditional production to high-tech applications. Visiting the high-tech melon cooperative group in Binh Phong Hamlet, we were impressed by a greenhouse covering more than 3,000 square metres. Inside is a fully automated system based on Israeli technology, from trellising cables and shading nets to drip irrigation systems.

Ha Van Chu, a member of the cooperative group, shared that persuading farmers to abandon old farming methods and invest in greenhouses was a challenging mobilisation process. Commune officials had to accompany farmers on study tours to effective models and demonstrate concrete figures before they were willing to adopt changes. The economic efficiency is evident, with yields reaching 3.5–4.3 tonnes per 1,000 square metres. After deducting costs, each crop cycle (85–90 days) generates a profit of around 60 million VND per 1,000sq.m. The products have been contracted for export to demanding markets such as Japan and Singapore.

This model not only brings high economic value but also fundamentally changes farmers’ awareness of clean agriculture, without the use of plant protection chemicals, thereby protecting consumer health and the ecological environment of the cajuput forest buffer zone.

Simple yet noble deeds

Mass mobilisation is not only about billion-VND projects or large-scale economic models; it often begins with small but meaningful acts of compassion. In U Minh Thuong Commune, the grassroots trade union’s initiative of collecting scrap paper and old newspapers to raise scholarship funds has become a bright example. Instead of being discarded, old newspapers and magazines are gathered and sold to fund uniforms, books, and cash support for 11 disadvantaged students with strong academic performance.

The study and following of Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics and lifestyle are translated here into acts of thrift and sharing. Though modest in material value, these gifts provide great spiritual encouragement, helping students to continue their education despite poverty.

In the U Minh Thuong area, the “skilful mass mobilisation” movement has also spread strongly through programmes such as the “foster mother” initiative (supporting orphaned and disadvantaged children), rotating savings groups (helping women access small-scale production capital), the construction of household waste incinerators (contributing to rural environmental hygiene), and building houses for disadvantaged Party members (strengthening solidarity).

Huynh Ngoc Nguyen, Chairman of the Vinh Thuan Commune People’s Committee, said that in remote areas, mass mobilisation cannot be superficial. “When people face difficulties due to lack of capital, we must stand as guarantors. When they are not confident in doing business, we must guide them step by step and take them to see effective models firsthand. These persistent efforts help people clearly feel that the Party’s policies are present in their daily lives,” he said.

Sharing the same view, Nguyen Van Thoan, Secretary of the Vinh Binh Commune Party Committee, affirmed that mass mobilisation must take the lead. Only when consensus is built will people be willing to join hands with authorities in developing their homeland.

It can be affirmed that the “skilful mass mobilisation” movement in the U Minh Thuong area has achieved comprehensive results across all fields. New roads, modern greenhouses and the smiles of children going to school are the most vivid evidence.

Today, U Minh Thuong is not only changing in scale but also undergoing a profound qualitative transformation. When the Party’s will and the people’s hearts are in harmony, the difficulties of remote areas will gradually recede, making way for a prosperous, happy, and sustainable future.