Like Phu Dong stretching himself

QTO - Located at the foot of Deo Ngang Pass, a few decades ago, mentioning Phu Trach meant mentioning poverty because this was a harsh land, with heavy rain and wind in winter, harsh sun in summer, and constant drought. Secondary school students had to cycle 7-8km to the school of a neighboring commune to learn. And while neighboring localities were lit up with electricity, it was not until 1999 that this place began to have electricity. However, today, this once remote land has grown strong, gradually becoming the energy center of the Central region. A new day is coming to Phu Trach with strong, proud changes.

Dream of… grid electricity

In the memory of Mr. Dinh Van Hoang, a 7X generation resident of the old Quang Dong commune, now Phu Trach commune, Quang Tri province, in the late 20th century, his hometown was a remote land, full of difficulties. Although located in a majestic mountainous area with many famous landscapes and historical relics, but with the main occupation being agricultural production and fishing near the shore, if the weather was favorable, the people here could only make enough to eat, but in the years of natural disasters, crop failures, hunger and poverty were waiting at the door...

At a time when neighboring communes were lit up with electricity, the land at the foot of Deo Ngang Pass was still lit by flickering oil lamps, children were studying under the flickering light, and the village roads and alleys were deserted at night. With the aspiration to bring the homeland out of poverty and backwardness, one of the key tasks that the 22nd Commune Party Congress held in January 1996 was determined to carry out was to build an electric line to bring the light of civilization to the homeland.

Phu Trach on the journey to become the energy center of the Central region - Photo: NM

Despite such determination, with an investment capital of about 1.7 billion VND, of which the local counterpart fund was 420 million VND, a very large number at that time, the construction of the power system encountered many difficulties. The Party Committee, the commune and village authorities made great efforts to mobilize all resources and encourage the people to join hands to contribute to the project implementation.

In 1998, the 10KV line was started to be built. After a long and arduous journey, September 9, 1999 became a historic milestone when electricity came to Guangdong. The village streets were filled with lights and the sound of loudspeakers was heard to celebrate this important event. Electricity not only dispelled the darkness, but also opened the door for the people here to enter a new life, more fulfilling, more connected and full of dreams and hopes.

Tectonic milestones

In the early years of the 21st century, major events took place in this land: Announcement of the Hon La Seaport Industrial Park Planning; groundbreaking of the road connecting Mui Ong - Hon Co; construction of infrastructure for the Hon La Seaport Industrial Park... The once remote countryside has now begun to change. Along with the excitement at the construction site, people's lives have also improved day by day: Electricity, roads, schools, stations, and markets have been invested in; fishermen are confident in going out to sea; houses are more sturdy against the wind and waves; crops are plentiful and the haunting fear of endless drought gradually fades away as electricity has opened the way for change.

Phu Trach, a land of beautiful mountains and rivers - Photo: NM

With its strategic location and available potential, along with the determination and persistent efforts of the Party Committee, government and people of the province, on July 18, 2007, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 110/2007/QD-TTg approving the National Power Development Plan for the period 2006-2015, with a view to 2025 (Power Plan VI), in which the construction of Quang Trach Power Center with a capacity of 2,400 MW was approved. And the joy was overwhelming when on September 11, 2010, the project was officially started, laying the foundation for the aspiration to turn this land into an important energy center of the Central region and the whole country.

The past three terms have been a long journey with many ups and downs. In the overall Hon La Economic Zone, which is full of prosperity like a large construction site, it can be proudly affirmed that the Quang Trach Power Center with a complex of energy projects being urgently deployed with a total capacity of more than 4,400 MW and an investment capital of over 140,000 billion VND, is becoming a bright spot in the region and the whole country in terms of green energy and clean energy. Not only are there energy projects of national stature, but the economic and social infrastructure here is also increasingly being completed, facing new and promising opportunities.

New rhythm of life spreads

From projects of national stature, the face of the land is changing more and more. And by chance, in July 2025, along with the new face, implementing the policy of arranging two-level local government, the old land has a new name of Phu Trach, belonging to Quang Tri province. This is not only a change in administrative boundaries, but also a meaningful milestone in the development process of a rural area. Phu Trach today has overcome the shadow of hardship, carrying within it the aspiration to reach out to the sea, gradually affirming its role as the energy center of the Central region, an attractive destination for domestic and foreign investors.

Provincial Party Committee member, Party Secretary of Phu Trach commune Nguyen Chi Thang said: With its available potentials, advantages and high spirit of effort and determination, Quang Tri province has gradually laid a solid foundation for the journey to become the energy center of the Central region and the whole country. This is both a great opportunity and a heavy political responsibility for the entire Party Committee, government and people of the province. In that roadmap, Phu Trach commune is honored to be selected as one of the key areas to implement large-scale energy projects, contributing directly to realizing the common goal. The Party Committee, government and people of Phu Trach commune will make every effort to be worthy of that responsibility and honor.

“In the early 2000s, only a few households in my hometown had black and white televisions, but now, people have a full range of modern audio-visual equipment and all kinds of machinery and equipment to serve their lives. Children's education used to be one of the biggest difficulties and barriers, but now, generations of students have confidently studied at universities at home and abroad, many of them have achieved success and returned to contribute to building their homeland to become more prosperous,” Mr. Dinh Van Hoang proudly shared.

Still the land at the foot of Deo Ngang in the past, but today Phu Trach has developed strongly like Phu Dong stretching out. Next to modern constructions are spacious houses, especially in resettlement areas with well-planned and complete infrastructure. A new rhythm of life is spreading, affirming the belief and aspiration for a bright future of the heroic land...

Ngoc Mai

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202510/nhu-phu-dong-vuon-minh-db25bba/