The Mong village is no longer far away

The road to Che Lau village (Na Meo commune) is newly invested in construction.

From the administrative center of Na Meo commune, the road leading to Che Lau village is only 10 kilometers, but it used to be a harsh journey. More than 10 years ago, I remember a work trip with some journalists. To get to the village, it took nearly half a day of pushing a cart and walking to cross steep rocky slopes, streams, and the road was slippery as if it was greased. Goods and construction materials were almost impossible to transport by motor vehicles. Patients who wanted to go to the commune for examination had to be carried by others, carried on hammocks, and sometimes they couldn't make it in time and lost their lives.

Now, the road from the commune center to Son village up to Che Lau village has been 100% concreted with funding from the Government 's Program 30a. The first meters of concrete road seem to open the door of hope for 66 households with more than 300 Mong people here. Travel time has been reduced to about half an hour. Motorbikes and cars can now enter the village and reach people's homes.

The change of road not only brings convenience in trade and travel but also motivates economic development and building a new life. Comrade Ngan Van Nghia, Vice Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Na Meo commune, pointed to the peach trees on the roadside as high as his face, and said with a hopeful voice: "After the investment in the road was completed, the Commune Youth Union and some volunteer groups in the lowlands planted 200 more peach trees along the internal road and the yard of the cultural house. Planting peaches and plums is not only for decoration but also to nurture dreams, so that in the future Che Lau will become a community tourism destination with its own identity of the Mong people in the border area."

As for Mr. Thao Van Lau, in Che Lau village, he was excited when mentioning the roads, lighting, or phone signals... which have helped the Mong people here no longer be isolated from the outside world when it rains or winds. The temporary classrooms of the past have now been replaced by solid schools. 100% of children can go to class; people can go to the center more easily, and agricultural products can also be exchanged more conveniently.

From Che Lau village, I continued to move on the winding concrete roads to the villages of Mua Xuan and Xia Noi (two Mong villages of Son Thuy commune). Previously, the road connecting these villages was just a trail, and in the rainy season it was almost impossible to travel by motorbike. But now, on the road we traveled, instead of images of children and adults walking with their belongings, there were motorbikes and even trucks carrying household goods and food from the center. With the road, many households also paid more attention to making gates and alleys leading to their houses. The old wooden houses of the past have now been replaced by solid houses. Families also pay more attention to their children's education. After finishing school, they can go to the commune or province to learn a trade, have a future, and can go to work abroad.

Not only roads, the Mong villages here are also changing day by day thanks to access to the national electricity grid. Models of breeding cows, developing forests... are appearing more and more. Typically, Mr. Thao Van The's family in Che Lau village now has 10 cows, 2 hectares of bamboo, 1 hectare of manioc and 2 hectares of cassava. Thanks to knowing how to calculate and working hard, each year he earns tens of millions of dong in profit. As for Ms. Thao Van Nhia, in Mua Xuan village, from only knowing how to clear fields all year round, she has now learned how to garden and grow off-season vegetables to sell at Na Meo market. "Thanks to the new road, I can carry chickens, corn and cassava to the center to sell, without having to carry it on my back like before. I am learning how to brew wine with yeast leaves, to sell to agents at the border gate, they say tourists like it," Ms. Nhia said with a smile.

Mr. Mac Van Toi, Chairman of the People's Committee of Son Thuy commune, affirmed: In recent years, thanks to the special attention from the Central and the province, the locality has invested in a series of key traffic works to connect the disadvantaged Mong villages. In particular, the road from Son village to Che Lau (Na Meo commune) is more than 5km long, solidified with concrete according to Program 30a, opening up trade routes for more than 300 residents. Along with that, the internal roads in Che Lau and Mua Xuan have also been upgraded, helping people travel conveniently all year round, no longer isolated during the rainy season. In particular, in 2024, the locality will continue to receive the deployment of a new route, more than 12km long, from Thuy Thanh village to Mua Xuan village. The route, which is about to be completed, will contribute to perfecting the highland traffic system, creating a foundation for sustainable development.

The Mong villages are no longer as remote and difficult as before. The newly formed roads not only connect villages with villages, communes with communes but also point to the future. There are new roads, electric lights, children's laughter in the classroom, people know how to carry vegetables to the market... All of these have been lighting up a new life in the remote Mong villages in the highlands.

Article and photos: Dinh Giang

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ban-mong-khong-con-xa-ngai-255474.htm