(HBO) - Da Bac, the most difficult highland district of Hoa Binh, is home to over 59,000 people, with ethnic minorities accounting for nearly 90% of the population. Implementing national target programmes, the district has established a steering committee to assign tasks and plan the allocation of fundings for various local projects.
Women in Toan Son commune, Da Bac, learn to revive the traditional weaving craft of the Dao people.
The implementation of projects under the national target programmes has so far brought about positive changes to the lives of local people. The state's investment in infrastructure such as electricity, roads, schools, and medical stations have generated driving forces for the district's socio-economic development.
Bui Thi Chi from Ke hamlet, Hien Luong commune, said: "In the past, my children had to work far away. Since the state supported us in running homestay services, my family has focused on investment and learned from experiences to build our Huu Thao homestay. My children no longer have to work away from home, and our family secures a stable income. Tourism also contributes to preserving the local culture."
According to Luong Van Vinh, head of Trung Tam hamlet, Trung Thanh commune, allowed by the authorities, the Hoa Binh Agriculture Cooperative has signed a 20-year contract to supply raw materials to An Phuoc Group's cotton and yarn factory, which is located in Thach Thanh district, Thanh Hoa province. The cooperative chose the Trung Thanh to cultivate ramie. After two years of implementation, the plant has grown well, with many local households switching from less productive crops to ramie cultivation for more stable income.
Over the recent years, the state's investment programmes and projects in Da Bac have been done timely and effective, with their set targets achieved and overfulfilled. The average per capita income increased from 29.5 million VND (1,243 USD) in 2020 to 37.5 million VND in 2022; the poverty rate decreased from 41.56% in 2021 to 34.94% in 2022; the rate of trained labours reached 61.78% in 2022; and the production value rose from 7.14% in 2021 to 9.2% in 2022. The economic structure shifted in the right direction, with agro-forestry-fisheries accounting for 35.2%, industry-handicraft-construction 21.1%, and trade-tourism-services at 43.7%.
Currently, operating in the district are over 120 businesses and 44 agricultural cooperatives. Industrial-oriented farming models are gradually replacing small-scale methods, while high-value economic goods have been produced on a broader scale./.
Over recent years, the Farmers' Union of Mai Chau district has implemented numerous specific programmes and activities to support its members in developing products under the One Commune One (OCOP) programme. These efforts have contributed to enhancing local agricultural branding, increasing goods value, and improving incomes and living standards for residents.
Since 2022, the Hoa Binh Department of Education and Training has provided advice for the provincial People's Committee to issue Plan No. 219/KH-UBND on November 17, 2022, which outlines the implementation of a project titled "Enhancing the application of Information Technology (IT) and Digital Transformation in Education and Training for the 2022–2025 period, with a vision to 2030.” As of now, the local education sector has made significant progress in IT adoption and digital transformation.
Hoa Binh allocated over 30 trillion VND (nearly 1.18 billion USD) to develop infrastructure systems in ethnic minority and mountainous areas during 2019 - 2024. Priority was given to transport and irrigation infrastructure; markets; schools; medical stations; communal houses; and power grid, telecommunication, radio, and television systems.
The Hoa Binh provincial organising committee for anniversary activities on December 17 held a ceremony to unveil a ceramic mural on the local military-civilian ties and release a book on the Party and political work of the provincial armed forces during 1947 – 2024, in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and 35th anniversary of the All-People Defence Festival.
In recent years, Hoa Binh has allocated significant resources to foster cooperative economy, helping ethnic minorities capitalise on their potential and advantages to escape poverty.
As a mountainous district still facing numerous challenges, Da Bac has made notable progress in advancing administrative reforms across various areas. The district has prioritised reorganising and streamlining its administrative apparatus, operating "one-stop-shop” units, and applying information technology (IT) in the handling of administrative procedures. Efforts have also been directed toward upgrading infrastructure and equipment to enhance service quality for residents and businesses.
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